The Mirror is reporting today that Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is wanted by Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian next summer.
Other top clubs are also said to be monitoring his situation at Newcastle.
We’re not at all surprised that top clubs in China have been interested in Rafa’s situation at Newcastle and that he will likely become available when his current Newcastle contract runs out next June.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is unwilling to back Rafa’s ambitions for Newcastle by providing him with (any) funds in the transfer windows.
Rafa Benitez – wants to stay in England
And in the time Rafa has been at Newcastle we have made a net profit of £40M in five transfer windows including about £20M this summer.
Benitez has said many times he would be willing to stay at St James’ Park for up to 10 years, but changes would have to be made in the way the club does business.
That’s especially true in the transfer market where Rafa wants full control of who comes in and who goes out and he wants to spend the money as he sees fit.
It seems that Mike Ashley is unwilling to give Rafa the control he wants if he is to sign a new deal on Tyneside.
A source close to the Chinese game said this to the Mirror:
“Tianjin Quanjian could be interested in Rafa at the end of the season when he would be free as things stand.”
“Clubs in China are still monitoring his situation, especially with him not signing a contract.”
“A manager here can lose two games and be out, so any of the top clubs could be interested.’’
The Chinese clubs throw money at top managers and players to get them to move to China, and the report says Benitez could earn as much as £30M a year in China.
But from what we can tell Rafa is not motivated too much by the money but by achieving things – by winning trophies
Rafa’s also a family man, and one big reason he signed for Newcastle over two years ago was that he was only a little over 180 miles from the family home in the Wirral, Cheshire.
There’s excellent train service between Newcastle and Liverpool, and he can also drive the distance in less than three hours.
So Rafa can get back to visit his wife Montse and their two teenage daughters quite frequently.
He could not do that when he managed Inter-Milan, Napoli and Real Madrid.
He will not be going to China, and the likelihood is if he leaves Newcastle next summer it will be to another Premier League club.
That club will have much more ambition, and energy than Mike Ashley has for Newcastle.
And they will provide him with ample transfer funds to build a top team – which is what he wanted to do at Newcastle.
If he does leave Newcastle next summer, it will be a tragedy for the club and the City – not to mention our fans.
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105 comments so far
AncientC
Aug 19, 2018 at 8:55 AM
Comment #1https://twitter.com/NorthernIreland/status/1030935245888135170
Carl Frampton got a warm welcome in Belfast last night.
crawfordm
Aug 19, 2018 at 8:56 AM
Comment #2Never say never – the man has been utterly shafted by that man of integrity Ashley. We would disintergrate if Rafa were to leave. Im sure fatman would find a manager however what type of player would want to come here ? Ashley has systematically destroyed the club over his tenure !!!!
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 8:58 AM
Comment #3Can we just move on for now the window is closed there’s nothing to do about regardless of what went down in the summer and why! It’s done and we have to move on and focus on the games..,
It’s quite pathetic to witness a performance like that yesterday and have to read comments that suggest it’s all Mike Ashley’s fault!
So you watch a performance and management like that and you think that’s Mike Ashley’s fault!
Kenedy’s performance was Mike Ashley’s fault!
Kenedy missed a penalty was Mike Ashley’s fault!
Manquillo is crap is Mike Ashley’s fault
Joselu is general is Mike Ashley’s fault!
Diame starts this season like he started last season and that’s Mike Ashley’s fault!
It’s really all his fault…always and a day!
Really….
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:00 AM
Comment #4Would that idiot that suggested that please stand up!
AncientC
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:00 AM
Comment #5‘And in the time Rafa has been at Newcastle we have made a net profit of £40M in five transfer windows.’
Imagine if Benitez knew that was coming before signing on the dotted line.
I have had a few scuffles on here previously telling people that Benitez didn’t get transfer control guarantees, but everybody else knew better. It is very simple, Mike Ashley will never sign another deal like the one he did with Keegan. It will be NDAs and shallow promises.
Without wanting to be repetitive, nothing will change until Ashley is gone, or he has an epiphany.
Lindisfarne
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:01 AM
Comment #6YES
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:03 AM
Comment #7…I forgot that Hayden’s family issues is because of Mike Ashley!
And his red card is because everything can be blamed on Mike Ashley!
I even blame Mike Ashley for Perez not getting a hattrick yesterday!
I blame Mike Ashley for Ibiza not posting anymore!
And the undoing of Tsunki I also blame on Mike Ashley!
Jail for Ashley
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:03 AM
Comment #8Jibbers,
The blog has decided. You are clueless!!!
Jail for Ashley
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:04 AM
Comment #9Jesper,
Will you just shut up you incessant pest.
AncientC
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:05 AM
Comment #10If anybody can bring Tsunki out of retirement, Jesper can. Watch this space.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:05 AM
Comment #11Could we also blame Mike Ashley for the poor performance is general…it’s clearly down to the net profit we made in the transfer window! It just keeps the players for performing and Rafa for making rational decisions…
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:06 AM
Comment #12Ancient…I blame Mike Ashley for that comment!
