LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer News

Newcastle ditching Benitez’s expensive gift would be the final insult

Miguel Almiron during the Newcastle United warm weather training session at La Finca Golf Resort on February 12, 2019 in Callosa de Segura, Spain. ...
Follow us on Google Discover

Newcastle United have parted ways with Rafa Benitez.

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez (l) reacts on the sidelines during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on September 15, 2018 in Newcastle upon...

Newcastle United and Rafa Benitez went their separate ways yesterday with the club announcing the manager’s departure.

Fans are furious that the club were unable to agree a way to keep Benitez.

There has been no statement of intent from the club with regard to strategy and the way forward over the last few weeks, leaving fans fearing the worst.

But what if worse was yet to come?

Hours before Benitez’s exit was made official, star attacker Almiron was linked with an exit to Real Madrid, by South American outlet TyC Sports.

Almiron was signed for £21 million in January. He was the club’s long awaited record signing, breaking a figure which had existed since 2005.

Newcastle fans have not seen the best of him so far by any stretch.

Miguel Almiron during the Newcastle United warm weather training session at La Finca Golf Resort on February 12, 2019 in Callosa de Segura, Spain.

Almiron told The Express that the Spaniard was key to his decision to convince him to join.

He said: “As soon as you realise Rafa Benitez, with his career and experience, is interested in you, it’s a decisive factor in that.

“From the word go, he showed great interest in me.

“It was a big moment, not just for me but for my career as well, and I was really happy.”

Persuading Almiron to join Newcastle was Benitez’s final gift to Newcastle, with the board finally giving money to spend.

Now can anybody really rule out Newcastle cashing in on Almiron if a sizeable offer and chance to make a small profit came in. And would the Paraguayan be blamed if he wanted out?

If the board did sell, it would be the final insult to Benitez.

Rafael Benitez the manager