Benitez has a contract at Newcastle until the end of the season.
Newcastle United legend Malcolm McDonald has told the Daily Star that he expects Rafa Benitez to wave goodbye to St. James’ Park at the end of the season, when his contract expires.
Benitez has become increasingly frustrated since moving to Tyneside to replace Steve McClaren midway through the 2015-16 season, with owner Mike Ashley preventing him from spending bid in the transfer window.
Indeed, this summer Ashley had promised Benitez that he could spend all the money he generated by selling players, but even then the figure received for outgoing players was far more than the Spaniard spent.
It has seen many speculate over the former Real Madrid and Liverpool manager’s future, and Toon legend Supermac believes Benitez could be on his way when his £77,000-a-week, £4million-a-year wages expire (Express).
“They would have been wanting to reward the manager. But Mike Ashley is not bothered in my eyes about the club itself. He’s not bothered about the team or the supporters or anybody,” McDonald said.
“And I think it’s gone beyond a meeting between the two to end the stand-off. I think Rafa is just looking at the end of the season and that’s his contract up. It’s heartbreaking.”
Newcastle have made a dismal start to the Premier League season, picking up just one point from their opening four outings with a 0-0 draw against Cardiff. They have lost to Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Benitez’s side still lack a bit of quality which the Spaniard would have liked to have covered by spending some money this summer, but instead Newcastle must now look to earn their first win against Arsenal on Saturday.
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