Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez points out that Daryl Murphy scored more goals last season than Aleksandar Mitrovic, currently on loan at Fulham.
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s future at Newcastle United looks bleak. Although the Serbia international striker is banging in the goals for fun on loan at Fulham, Rafael Benitez’s latest comments are probably an indication that the 23-year-old may not be at St. James’ Park next season.
While responding to Mitrovic’s recent critical comments about Newcastle’s playing style, as quoted by ChronicleLive, Benitez did not mention his contribution to the Magpies’ promotion-winning campaign of 2016-17 in the Championship.
“Our style of football was very offensive and we had one key player – and that was Dwight Gayle,” Benitez told ChroniceLive.
“He scored 23 goals even when he was two months without playing. Even Daryl Murphy scored six goals.”
The aforementioned comments could be construed as a dig at Mitrovic, who scored just four goals in the Championship last season.
It is clear that former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager Benitez does not rate the Serbian striker too highly, and it should not surprise anyone is the 23-year-old is sold in the summer of 2018.
Mitrovic is a good player, and it would make sense for him to try to secure a permanent deal to Fulham in the summer of 2018, especially if the Magpies get promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season.
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