The 20-year-old full-back on Wednesday night completed his move from the San Siro for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £5million, when he signed a five-year deal. Santon made his breakthrough at Inter as a teenager under Mourinho, and although he has found life more difficult in recent times, he remains grateful to the Portuguese. He told the Evening Chronicle: "I must say a big thank you to Mr Jose Mourinho. He has been really important for me. "He has taught me to give 100% out on the pitch and other important things. He has been really important to my career. "I can only thank him." Santon agreed to join Newcastle amid interest from Inter's Serie A rivals Roma and other Premier League clubs, and he was also linked with a switch to Russia. However, Magpies boss Alan Pardew quickly persuaded him that his future lay on Tyneside. Santon said: "Alan Pardew has been fantastic with me. I was really impressed with him when I met him for the first time. "I really like him because he wants to speak to players as men. Now I want to show him exactly what I can do on the pitch. It is a big desire for me to do well at this club." Santon was joined at St James' Park on Wednesday night by Charlton keeper Rob Elliot after he also signed a five-year deal to seal a move for an undisclosed fee. Efforts were continuing on Wednesday to land a striker, but with Sochaux's Modibo Maiga and Freiburg's Papiss Demba Cisse remaining frustratingly out of reach, Wednesday night's 11pm deadline was approaching with no deal done.
