Newcastle United’s new owners have not given up hope of bringing Rafa Benitez back to the club, according to new reports.
Football Insider claim that the Saudi consortium are ready to make another move for the Spaniard, having lined up the 61-year-old last summer when the takeover looked set to go through.
They report that the club have an ‘inkling of hope’ that he could be persuaded to leave Goodison Park and return to St James’ – despite the fact he committed himself to Everton when asked about the NUFC rumours last week.
Interestingly, a source close to the club is believed to have told Football Insider that “prising Benitez from the Wirral rather than Everton” remains the biggest problem, with Rafa currently working right by his family home.
That said, he’s been the subject of heavy abuse from Blues fans over the past few months. He had won a few over with a string of good results after threatening banners were erected close to his home, however boos were ringing around Goodison Park after Watford’s 5-2 win on Saturday.
It’s said that Amanda Staveley and Co want to give it one last shot and find out if Benitez really is a non-starter before ‘abandoning their pursuit completely’, with the search for Steve Bruce’s replacement expected to pick up a notch next week.
Would you like to see Rafa back on Tyneside, or do you feel a new era should mean a completely new manager this time around?
Leave Rafa where he is.We need a young manager with fresh ideas.Not a dinosaur with park the bus Tactics.
Jonboy(Quote)
Non starter story yet again
Dutch Docherty(Quote)
All I remember about Rafa’s tactics is that Bruce copied them and got slated for it.
It was 4 years of seriously boring football.
Helen Clarey(Quote)
What another load of tosh, can you not think up something fresh, he is past it. He left us for a new project and mega cash, failed then left them. Now gone back home, things not going so good after a decent start, so talk is he should comeback here. He’s finished and we need a new fresh start with a new face and some attractive football for a change. Bring on Fonseca. Hwtl
Kiddafromthetoon(Quote)
What another load of tosh, can you not think up something fresh, he is past it. He left us for a new project and mega cash, failed then left them. Now gone back home, things not going so good after a decent start, so talk is he should comeback here. He’s finished and we need a new fresh start with a new face and some attractive football for a change. Bring on Fonseca. Hwtl.
Kiddafromthetoon(Quote)
it was sad to see the man go for what he done for the club stuck bye us until the fat controller made him move on [ it would be good to see him back with Amanda by his side ]
terry(Quote)
Rafa has made his bed @EFC, although not funded or allowed to bring in his players for “a project” it would be best if he didn’t come back, wasn’t convinced with his brand of football.
The only thing he was good at to a degree was stifling other teams from playing, something we could do with now, with the position we are in.
Joseph(Quote)
The consortium need to get a move on and get someone in who can organise and motivate the players now, can’t afford to wait until January or we will be down!
Joseph(Quote)
Non attracrive football under Rafa only marginal better results than Bruce .a move back over in my opinion
Black&whitedemon(Quote)
FTLofG NO
PremAndUp(Quote)
Please be true – we will even pay you to take him and Rondon! Sadly we are Everton – wishes don’t come true!
Gareth Fieldstead(Quote)
Think it will be good to have him back
Callum(Quote)
His time has gone..we need a fresh fsve with fresh ideas…stay at Everton Rafa..show some loyalty
M Grey(Quote)
Never go back, Rafa was good for the time, we have great chance to start a new dynasty at the toon, let’s be bold
Charles Cervantes(Quote)
Think the time for Rafa to come back has long gone. It still amazes me that even some NUFC fans have as short a memory as the media. Once he got Almiron and it gelled with Rondon & Perez we had an excellent basis to make progress with goal scoring threats galore and a sound defence. If he had been allowed to buy Rondon(£16M) and spend the rest of the Joelinton wasted money on other parts of the team who knows where we would have progressed to. Rafa had plans/tactics in abundance & even when he went a long time without a win (caused by Ashley’s reluctance to spend) our goals conceded helped out cause.
Michael sursham(Quote)
Yes a lot of fans would like him back he will win silverware
Stan(Quote)
David Watson(Quote)
Go for Rafa no matter the cost
Jonboy:
Leave Rafa where he is.We need a young manager with fresh ideas.Not a dinosaur with park the bus Tactics.
David Watson(Quote)
Rafa is from the past now,move forward with new ideas ,new manager,new Newcastle United,just look at klopp or pep,let’s find our own new start
Kgb(Quote)
His tactics were suspect when he was here last time. Strange decisions were made in substitutions
Edward Ainsley(Quote)
No thanks don’t want him back overrated imo
Herman(Quote)
Move on but only with o top European successful coach.
Keith(Quote)
We need Rafa. Please bring him back. He is a man with tremendous experience. We love him.
Helen Landless(Quote)
I would have rafa back at my club in a heart beat, he knows what it means when you support a great club like Newcastle united 😆
Allan(Quote)
£5 @ 33/1 means come on home please Rafa!
Seriously, the club needs a complete overhaul and he had studied that, put his plans to Ashley and hit a brick wall. I want to see what he can do with better players.
Christopher Mills(Quote)