Joey Barton does not expect Rafael Benitez to remain in charge of Newcastle United for the entire 2017-18 campaign.
Benitez has been charge of Newcastle since March 2016 and has a contract with the Magpies until June 2019, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk.
The Spaniard failed to keep the Magpies in the Premier League for the 2016-17 campaign, but the former Liverpool manager got them back straight up from the Championship.
Newcastle are playing in the Premier League this season, and the St. James’ Park faithful will expect the team to at least push for a top-10 finish.
Former Newcastle and Manchester City midfielder Barton, though, does not believe that Benitez will remain in charge of the Magpies for the entire 2017-18 season.
The former Rangers and Burnley man believes that the ex-Chelsea and Inter Milan manager will be gone from St. James’ Park by Christmas.
“Newcastle is a great club, but the owner causes a lot of problems,” Barton told talkSPORT. “It’s his way or the highway. I can’t see Benitez staying there until Christmas.”
“I believe Benitez wants to go,” added Barton. “His body language says Ashley has not come through with what he wanted this summer, and that means he feels he won’t have the opportunity to establish Newcastle in the top half of the Premier League.
“It ends one of two ways – either the owner leaves and gets the money he wants for the club, or the manager will go because he won’t give him the finances he feels is necessary to compete in the Premier League.”
Newcastle kicked off 2017-18 Premier League campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at St. James’ Park on Sunday afternoon.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
