Newcastle United face a stern battle to retain the services of manager Rafael Benitez this season, after the Spaniard has led his side to an impressive campaign in their return to the Premier League.
The Magpies have stormed towards a top-half finish and Benitez’s services have courted attention as a result, with Sport Witness citing reports that claim Napoli chairman Aurelio de Laurentiis has phoned the experienced boss to ask whether he’d be interested in a return to Italy.
Benitez was said to have been left ‘very perplexed’ by the approach of the Serie A title-chasers, who are concerned they could lose Maurizio Sarri, and while the former Liverpool and Chelsea boss didn’t accept the approach, he didn’t reject it either.
However, it’s also stated that the issues that led to Benitez leaving Napoli previously are still present and he would seek similar assurances from the Italian side that he’s chasing at Newcastle.
