Rafa Benitez set to leave NUFC, reject £12m offer & stay in England instead – Report

According to the Daily Mail, Rafa Benitez’s three-year stint at St James’ Park WILL come to an end on Sunday – unless there is a ‘dramatic turnaround’ from Newcastle United chiefs.

The piece also claims that Rafa is likely to turn down a big-money offer from Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang, stating that he is more likely to stay in England with his family in the Wirral and see how things unfold.

Here’s what Rob Draper – the Chief Football Writer for the Mail – has had to say in his latest piece on Rafa’s future:

‘Rafa Benitez’s three-year reign at Newcastle will draw to a close this week when his contract runs out next weekend, with no sign of any rapprochement between owner Mike Ashley and his manager.

‘There has been minimal progress in discussions at the end of the season and Benitez is resigned to the fact that his time at the club is over given the longstanding inability to agree on how best to approach in the transfer market.

‘Barring a dramatic turnaround in relations, there is unlikely even to be talks this week and Benitez’s contract will simply expire at the end of the month.

‘At present the Newcastle manager has a lucrative offer from Dalian Yifang but is more likely simply to stay in England with his family and see how the coming months unfold.’

Unfortunately, this sounds about right to me.

I can’t see him staying given there’s now been countless reports stating the club are unwilling to compromise or move remotely close to agreeing to his demands, and I also think it’s very likely that he’d reject a move to China – even if he’s being offered silly money.

With those two things in mind, staying with family and seeing what unfolds sounds about right, with him likely to have an eye on any jobs in England, or closer to home in Europe, that come up.

Should he leave on Sunday, I’m praying that he may consider returning should a takeover go through next month – but I say this in hope more than expectation.

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us 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.

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