In what has to be a bit gut-wrenching for Newcastle fans, Rafa Benitez has tweeted the following on his Twitter page:
#DalianYifang #ChinaSuperleague #China #Dalian #NewChallenge #NewChapter pic.twitter.com/wDI5HKKLy8
— Rafa Benitez Web (@rafabenitezweb) July 2, 2019
That makes it official that Rafa Benitez has well and truly moved on from Newcastle United.
Rafa issued his statement yesterday morning and also gave a revealing interview to George Caulkin with the Times.
We all know the reason why this has happened and Rafa will now move on to excel in the Chinese Super League.
He will bring all the professionalism and meticulous attention to detail that he brought to Newcastle over the past three years and that will now be on full display in Dalian.
While we respect this decision by Rafa Benitez as he had truly grown weary of working under Mike Ashley, we are sickened at what has unfolded over the past week.
Well, make that the past twelve years.
This reign of terror has to end soon. It just has to.
125 comments so far
ThirdStripeBlack
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:33 AM
Comment #1Well I now follow the Chinese league. Farewell NUFC suckers! I’m going with Rafa.
Gutted.
#boycott Arsenal
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:35 AM
Comment #2Jib,
I’ll spare the repost.
Optimistic Oryx
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:36 AM
Comment #3I hope I win the Euromillions tonight, I’ll feel much better crying about Rafa sat in a Ferrari
RobLeenio
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:37 AM
Comment #4Good luck Rafa, always a gent, always professional, always ambitious. Sadly these are not traits much appreciated by your erstwhile employers.
ToonRich
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:39 AM
Comment #5Jib
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:01 AM
Comment #16
There’s loads of crap on the internet so you have to be careful
According to one report I read
Wenger who has been advising BZG – is joining us as DoF
with his old captain Mikel Arteta as coach
From a few articles back…I’d seen the same DoF but rumours of Stevie G as coach!!
geordietom
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:43 AM
Comment #6right i’am not a ITK …
i have it on good authority . on friday theres gonna be a big announcement off the ARABS …
on saturday big news on our new manager/coach …
monday players being showed off the the press …
tuesday . TOON22 resigns his post from the MIKE ASHLEY BULLSHIT FOUNDATION saying he’s sorry but i cant make it to meetings or team building courses …
take this as fact dont shoot the messenger …
jon.c
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:46 AM
Comment #7The Rafa era has gone let us forget the past and look forward to new season and give our players full support
Jib
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:47 AM
Comment #8Kenedy 14 starts not 25
Tsunki
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:48 AM
Comment #9Pain in the blog.
That WHOOOSHING sound is the irony flying right over your head. Have a coffee and think about it again numbnuts ha ha
catchy in norway
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:49 AM
Comment #10WISHING ALL THE VERY BEST ON HIS NEW JOB
Tsunki
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:49 AM
Comment #11I think we should have some blog target practice and start shooting these messengers they’re infesting the place. 😀
WLtoon
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:49 AM
Comment #12Geordietom
its time to wake up from your dream man lol
Jib
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:50 AM
Comment #13Jail
Thinks Kenedy had 25 starts last season !!!!
Does he even watch us !!!!!
#boycott Arsenal
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:51 AM
Comment #14So with the departure of Kenedy, Atsu a player who was bought while we consolidated our PL status and who many think is not good enough is now our first choice LW. We have Jacob Murphy returning who never impressed at WBA, we also have Jack Colback, a seemingly bad apple who the club will no doubt see as a natural replacement for Diame. We have the same three strikers we started the PL with and the best one has made no secret of his desire to leave, we just let our player of the season go. Isaac Hayden can’t be any clearer that he wants away, Ciaran Clarke as back up LB after two seasons in the PL. We now have Lee Churnley not only tasked with finding a manager to deal with all that but he’ll be having the final say on any players coming in.
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:51 AM
Comment #15Have we been sold yet ?
Maybe next year
Jib
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:52 AM
Comment #16Catchy
Who is A.L.L. ?
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:53 AM
Comment #17I doubt there’s a player at the toon not thinking of leaving
Apart from players like Colback
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:54 AM
Comment #18Hiya JIB
#boycott Arsenal
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:54 AM
Comment #19I didn’t say starts Jib.
