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.
Comments welcome.
105 comments so far
Munster Mag
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:02 AM
Comment #41Not sure what happened yesterday but I’m glad we did OK v spurs because something looks amiss and it was a rotten effort. We looked bullied and massively undermotivated. To blame Ashley for that just shows an incredible fixation with the fat one. That’s the same outfit as we had last year and against the worst passing team in the division, we had fewer passes. It was shambolic and the players and management will hopefully see it as that . We had better players than Cardiff and the only reason we got a point was because they are awful. Loads of teams will get 3 points there. As for Kennedy, not sure what happened yesterday but hope we don’t see that selfish petulance again.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:02 AM
Comment #42Harley…it’s all Ashley’s fault! Everything can be pinned on him! And it does wonders for us keeping moaning about that relentlessly on and on and on…
…regardless of what happens!
dig-n-dig22
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:03 AM
Comment #43Lindisfarne 14 previous.
If Neil Warnock’s game plan was for us not to turn up, then it worked, but I can’t figure out how he pulled it off.
the ledge
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:04 AM
Comment #44jesper i am a long time reader dont post much i only do when the bullsh1t gets to much
the ledge
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:06 AM
Comment #45jesper will you ever stop going on about ashley move on pal
Harley
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:06 AM
Comment #46Jesper
It is all Ashley’s fault. He’s the one that’s created the current shambles. Fortunately (for this season at least) we have a manager with the skills to get the team organised enough to probably survive again.
What’s there not to moan about?
Pottsclock
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:13 AM
Comment #47Norwich have let some good players go in the transfer window. Murphy clone we saw yesterday but James Maddison of Everton also looks quality in the two games he’s played for Leicester so far – though he did cost £20m.
Just shows, there is talent in the lower leagues.
Harley
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:14 AM
Comment #48I have to add though. As much as I love Rafa, it’s bafflimg me why he’s substituting Ritchie constantly. How he decided Kenedy was more deserved of staying on over him yesterday is beyond me.
We’d be looking at 3 points if he’s stayed on.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:14 AM
Comment #49Bravo the ledge…just bravo for being a long time reader! Do you want a medal?
Tosun A. Wobbler
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:14 AM
Comment #50It looked to me like Kenedy was trying to win the match all on his own, and consequently only got so far down the pitch before he was closed down by 2 or 3 Cardiff players. The commentator mentioned that he didn’t complete one single pass in the entire second half. That’s some statistic there.
toon22
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:16 AM
Comment #51To claim MA isnt at fault for all things NUFC is dense beyond belief
Cant have the fans getting in the way of his greed can we
toon22
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:18 AM
Comment #52Lets cause an argument about anything whatsoever
Its better that blaming MA about anything
Mackems and shills not sure whos worse
Tosun A. Wobbler
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:19 AM
Comment #53Toon22 at 52. Donald O’Connor was a better dancer than Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire!!
Munster Mag
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:19 AM
Comment #54Is it Ashley’s fault that diame was so slow and ponderous. Perez so flimsy? Kenedy’s attitude awful? This is the team that did so well against say, man u. We had enough assets on the pitch to beat that shower but we didn’t apply ourselves and for some reason Rafa is persisting with Joselu. If mccardew had served up such an unprofessional performance we would ask questions and not just blame the owner. Who is motivating the team? We had no fire in us yesterday. Shocker by team, Rafa and coaches.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:19 AM
Comment #55toon22…very dense if anyone to suggest that yesterday was down to poor performance and management!
Out of thid world really!
beermonkey
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:20 AM
Comment #56when will we find out if there will be retrospective action on kennedy
Munster Mag
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:21 AM
Comment #57Ledge how are u fella? Luimneach Abu!!
Aces-of-Eights
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:22 AM
Comment #58Wonder if jacob will give hayden a slap for nearly injuring his twin brother
Aces-of-Eights
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:24 AM
Comment #59If kenedy gets retro ban like they say on tv will rafa treat him same way as mitro or is it gonna be double standard benitez
Aces-of-Eights
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:25 AM
Comment #60Im sure we decided not to get slimani back after his retro ban
beermonkey
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:26 AM
Comment #61aces
it depends how well murphy does
Jib
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:27 AM
Comment #62Muto fired the ball into the box that
resulted in the penalty.
