Diame had got the inside track on the club's supporters from Hatem Ben Arfa before his move to St James' Park and the pair have known each other since they were two 13-year-olds dreaming big in the Clarefontaine Academy.
"Hatem was so happy at Newcastle," he said. "He had a few problems with Alan Pardew but he was really happy and loved the Newcastle fans and was talking about Newcastle all the time."