Benitez shares Newcastle’s approach to signing players at this summer’s World Cup

Follow us on Google Discover

Newcastle United fans shouldn’t expect to see the club sign World Cup stars this summer.

Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has told The Chronicle that he won’t be planning to sign anybody based on their performances at the World Cup this summer.

The Magpies beat Leicester City 2-1 on Saturday afternoon to all but confirm their Premier League status for next season, having made it three wins in a row.

This late-season burst has given fans major cause for optimism, and there is now hope that Benitez will be given the backing to push the club forward next season.

New signings will certainly be needed, and whilst permanent deals for Marvin Dubravka and Kenedy will almost certainly be pursued, Benitez and his scouting team will be working hard to identify other targets too.

This summer will be particularly fascinating for Premier League clubs, as the World Cup in Russia will shine a light on some possible hidden gems, with many earning Premier League moves over the years.

However, signing players off the back of their World Cup displays hasn’t always panned out well for Premier League clubs; El-Hadji Diouf, Didier Zokora, John Paintsil, Pablo Barrera, Cristian Gamboa and Enner Valencia are just a host of players who failed to live up to expectations in England.

Performances over such a short space of time are far from indicative of long-term success, and Newcastle boss Benitez appears to be ready to steer well clear of targeting World Cup stars.

Speaking to The Chronicle, Benitez has admitted that he doesn’t like the idea of signing players on the basis of one or two weeks, and will instead trust his staff to find players who have proven themselves over a longer period of time.

“I don’t think so,” said Benitez. “We have people going around but now you can see a lot of players and you don’t have to be there. Also I am not a fan of the Euros and World Cup in terms of signing players from there because when they go there, what do they have? Something you don’t have for ten months, it’s not guaranteed for ten months.”

“When you go to the Euros and the World Cup, everybody wants to go and they are motivated. This motivation for one or two weeks, for some players it is enough to make a name and then go to a top side. But after for ten months, maybe they don’t reach the level. I am not impressed with the World Cup or Euros in terms of signing players because they do well there,” he added.