Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez described David Luiz as ‘world class’ after his spell in charge of Premier League giants Chelsea.
The official line from Chelsea is that David Luiz has been suffering from a serious knee injury for the last few months, keeping him out of first-team contention.
But there’s a nagging feeling that there is something more problematic bubbling beneath the surface. The Telegraph reports that Luiz fell out with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte before being dropped for the 1-0 win over Manchester United.
And with Andreas Christensen impressing in his absence, the report adds that the Premier League champions may be open to offers for their popular centre-back due to his age and the fact he has only a year left on his contract.
But could Luiz swap London for Tyneside in January? According to the Shields Gazette, former Blues boss Rafa Benitez is genuinely interested in a reunion with Luiz at Newcastle United, after the pair worked together during his spell in charge of Chelsea in 2012/13.
The report claims that Benitez is looking at the loan market with Newcastle still lacking the funds to spend big in January, and it is understood he will go head-to-head with Real Madrid and Juventus for the buccaneering centre-half.
Benitez and Luiz forged a close relationship during their time together at Stamford Bridge.
Luiz described Benitez as an ‘amazing coach’ who helped him belatedly settle in the capital after a chaotic start to life in English football, while the Spaniard was equally complementary when the defender was omitted from Chelsea’s squad the following season under Jose Mourinho.
“He’s one of the best central defenders in the world,” Benitez told The Mail.
“I was coaching him and I can tell you he’s one of the best in the world, because he has everything. You just have to manage him properly – and then he is one of the best in the world.”
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