Rafa Benitez admits he’s open to a return to the Premier League after Tottenham Hotspur identified the veteran Spaniard as a potential replacement for Jose Mourinho, speaking to Sky Italia.
Talk about adding insult to injury.
Mourinho’s famous ego will have been bruised by last Monday’s sudden sacking. Imagine the frown on his face, then, if one of his old adversaries arrives to take his place in the Spurs dugout?
Before the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, the Daily Mail reported Benitez was one of the names being considered by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.
The 61-year-old may not be a coaching wunderkind with decades of success ahead of him, a la Julian Nagelsmann, but he is hugely experienced, boasting a CV decorated with the very biggest prizes.
Benitez, the former Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Inter Milan boss, hopes for a return to Europe after his two-season spell at Chinese outfit Dalian Professional came to an end recently.
And, speaking to Sky, the 2005 Champions League winner admitted a return to England is something he would consider.
Benitez said: “I like to compete, I like to win. However, at the same time I can work with young people because I am a ‘professor’.
“In Spain, at the moment, it’s not possible to think about carrying out a project and trying to win something.
“In Italy and England, on the other hand, it can be done. It is still too early to know what will happen in the future but it is clear that Italy and England are places where I have done well.”
Clearly, Benitez feels he would have a better chance of adding to his personal trophy cabinet if he joined a Premier League club this summer.
And it just so happens Spurs share his burning desire for silverware. A match made in heaven, perhaps?
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