West Ham United reportedly wanted Rafael Benitez before the Newcastle United manager was appointed the Real Madrid boss.
According to The Mirror, West Ham approached the former Liverpool manager in the summer of 2015.
Benitez was interested in the role, according to the report, but the Spaniard has revealed that he did not take the chance as Real Madrid came calling.
“It (West Ham) was one of the options,” Benitez told The Mirror. “That is why people talk about me and West Ham.
“The question with West Ham was when I was in Napoli. Then I got a phone call off Real Madrid. At this time I was interested.”
From Real Madrid to Newcastle United
Madrid are arguably the biggest club in the world, and Benitez must have been delighted to take charge of the Spanish and the European giants in the summer of 2015.
However, the former Valencia and Liverpool manager did not last long at the Santiago Bernabeu, as he was let go in January 2016.
Benitez was appointed the Newcastle boss in March 2016, and the Spaniard has been brilliant for the Magpies and is hugely popular among the St. James’ Park faithful.
Newcastle will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they take on West Ham United at St. James’ Park in the Premier League.
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