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Mbemba’s Newcastle United stint marked by potential and disappointment

By Carson A Merk

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 30: Rafael Benitez (R) manager of Newcastle United congratulates Chancel Mbemba (L) after their 1-0 win in the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James' Park on April 30, 2016 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 30: Rafael Benitez (R) manager of Newcastle United congratulates Chancel Mbemba (L) after their 1-0 win in the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James' Park on April 30, 2016 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Chancel Mbemba officially left Newcastle United for Porto and his tenure with the club will always be linked with untapped potential.

After months of speculation, Chancel Mbemba finally departed Newcastle United. The defender joins FC Porto, Newcastle’s friendly opponent on Saturday. While his loss may not be felt this season, his untapped potential could be a sore subject down the road.

Mbemba arrived at Tyneside in 2015 from Anderlecht. He was 20 years old and seemed to be a quality option for the present and future of the club. The central defender made 33 Premier League appearances in the 2015-16 campaign.

The next season saw a massive drop off in match time for Mbemba. In his first full season under Rafa Benitez, he only played in 12 matches. The Spanish manager didn’t feel Mbemba was comfortable enough with the ball at his feet and in distribution. He did score his lone NUFC goal that season in the club’s Championship title-clinching finale vs. Barnsley.

Last year, he was not expected to play a major part in the defensive rotation, but he was forced into early duty with injuries to Florian Lejeune and Paul Dummett. Mbemba played admirably out of position at left back. He totaled nine EPL appearances in 2017-18.

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Now, he leaves the club for a new challenge. There are two distinct possibilities regarding the next couple of seasons in his career. One, he could go to Porto and play somewhere between average and poor and become an afterthought of Toon Army. The second potential circumstance would be less desirable for Newcastle United supporters. He could go to Porto and finally get a chance to showcase his massive upside. Still only 23 years old, he may establish himself as a hot prospect again and move to a big club, in the Premier League or elsewhere and Magpies’ supporters will be left shaking their head. Players leave clubs, that’s sports, but it definitely stings a bit more when they find more success away from your team than they did while playing for them. Time will tell if Chancel Mbemba will reach the potential heights he could never achieve with the Toon.