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Ruiz happy to snub Toon

Image: Ruiz: Shunned Newcastle interest in order to sign for Fulham

Fulham's deadline day signing Bryan Ruiz says he never considered accepting Newcastle's last-minute move for him.

Costa Rican insists Fulham were always first option

Fulham's deadline day signing Bryan Ruiz says he never considered accepting Newcastle's last-minute move for him. Ruiz sealed a £10million-plus move from Twente to Fulham on deadline day, but Newcastle launched a last-ditch attempt to persuade him to move to the North East. Newcastle even had a helicopter on stand-by ready to whisk him away from Fulham's grasp but Ruiz insists that was never in his thinking. "I heard about the helicopter. Newcastle were interested but I had a good feeling about Fulham and wanted to stay here," the Costa Rican told The People. "Martin Jol was a big influence on me. He told me he wants to combine the English and Dutch styles and he knows how I can fit into the team. "I can play as a number ten, a second striker, or on the left or right flank. I'm not a number nine but I've always scored goals. "I know people are expecting a lot from me here because Fulham have spent a lot of money on me."

McClaren influence

Ruiz revealed that former England coach Steve McClaren was a huge influence on him during their time together at Twente. "Steve McClaren was very influential on me," he said. "I was at Gent in Belgium and wasn't sure about going to Twente as they were not one of the top clubs in Holland but he convinced me and in the first year, I scored 24 goals and we were champions. "He's one of the best coaches I've worked with even though I know his reputation may have gone down a bit over here."

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