After the great win on Saturday and even more so after we became mathematically safe yesterday – Rafa Benitez seems very keen to sort out his future with Newcastle.
Now we are safe nothing is stopping Rafa signing a new deal at Newcastle since we’ll be a PL club next season.
It may also bring in some new bidders for the club, but it seems Ashley is putting his price up (again), and now we read in the press he’s asking anywhere from £300M to £400M for Newcastle.
That’s even after Newcastle have paid Mike Ashley back his short-term loan of £33M, according to the last financial year accounts.
And that should theoretically reduce the amount he’s asking for the club by that amount since it reduces the amount he ‘s invested in the club by £33M.
And we really have to wonder if he wants to sell Newcastle anytime soon.
Rafa Benitez – it’s not what we say – it’s what we do
After the game on Saturday, Rafa was really upbeat, and a number of the comments he made were no doubt directed at owner Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley, who runs the financials of the club.
Here’s some of what Rafa said and he’s intent on getting things done – and not just talking about getting things done:
“Everything is about money. If you sign a player like Richarlison for £45M, then you have to pay a certain amount in wages.
“We have to be able to compete. The way that we are, we have to be competing against Everton, but they’re competing to be seventh and to go to Europe.”
“If they’re paying £140K a week in wages, how can you compete with them and attract players if you do not do the same?”
“Even if you are willing to pay a big transfer fee, you have to be willing to pay the wages.”
“Balance is the key. You can do things at this age, this price – Ki (Sung-yueng) is playing for us and was a free transfer, and is doing well.”
“I will not say what we have to do. I just want to know what we want to do, and after that, we have to decide. I will not force anyone to make any decisions.”
“I will not say to anyone what they have to do. I have been in teams without too much money and winning trophies. Not just competing, winning trophies.”
“Different teams, but more or less with the same money, against top sides, and winning trophies.”
“I have some experience, and I know what I have to do with or without money. But I want to know where we are. That’s it. Where do want to go?”
“What’s our ambition? If we cannot compete with other teams in transfer fees and wages, fine.”
“We have to say that. But it doesn’t matter what we say, it’s what we do.”
It really does seem that Rafa wants to stay at Newcastle and it’s going to take some effort from Ashley to screw this all up.
But he’s done it before, that’s what is so worrying.
Comments welcome.
132 comments so far
one fine day
Apr 23, 2019 at 6:30 AM
Comment #121Jane at 49
As play has stopped then can’t see why you cant cannot make a sub
Unless you have only rivière left on the bench and anything of value up in row h
hibbit
Apr 23, 2019 at 6:50 AM
Comment #122i had a laugh when i read this one !!
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/773914/Everton-Newcastle-new-manager-Jurgen-Klinsmann-latest-gossip
😀
Jib
Apr 23, 2019 at 7:14 AM
Comment #123Callum Vurley
Sport Reporter
Callum is is a graduate of the University of Brighton, having worked as an intern for talkSPORT before making the move to the Star in 2017.
So I real footy expert then
😛
Jib
Apr 23, 2019 at 7:33 AM
Comment #124I = a
Jib
Apr 23, 2019 at 7:35 AM
Comment #125Food for thought
All the folk whining about Ashley being in the States
are forgetting that when sales talk was hot , several
of the links were from over the pond.
ScoopSouthAfrica
Apr 23, 2019 at 7:39 AM
Comment #126I see we are fast approaching the 2 million HIT mark….. Wonder which blogger will get the magic number.
ScoopSouthAfrica
Apr 23, 2019 at 7:41 AM
Comment #127Sorry 200 million….typo
martoon
Apr 23, 2019 at 8:22 AM
Comment #128I was pretty confident Rafa would be staying but I have to admit his recent comments are a bit worrying – hopefully he is just cleverly applying pressure to Ashley by dropping these comments to the press!
Also I keep reading the board has to decide this and has to agree that etc. BUT we know the board consists of 1 person – Lee Charnley – so for the board read Mike Ashley!
L Toon
Apr 23, 2019 at 8:36 AM
Comment #129Lesh
lard arse doesn’t think that far ahead. If Rafa is allowed to walk then i genuinely think a few player’s will decide to move on, starting with perez. Rafa is hoping for a meeting with penfold this week so he can get the green light to go and make signings. Rafa has always been diplomaric until we were mathematically safe, but now rhe rhetoric will ramp up until something gives.
lesh
Apr 23, 2019 at 8:51 AM
Comment #130ScoopSouthAfrica
Sit tight, Jib’ll use Google to find out who’ll post the 200 millionth post. He knows everything you know.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 23, 2019 at 9:10 AM
Comment #131Jib,
You told us he hadn’t rang Rafa because he was on holiday, now you’re saying he might be on business, make your mind up, you’re looking silly again.
Jib
Apr 23, 2019 at 9:14 AM
Comment #132Jail for Ashley
Jib,
You told us he hadn’t rang Rafa because he was on holiday
I never said that
Munster’s right you frequently make stuff up
as for looking silly – you could give lessons