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:54 AM
Comment #20You think Rafa might be resigning once the Arabs buy us today ?
LoL
catchy in norway
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:55 AM
Comment #21should have said him
Tsunki
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:55 AM
Comment #22It’s a bit disrespectful this talk about Rafa going to China like he’s slumming it with football no-hopers with more money than sense, and there’s no project there etc.
That’s just daft. The Chinese don’t just pour cash into something for a whim. They are trying to get it to go somewhere and they are single minded and dogged enough in their approach to achieve it eventually.
Years ago Chinese manufacturing was synonymous with laughable plastic chaff that fell apart upon sight
Not now though, an incredible amount of what we deem quality Western product is made – guess where?
I reckon the Chinese Club will not only give Rafa money but facilities and opportunity; he might even be entertaining the idea of being one of the forerunners of an emerging footballing presence. I don’t think it marks Benitez down as selling himself out at all.
Nedders
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:55 AM
Comment #23Great news that it’s a Friday announcement. For the 10th Friday in a row. Would another ITK like to pick up the baton next week? Or is it my turn to claim there’ll be a big announcement?
Also, when does the ITK/WUM bullpoop stop? After the first game of the season?
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:55 AM
Comment #24Hiya Catchy
Who do you think you’ll be blaming next season?
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:56 AM
Comment #25Nedders
It’s 12 years and counting, without an end in sight
Jib
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:57 AM
Comment #26boycott Arsenal
I didn’t say starts Jib.
The guy you were arguing with
Me
did though
Duh
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:57 AM
Comment #27If you didn’t know any better you would think the whole thing was used to string the fans along
Nedders
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:57 AM
Comment #28Tsunki – what the Chinese will be offering is a lot more than £12m a year. Rafa will be going as a guest of the State to enhance China’s reputation on the World stage in exchange for money/prestige we can’t even fathom. He’ll have a very flexible working time schedule, Chinese season is considerably shorter and less punishing than Europe and will be king of his castle.
Pain in the Blog
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:58 AM
Comment #29Tsunki #9,
Sorry mate. Completely missed the tone. I thought it was an odd post from you.
I’ll put it down to my lack of sleep or maybe a bad hangover.
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:59 AM
Comment #30Public opinions matter to him enough to do this whole sham 8 times
It’s the reason people like JIB post here
WorJordi
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:59 AM
Comment #31geordie tom @#6
Hope you are correct BUT
The deadline for season ticket renewal is ………………….
Yep 4th July
Funny how 5th 6th onwards things are gonna change
No more money from me till the FCB is gone !
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Comment #32The PR are obviously going to try and say Rafa was greedy
It lays the blame away from MA
Hiya KBA
WarrenBartonCentreParting
Jul 2, 2019 at 10:01 AM
Comment #335/1 to get relegated.. you see that Mike?
Could be worth a £100 million bet..
geordietom
Jul 2, 2019 at 10:01 AM
Comment #34oops i fell foul of the blog police again …
do you lot not have a sence of humour ffs …
Nedders
Jul 2, 2019 at 10:02 AM
Comment #35Toon22 – fwiw I don’t think it’s used to string fans along, because Mike Ashley simply doesn’t give a toss what anyone thinks. However, I do think a lot of people abuse the hopes of NUFC fans with false rumour and I definitely think Ashley, whilst not always the source of rumour, enjoys the suffering it causes hence why he does little to distance the club from it.
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 10:03 AM
Comment #36Just wait till about 5 games into next season
I’m sure with the team struggling it will all blow over
😉
Bills Son Is Back
Jul 2, 2019 at 10:04 AM
Comment #37Jail,
You sound to me like the type who will tell your missus before you go on holiday that you’ve heard the weather will be $hite, the hotell beds full of bugs, the swimming pool infested and the food fit only for dogs.
Why not wait until you get there.
And why not wait to see who are the owners at the start of the season, who the manager is and what the squad is.
It might stop yourself worrying yourself sick unnecessarily.
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 10:04 AM
Comment #38Nedders
It’s his go to lie when the heats on , he uses it every time
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 10:05 AM
Comment #39Bills
Hiya JIB
toon22
Jul 2, 2019 at 10:05 AM
Comment #40Bills
Pure PR there lol
You could at least try and be more subtle