New Newcastle signing Matt Ritchie is excited by the prospect of working under Magpies manager Rafa Benitez. The winger has made the step down from the Premier League to join the Spaniard at St James’ Park.
The 26 year old signed a five year deal at the Championship side last week, completing a £12million move from Bournemouth, and in an interview with the Evening Chronicle, Ritchie praised the influence of Benitez:
“I first met Rafa when I came up, and there’s an aura about him, for sure. He’s a manager who’s won nearly everything in football. He’s got an aura around him and I’m really looking forward to working with him. I’m sure that he’s got different coaching methods to what I’m used to so I’m sure I can learn.”
“It’s flattering, for sure, yeah, when someone like that in football watches you. He’s obviously seen you play, he must have watched me in games.So yeah, it’s flattering to know that someone with his knowledge in football rates you.”
Ritchie looks set to be direct replacement for Andros Townsend who left the Magpies for Crystal Palace in a £13million at the start of July after spending just six months on Tyneside.
The winger, who plays from the right hand side but with a stronger left foot is one of four Newcastle signings this summer so far with Blackburn Rovers’ Grant Hanley now firmly in Benitez’s sights as the fifth addition this summer as the Toon Army prepare for a season in the Championship.
