Newcastle United had a top managerial target even above Villarreal’s Unai Emery – and it was Everton boss Rafael Benitez.
That’s according to BBC Sport, who claim that Amanda Staveley and new owners PIF made Benitez their top target to replace Steve Bruce.
However, it quickly became clear that Benitez wouldn’t be leaving Everton for a return to Newcastle.
Benitez left Newcastle in the summer of 2019 after more than three years in charge at St James’ Park.
A fan favourite during his time on Tyneside, Benitez’s exit caused major anger from Newcastle fans.
PIF and Staveley seemingly wanted Benitez back, but he took the Everton job just months earlier.
Benitez doesn’t intend to leave Everton so quickly, even with mounting pressure on him after some poor results in recent times.
It seemed that Newcastle really wanted Emery, but this claim now suggests that Benitez was even ahead of him.
Newcastle couldn’t get Benitez or Emery in the end and appointed Eddie Howe as their new manager.
Maybe Benitez heads back to Newcastle one days, but it does kind of feel that the chance has now gone.
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