Now Thauvin says he is becoming unsettled at Newcastle United just two months into his St James’s Park career, according to a report in France.
The midfielder joined the club from Olympique Marseille in August in a £12million deal which also saw Remy Cabella head to the Stade Velodrome on a season-long loan.
But Thauvin finds himself on the fringes of Steve McClaren’s team ahead of Sunday’s Wear-Tyne derby.
The 22-year-old hasn’t started a Premier League game since September 19.
Thauvin was also hauled off at the break during the club’s Capital One Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last month.
And French website Mercato 365 has claimed that Thauvin – who had long been coveted by Newcastle chief scout Graham Carr – is “beginning to regret” his decision to join the club.
Thauvin, however, cannot leave the club until next summer, having played for Marseille in August.
FIFA regulations stipulate that a player can be registered for three clubs, but only play for two, over the course of a season.
For his part, United head coach McClaren feels Thauvin needs more time to adapt to English football.
Speaking last month, McClaren said: “He’s one of those players who wants to be involved in the game all the time, and so is ideal for what we want to do.
“It’s going to take him time to adapt, and that’s the case with all players who have come in.”