Surely a striker that has played in the
Bundesliga will have been well drilled
in penalty taking.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:31 AM
Comment #63Beer…probably sometimes next week!
Munster Mag
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:34 AM
Comment #64Kenedy clearly has a strong personality Jib. He took the free kick badly too, off jonjo. I think k we all knew he wud miss.
Jib
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:37 AM
Comment #65Just checked
he only has scored 3 pens
and they were in the J league
Jib
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:37 AM
Comment #66Muto that is
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:37 AM
Comment #67Again Rafa’s substitutions baffle me – yes he had problems after Manquilla’s woeful half and ‘injury’
Yes bring on Hayden for Manquilla – but again he goes for his usual substitutions taking off Ritchie and Perez
Yes Murphy but why – for- Kenedy was having a stinker
subs Ritchie
Perez who at least gave the keeper something to think about should of been Joselu for Rondon
Jib
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:39 AM
Comment #68Kenedy has never scored a penalty in his career !!!!
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kenedy/elfmeterstatistik/spieler/281404
Nicky the ball tosser
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:40 AM
Comment #69Muto looked ok running down the left channel to earn the pen.
Here’s your starting 11 for Chelsea Rafa.
…………………….Dubravka…
….Yedlin…Lascelles…Fernandez…Dummett..
………………..Shelvey..KiSy..
…………Ritchie….Perez……Muto..
……………………Rondon..
2-1 home win to raise the roof at St James’s. No need to thank me.
toon22
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:41 AM
Comment #70MA has done every thing possible to provide a competitive team to his manager,and has done everything possible to further Newcastle as a sporting business
Some people would have you believe this as being the truth and every blame should be found elsewhere
As some people think the sun truly shines out of his arse
Moonraker15
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:42 AM
Comment #71Shocked to learn that our total net spend on transfers since 2007 is £32 million.
Jib, regardless of whether the Mitrovic fee is being paid on the drip we should have moneys coming in each year from previous sales eg Sissoko, Wijnaldum etc. In any case there’s no reason why we can’t buy on the same terms.
Your constant and repeated defence of Ashley’s policies are embarrassing. You sound like fckin Denis Wise you tosser!
Jib
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:45 AM
Comment #72Shelvey has 2 in the PL one in the Champo
never missed one
Ritchie has 5 missed 1
K S Y has 5 missed 1 (for Celtic)
Black and white armpit
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:45 AM
Comment #73As woeful as Kenedy was yesterday he’s one of the few players that can win a game in an instant for us.
Yes I thonk he should have been subbed and Rafa called it wrong but I can also see his thinking.
Tosun A. Wobbler
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:47 AM
Comment #74Can I put in a request that we never again, mention that venomous, 5’5? Ex-Chelsea, gremlin, ex-jailbird, self appointed Ashley publicity agent, you know who I’m talking about. He gives my @rsehole the earache!!
Munster Mag
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:48 AM
Comment #75Charlie I couldn’t work out what Rafa was doing either. Maybe Jail can give us a tactical insight. But he’ll probably bore the sh1t out of me by retelling us about the profiteering fat man.
Jib
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:49 AM
Comment #76Charlie
He brought off Ritchie cos he had a yellow
and we had just had Hayden red-carded 4
minutes before – I understand his thinking
with Craig Pawson starting to look card happy
Moonraker15
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:51 AM
Comment #77Tosun
Point taken !
Jib
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:55 AM
Comment #78Huddersfield and Brighton play
the 2 Manchesters today
We need them to lose to maintain our
league position.
A Pain in the Blog
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:55 AM
Comment #79What I’d like to know is was Manquillo actually physically injured beyond his ability to continue – because the tackle didn’t suggest that. Or did he take the gifted opportunity to fake injury in order to be released from his embarrassment and torment at the hands of Josh Murphy?
Munster Mag
Aug 19, 2018 at 10:59 AM
Comment #80At least I didn’t have to watch it on BEIN sports. All the nufc haters in one room with rat faced Dennis given a free platform to tell people how wonderful Ashley is and that he had spent a quarter of a billion on us plebs.