The Chronicle are reporting today that Rafa has told wantaway Isaac Hayden there are no guarantees he can leave Newcastle this summer.
Isaac put in a transfer request last summer and wanted to leave the club to move south to be closer to his one-year-old daughter, Adriana, and his fiancée, Lauren, who live in the South West.
The Chronicle say that Isaac is still adamant he wants to leave, but he seemed to suggest he could stay in an interview yesterday, which we covered.
Isaac Hayden – let’s hope he can stay – but it will be difficult
Rafa has said this about Isaac Hayden – one of our star players since December:
“I have been talking to him,”
“I told him that, in the end, if you have a contract, you have to see what happens and think about what you would like to do, whether it’s this or that.”
“I understand that Isaac has his personal issues. That’s fine, but, at the same time, we have to find the balance which is good for him, but also for the club.”
“Remember that I signed him! I was impressed and was checking, watching more videos.”
“I spoke to a lot of people, then we signed him for a low fee. (£2.5M) I told him then he could be the holding midfielder for England.”
“When he was not playing (in the first half of the season), I was a bit disappointed, because I thought he could continue growing.
“In the second part of the season, he has shown he has the potential.”
“I will be the first one really pleased if I stay and he stays, but we have to find the solution for everyone.”
“He’s a person that obviously has his own issues with family that we know about.”
“But football’s not so simple, it’s not a normal job. There are a lot of things you have to analyze.”
“We will try to do the best for him – and the best for us.”
“I have a meeting this week, and then we will see.”
This is a problematic situation for Isaac (and for Newcastle) becasue it’s obvious Rafa and the fans are desperate for him to stay, but he also has a responsibility to his family.
Hopefully, Rafa and Newcastle can help find a solution for Hayden to stay at Newcastle on an improved long-term contract and somehow be able to see his daughter and fiance regularly.
Rafa, of course, has been around Europe in football management and has been away from his wife and two daughters for long periods since he left Liverpool as their manager back in 2010.
Comments welcome.
11 comments so far
SwissSte
May 15, 2019 at 7:01 AM
Comment #1There is absolutely no way Southgate will be selecting Hayden, Longstaff, Shelvey or Lascelles in any of his squads. If they played for any other team tho….
Tsunki
May 15, 2019 at 7:14 AM
Comment #2That’s because every England manager only picks players who are good enough to play in the top half of the table, preferably the top six, not in a team that flirts with relegation every year, top manager or no.
The fact they won’t play for England will be more to do with Ashley’s dogged business implementation than with Benitezs failure to make his sparsely sourced team into European contenders.
Jib
May 15, 2019 at 7:22 AM
Comment #3SwissSte
It has nothing to do with the club
Clearly the bottom 4 have no England players
but neither do
Wolves
Man U
Arsenal
Watford
Ctrystal Palace
and ourselves
Southgate even has a player from the Championship – Stoke City (Butland)
Liverpool have only one
Man City only two
The team with the most is Spurs with four
Jib
May 15, 2019 at 7:23 AM
Comment #4Whoops just shot down the monkey hanging bluffer in flames
Jib
May 15, 2019 at 7:26 AM
Comment #5Just to stamp completely on Tsunki
Bournemouth
Burnley
Soton
All have England players
Everton Leicester West ham too
Lindisfarne
May 15, 2019 at 7:27 AM
Comment #6https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/778742/Rafa-Benitez-Newcastle-Isaac-Hayden-transfer-latest-news
“”Rafa Benitez warns £20m Newcastle star Isaac Hayden he may have to STAY this summer””
The manager knows how to get the most out of a situation.
beermonkey
May 15, 2019 at 7:29 AM
Comment #7Jib
Who does rashford
Young right back at palace given the form of trippier will probably get his debut sooner rather than later
You stand more chance of playing for England if you have played in the youth teams
Longstaffwould have been called to the under 21s but he got injured
beermonkey
May 15, 2019 at 7:31 AM
Comment #8Rashford play for
Lindisfarne
May 15, 2019 at 7:39 AM
Comment #9Has Víctor Camarasa been mentioned as a possible midfield replacement?
Munster Mag
May 15, 2019 at 7:40 AM
Comment #10I had forgotten that rafa signed Hayden. Hell of a purchase to be fair. Can’t see us keeping him unless family move north surely?
Jib
May 15, 2019 at 7:41 AM
Comment #11Rashford isn’t in the current squad
The forwards are
Raheem Sterling
Harry Kane (captain)
Jadon Sancho
Callum Wilson
Callum Hudson-Odoi