Benitez probably learned about NUFC from friend

Coach Rafael Benitez apparently only learned about his official end as a coach at Newcastle United from a friend. That’s what the Daily Mail and journalist Pete Graves of Sky report in unison.

According to Graves, the association’s announcement on Monday that Benitez’s contract will not be extended came as a surprise to the 59-year-old manager. According to the Daily Mail, the Spaniard would have liked to stay with Newcastle, but now he was “angry, angry and disappointed”.

A further cooperation with club owner Mike Ashley, from whom Benitez had apparently demanded a higher salary and transfer budget, was thus ruled out. The relationship between Ashley and Benitez was therefore badly damaged.

Benitez has been coach of the Magpies since summer 2015 and his contract expires next Sunday.