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:08 AM
Comment #13Jail…I do blame Mike Ashley for you but thank you for finally standing up you f^*+ing moron!
You truly are a sad realisation!
Lindisfarne
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:09 AM
Comment #14The compromise would be that they do better at concluding the transfer deals Rafa wants rather than relying consistently relying on cheap alternatives.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:10 AM
Comment #15I blame Mike Ashley for having to say this…
AncientC
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:11 AM
Comment #16A draw away to Cardiff isn’t the end of the world. As Ed alluded to a few days ago, this is Benitez’ best ever start to a season, and he has done alright prior to this season.
That said, I do believe this season is going to be a relegation battle.
kimbo
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:12 AM
Comment #17Ashley is responsible for my season ticket going up by £100 and the rubbish cheap signings we can only make.
Jib
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:14 AM
Comment #18Jail for Ashley
Will you just shut up you incessant pest.
Pot / Kettle come to mind ?
Jail for Ashley
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:15 AM
Comment #19Can Ibiza not make a rare appearance to try and calm his man child down, this is getting a bit silly.
Jib
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:22 AM
Comment #20There were no training pics for 2 weeks
I got me thinking.
The last time that happened at the
end of a window was Feb 2011 when we signed
Shefki Kuqi as a free agent
Were the photographers banned because
we had free agents on trial ?
Jail for Ashley
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:22 AM
Comment #21Ancient,
It was always going to be a relegation battle because the funds released made it so, like I said, there is 25M in the pot that would have bought two very capable full backs. It’s pretty obvious what is going to happen if we’re not sold. Next season’s manager is going to be given around 70M to spend and that should quell the natives disappointment from losing Rafa.
c-dog
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:28 AM
Comment #22The 6 million a year is probably too much for big mike to be shelling out. Instead of slipping 50 mil a year into his pocket from the club it could be 55 mil while paying another manager 1 mil
Jib
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:29 AM
Comment #23If there was truly a £25M surplus
then that is from the Mitro sale
which if it’s paid on the drip
is not available
beermonkey
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:30 AM
Comment #24jib thinking lol
that will be a wasted trip for the fire brigade when his mum smells burning
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:31 AM
Comment #25Ancient…I agree it’s the worse start to the season.
The injuries and attitude problems is a concern though…but I don’t see us in a relegation fight at all!
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:34 AM
Comment #26*its not the worse
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:35 AM
Comment #27😀 makes a huge difference to the context of that message lol
Aces-of-Eights
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:36 AM
Comment #28Jib we have victor anichebe on trial
Aces-of-Eights
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:41 AM
Comment #29Lets forget this not enough spending argument for a minute and ask why doesnt rafa try something different like ever i.e. 4312 or 433. Most of the time its same formation same players even if they dont always perform fluidly. He tried 3 at back but vs chelsea only to match chelsea formation not to do anything proactive. Thats what annoys me about rafa. He doesnt change much in games its like for like subs and hope we win.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:41 AM
Comment #30Jail for Ashley
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:15 AM
Comment #19
Can Ibiza not make a rare appearance to try and calm his man child down, this is getting a bit silly.
I was thinking Jail…could your wife not make an appearance in stead of you? Or is that the case already 😉
Rotonda heights
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:44 AM
Comment #31as i say if you’re on the other side of an argument with creeps like wise and keys and out and out thickos like pennant you know you’re doing something right.
Jib
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:44 AM
Comment #32Aces-of-Eights
Strange one to select
Out of all the free agents you could have picked
You went for one that played for Sunderland for
a year
HHHmmmmm
Aces-of-Eights
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:47 AM
Comment #33Jib i read on Twitter i think it was keith downie or graves whi tweeted we got anichebe on trial as cover for joselu. I was thinking if we are looking at free trials why not get ben arfa nasri and marchisio. Nasri is banned until october for doping so could train with us atleast
the ledge
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:51 AM
Comment #34and i blame ashley for idiots like jesper just throwing that one in there ???
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:52 AM
Comment #35See the ledge…just let it out and blame big Mike! There you go…
the ledge
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:54 AM
Comment #36jesper go face fkuc a herring
JohnJ
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:56 AM
Comment #37You know what it is………………….
There’s an awful lot of sh1te posted on here at times…….
If the cap fits…….
the ledge
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:56 AM
Comment #38bein sport has fat sham ,not so wise ,the fiddler gray,and the cheater beater keyes,we have jib ,jane and jesper ??
Harley
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:58 AM
Comment #39Jesper
It’s ashleys fault that we have to rely on a bargain basement back up like manquilo.
It’s ashleys fault that we’ve not been able to upgrade our midfield to put pressure on or replace Diame.
It’s Ashley’s fault that we are relying on a front 4 yesterday assembled for under £20m.
It’s Ashleys fault that we are starting premiership games with Josalu, one of the worst Newcastle strikers in our premiership history.
But it’s not Ashley’s fault that kenedy missed a penalty yesterday. So that’s good is t it.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:00 AM
Comment #40Yes the ledge…let it all out!
I do also blame Big Fat Mike for the likes of you, Mag p: and Offkey! You add some much to this place when you come on here…