Rafa was bombarded with questions from the local journalists today amid reports his negotiations at Newcastle have reached an impasse.
He is still waiting for answers to his requirements to stay on as Newcastle manager past the end of June and even pointed out he has a contract until June 30th.
An before the game at Arsenal he was asked to submit the information on what he wanted from the hierarchy (Mike Ashley) to stay on at the club.
The more positive information this afternoon was about our two injured players Florian Lejeune and Sean Longstaff, who both suffered knee injuries that end their seasons.
From what Rafa has said about Florian Lejeune it looks like the operation went very well and Professor Paolo Mariani has told him the rehabilitation will be quite quick.
Sean Longstaff talks to Rafa Benitez
Maybe that’s a sign that this ACL tear is not as bad as the one he suffered in July last year that kept him out for around five months.
This is what Rafa has said about Lejeune and Longstaff this afternoon:
“We sent him (Florian Lejeune) to Rome and he’s doing a great job already.” “He’s had the operation. Everything has gone well.”
“Now it depends on the doctor. The doctor told me rehab has started and it’s quite quick.”
“Sean Longstaff is working again and getting stronger. The rest of the players are fine.”
That is excellent news and while Sean should be ready for preseason that could be very tough for Florian Lejeune.
But both players are now on the mend.

Comments welcome.
98 comments so far
Online Guy
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:12 PM
Comment #41Lesh , MickeyDubai,
A contributing factor to the UK becoming a laughing stock around the globe was the dumbing down of teachers qualifications to actually teach, supply teachers, and the good teachers leaving in their droves because of the constant daily abuse they suffer, also teachers helpers with little qualifications side from a couple gcse’s , left with over crowded classrooms full of kids in their formative and important years, coupled with a lack of discipline throughout the school system , anarchy and lack of respect for anything …rules.
What are we breeding and unleashing on society ?
Couple that with political correctness and two Government parties trying to score points off each other , daily, with agitation from the left and right and centre makes for disruption and disharmony throughout the political joke of a system . Mayhem .
Two of my Nieces teach ..under pressure.
The BBC are complicit and add to the mess ..can’t even watch a sit-com nowadays without some sort of political agenda within . Comedy written with a political prospective can be influential on the easily led .
Couple all that with the madhouse and gossip that is the Internet I await the implosion with trepidation .
Jib
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:12 PM
Comment #42https://www.businessleader.co.uk/transunion-sells-credit-reporting-division-to-credit-karma/64265/
Lindisfarne
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:12 PM
Comment #43“Subsequent to the year end and agreement has been put in place under which (NUFC) will receive payment from Sports Direct for stadium advertising.”
Online Guy
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:22 PM
Comment #44Lindisfarne
I’m thinking if we are sold lock stock then SD and Ashley want to preserve their name around the stadium ..well, hoping that’s the case.
Mister Tuff
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:25 PM
Comment #45Jib Jibberish ….. and your interpretation of these changes in the business market………………………….??????
(please no more ” I tell ya it’s happening” tosh – the last time you pulled that stunt the blog trainee vicars and idiots went into meltdown).
Lindisfarne
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:28 PM
Comment #46“Our budget to strengthen the team and establish our place back in the Premier League has been circa £122million over the last two seasons, which was an initial agreed budget of £70million plus an additional £52million generated as a result of sales and outgoing loans,” Lee Charnley says.“We have spent over 90% of that – £111million – and the balance of £11million will be carried forward to supplement what we have for forthcoming transfer windows as we look to strengthen again.”
Jib
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:29 PM
Comment #47Mr Tuff
Looks like I was wrong
🙁
A vague hope that the
creation of a holding company
(which implies several diverse businesses)
is significant.
but not holding my breath
Lindisfarne
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:30 PM
Comment #48Online Guy
10 year advertising contract with above capital penalty clause me thinks?
Ron Knee
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:35 PM
Comment #49“and the balance of £11million will be carried forward to supplement…”
£11million = 2 Joselus!
Lindisfarne
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:38 PM
Comment #50NUFC also increased their “purchase of goods” from Sports Direct to £1.44million in 2018 – although the balance owed to SD was down to £226,000.
????
Jail for Ashley
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:39 PM
Comment #51The Churnley Brief is out in the Chronicle btw, nowt about Rafas contract mind.
Lindisfarne
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:39 PM
Comment #52Do 3 Joselus make a Rondon?!!
NY Mag
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:41 PM
Comment #53I see Charnley has had his salary doubled
Jib
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:43 PM
Comment #54David Moyes and Scott Gemmill
joint favourites for Scotland job
martoon
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:45 PM
Comment #55Listening to a summary on BBC Newcastle Ashley has been repaid his £33m loan leaving £111m outstanding but he considers this to be a debt only repaid when the club is sold.
If we had a total budget of £122m for transfers and have £11m left that means we’ve spent £111m in 2 years – I’m struggling to think how even if you include loan fees?
Jail for Ashley
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:46 PM
Comment #56They reckon 55M and player sales will be available, including agents fees, but young players and high quality players must be added. It sounds like we’re pleading poverty again despite going higher than Everton on commercial revenue.
