He spent two years at St James's Park after his £9.5m move from Deportivo La Coruna, on allegedly £60,000 per week.
Spaniard Admits Greed Took Him To St James' Park!
And the 29-year-old has finally left the club to play for Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam.
Luque: "I gave Newcastle a negative reply when they (first) called.
"I was having a great time at Depor. I put in fine performances, lived in a beautiful town, and there was no reason to leave.
"(But) they came up with an offer too good to refuse. I had a talk with Freddy Shepherd, and told him how much I wanted to earn.
"It was a ludicrous amount, but he didn't bat an eyelid. The negotiations with Deportivo were also over in no time.
"I was going to earn lots and lots of money at a club I had never paid attention to before, and move to a town I knew nothing about.
"I hardly knew any of my new colleagues, and hardly spoke any English.
"I tore a hamstring in my second league appearance, was on the sidelines for three months, and when I returned there was a new manager (Glenn Roeder).
"He ignored me completely. I often started on the bench and even more often was forced to watch from the stands. I never got an opportunity to adapt to the British style.
"Sam Allardyce told me on his first working day I deserved a genuine chance. He had seen me at Deportivo and was sure I couldn't have lost the knack.
"I did believe him, but I was fed up with life in Newcastle. I didn't want to stay any longer.
"I was frequently linked with Spanish clubs in those two years, but they couldn't meet my wage demands. I earned an incredible amount, and was not willing to let it go.
"But this summer I came to the conclusion that money is not the only thing in life.
"I told Newcastle's new chairman Chris Mort money was not an issue any more, provided they let me go. I was fed up with leading a tourist-like life."