Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has dampened suggestions he could be in line for a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League, with quotes sourced by the Daily Mail.
There were reports over the course of the weekend touting the Spaniard with a money-spinning relocation in the Far East as the CSL tries to grow its brand. While clubs in the league have splashed out big money on luring European-based players over the last few transfer windows, there are only a few big name managers in that part of the world.
Former Tottenham and Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas is currently in charge of Shanghai SIPG and reportedly makes a cool £11m-per-year, though the Daily Mirror suggested Benitez could command a staggering £30m-per-year to move.
However, the 56-year-old has distanced himself from such rumours and states he doesn’t know where they emanated from as he attempts to guide the Magpies back into the Premier League.
‘I was asking where it came from,’ Benitez said during his pre-match press conference.’
‘I didn’t know. At the beginning of the season a lot of people were talking about Chinese clubs, but it was a surprise to me.’
