Jonjo Shelvey refused the Newcastle United manager’s hand on Saturday.
Rafael Benitez has told The Shields Gazette that he understands why Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey snubbed his hand during Saturday’s draw with Swansea City.
The Magpies drew 1-1 with bottom-of-the-table Swans at St James’s Park in a result that only strengthened suggestions that Newcastle could be in real trouble this season.
As a result, Benitez’s side are only three points above the relegation zone.
Shelvey was replaced with Mikel Merino by the Spanish manager 15 minutes after Joselu struck to level matters on Tyneside, before the £12 million midfielder refused to shake Benitez’s hand following the substitution.
Asked by The Shields Gazette whether it was a sign of petulance, the former Liverpool boss said: “No. When players leave the pitch, especially when the team is losing or drawing, they want to stay there and make a contribution or make the difference, so you have to understand that.”
Shelvey has been heavily linked with a move to West Ham United this month and such an incident hardly did much to stem the tide of those rumours.
But time will tell whether the former Liverpool man does have ongoing problems with Benitez or if that handshake snub was, as the manager claimed, just down to being frustrated over being subbed.
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