They can’t stress enough how important PL survival is, yet can’t find a way to keep the manager onboard who can guarantee it.
martoon
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:46 PM
Comment #57Ah NY Mag I’m relying on you to make sense of all the accounts 😀
Novocastrian66
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:46 PM
Comment #58Martoon; wages will have to come out of that budget.
NY Mag
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:51 PM
Comment #59Jail,
We’re not higher than Everton on commercial revenue – theirs is around 43M, ours is 27M
Jail for Ashley
Apr 18, 2019 at 5:58 PM
Comment #60NYMag
From the Chronicle,
“The huge increase in revenues is down for the most part to the increase in TV money banked for being in the top flight but there was also a rise in commercial income to £26.7million, which takes them above Everton
Jib
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:04 PM
Comment #61NY Everton’s CR was slightly over £20M
for 2018
Online Guy
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:04 PM
Comment #62Lindisfarne
If Ash is on his way out then he will have cut SD a cheap deal so we still won’t benefit from the advertising space and exposure to a realistic level .
Still, a few quid is better than nowt in lieu of a debt.
Jib
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:06 PM
Comment #63Jail
Unlike Ashley
Farhad Moshiri puts his hand in his pocket to fund transfers
Online Guy
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:07 PM
Comment #64For anyone worrying about Ashley meeting Rafa ambition
Ashley has already said on camera that he won’t invest to keep up with the big boys .. point blank
So I’m afraid that’s your Ans
NY Mag
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:07 PM
Comment #65Jail,
The peril of believing the chronicle…..go look at Everton’s recently released accounts, it’s all in there 🙂
Online Guy
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:09 PM
Comment #66That’s your answer Rafa. Adios Amigo.
Jib
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:18 PM
Comment #67Arsenal are in Napoli tonight
They have Crystal Palace
Sunday tea-time at the Emirates
Which will Unai Emery prioritise ?
martoon
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:21 PM
Comment #68Novocastrian66 @58 – Surely wages come out of the normal accounts not the transfer budget?
posada
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:23 PM
Comment #69Interesting post from Harley.
Kenyon thought the deal was done at 250, but Ashley wanted 350.
May all be on hold until Ashley can take 100M out to repay his loan.
Just possible now as the club is raking in 178M a year.
Ashley’s big problem. Needs to invest to maintain Prem status and thus the clubs main income. Same for all clubs. However, the problem with Rafa is that he is/has been able to keep us up without spending a load of cash. He’ll simply want that to continue.
martoon
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:24 PM
Comment #70Jib from earlier I’m surprised Tuff didn’t correct you but I don’t think Chelsea or Arsenal were in the CL this year – they were in the EL by virtue of winning FA cup & league position respectively.
Nufc 4ever
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:40 PM
Comment #71Well it’s been great reading on here recently no blademouth scratchy we must have won a few games.
My take as long as fatman stays Rafa will go he won’t spend another 3 years dancing to his tune. This is a great club ruined by 12 years of neglect.
We will not get another Rafa unfortunately. Keep up the good work some really good reads on here when the idiots are not on 1988 being the biggest wum
Jib
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:48 PM
Comment #72martoon
I did post “I think”
my bad
I foolishly left PL clubs out of my reckoning
DOH
Tsunki
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:49 PM
Comment #73Ah NUFC 4ever – sorry, I was just getting my coat and shoes on I’Il be off in a minute. 🙂
Ron Knee
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:54 PM
Comment #74Chelski and Arsenal fielding strong teams by the look of it.
Tsunki
Apr 18, 2019 at 6:55 PM
Comment #75Charnleys announcements are just like those Iced Gem things – looks like they’re going to be something good but when you actually get into them they are horribly bland and lacking any real flavour or substance.
The explanations about the income and what’s available already have the tang of deception and half-truth about them. Of course it bears looking into the income figures a bit more but I expected the annual run over to bear fruit now we are into season two and established TV money. We don’t seem to be an earning powerhouse when you consider the lucrative fanbase size to be tapped either. Hmmm. Hmmm. Thrice hmmmmm.. I say.
I feel the soft pat pat pat of that tenderiser….
Moonraker15
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:02 PM
Comment #76Online@64
Rafa has said he doesn’t expect to compete with the big boys on transfers;
Jail for Ashley
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:12 PM
Comment #77We are convinced that the best route to achieving this is to do so sustainably, spending on young development players and adding high quality to the first team squad each season – players that can really make a difference and improve the team – without risking the financial health and stability of the club”
“We strongly believe that consistently doing the above, and robustly following this policy, will give us the best possible chance of achieving our shared ambitions.”
Shared with who though Lee? You and Mike or you Mike and Rafa
NY Mag
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:16 PM
Comment #78Jib,
From earlier…..you’ve made the same mistake as the chronicle made…..you’ve only counted Everton’s sponsorship, advertising and merchandising and not included other commercial income. When comparing to ours you have to include all commercial income as we do not breakout our commercial income by each revenue stream.
Novocastrian66
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:16 PM
Comment #79Martoon; I’ve no idea, I’m trying to account for the obvious disparity. I reckon the budget will have to cover signing on fees, agent’s commission, vat and salaries and whatever. Your right that there is a significant gap on what was spent and was is perceived to have been spent.
Jib
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:18 PM
Comment #80That’s a
“my bad”
twice on the same thread
🙁