Journalist reveals what Rafa Benitez would do if offered NUFC job under new owners

Late last night, the Sun reported that Rafa Benitez would be offered the Newcastle United job should Amanda Staveley’s Saudi Arabia-backed consortium complete a deal with Mike Ashley.

It’s an easy story to make up for clicks and quite possibly a case of the Sun putting 2 and 2 together and making 5, but the Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson has since revealed what Benitez would do should any new owners attempt to bring him back.

He states the Spaniard would “jump at the chance” to return to St James’ Park under new ownership – despite saying he is committed to his ‘project’ with Chinese side Dalian Yifang.

They also report that he’s ‘close’ to Staveley – with it suggested he was a big part of her plans during a failed attempt to buy the club two years ago.

Here’s a snippet from Scott Wilson’s piece, which also confirms that Mike Ashley is due to land in England TODAY to ‘assess his next move’:

If a successful takeover goes through, it has been suggested their first move could be to remove head coach Steve Bruce and reinstall Rafael Benitez, whose tenure as Newcastle manager ended last summer.

Benitez is known to be close to Staveley, and while the Spaniard has publicly insisted he remains committed to his current role as manager of Chinese side Dalian Yifang, he would jump at the chance of a return to St James’ Park under new ownership.

Without wanting to get ahead of ourselves, it would be VERY difficult to know what any new ambitious billionaire owners would do with Steve Bruce should they complete a takeover.

He’s done a brilliant job and currently has us in a better position in the table than Rafa did during his last two seasons in the top flight at this stage, but I get the feeling most Newcastle fans would have Benitez back in a heartbeat if he returned via the backing of silly-rich new owners.

It may never come to that, but if a Saudi takeover does somehow materialise and Benitez is targeted, we’ve had worse dilemmas..

(Fancy writing for us? Get in touch at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

14 thoughts on “Journalist reveals what Rafa Benitez would do if offered NUFC job under new owners

  1. Really??? Do you people ever go to the match??
    At least Bruce’s team try to go forward, and for me would deserve a crack at the big time with NUFC.

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  2. Id not want Rafa back. Bruce has done better with half his squad injured and forwards not scoring. Rafa plays off the fans emotions too much and the players dont like his training or the way he publically talks their abilities down. Bruce deserves a new contract if we have a good cup run and finish in top half

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  3. Giving £200 million to Bruce to spend on the team and club infrastructure would be liking handing your wages over to your 5 year old and putting him/her in charge of building your extension.

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  4. sickandtired:
    Giving £200 million to Bruce to spend on the team and club infrastructure would be liking handing your wages over to your 5 year old and putting him/her in charge of building your extension.

    I know, and imagine how many Joselus Rafa could buy with that money

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  5. People standing up for Bruce and knocking Rafa is ridiculous. Bruce has done nothing with team but fluke his way to 30 points and please you can’t say otherwise he couldn’t break down Oxford utd took two goes at Rochdale. Has a strike force worth 80 million with like 6 or 7 goals between them and the injury crisis is definitely down to his training methods. Sheffield Wednesday were delighted to be rid of him which says it all

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  6. BillyTheFish:
    Really??? Do you people ever go to the match??
    At least Bruce’s team try to go forward, and for me would deserve a crack at the big time with NUFC.

    We averaged more goals, more shots on target and more possession under Rafa..

    I think Bruce deserves time and think he’s doing a very good job in the circumstances, but I don’t get this idea that we play much more attacking football under him!

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  7. It would be extremely unfair to Bruce to do that to him.
    However, I would love Rafa back.
    Why not let them work together in some form?
    Also, as much as I would love the Toon to get new rich and ambitious owners, I wouldn’t be happy with a Saudi lead consortium. As someone who is half Arabic, I can confirm Saudi Arabia is as bad as they say.
    Also, I’m just about accepting that we are where we are and to make the most of it as a club, and then we get more takeover hype which is highly unsettling, probably not true, and distracts from what we need to focus on which is a striker and left back in, and hopefully being more ambitious as a club I.e. FA Cup run and decent premier league finish.

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  8. Rafa did a decent job but the football was woeful. Would sooner keep Bruce but another top manager would be a better alternative. Wish they’d let this returning of Benitez die a death.

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  9. Poch for me.
    We need a clean break from the past and a fresh new start.
    NEVER go back..@

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