Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has backed boss Rafa Benitez to remain in the hotseat for at least one more season, despite the club’s limited activity in the transfer window this summer.
United have already signed the likes of Kenedy, Salomon Rondon, Yoshinori Muto and Fabian Schar, but with deadline day looming, it remains to be seen what Benitez’ next move in the window will be.
The Magpies’ legend was quoted by talkSPORT as saying: “Rafa is obviously angry because he was promised he would be given all the funds that were generated to spend on the team and that hasn’t happened. I understand Rafa’s frustration totally and the fans’ frustration too.”
Fans were undoubtedly hoping for some bigger name swoops in this window, but Shearer believes that Benitez will not walk away for the time being.
He told talkSPORT: “I do think Rafa will stick around because I think he lives in hope that someone will buy the football club. He realises the potential there. There are 52,000 fans at the stadium who care for that club. If nothing changes at the end of the season then I’m sure he will go.”
OPINION
Shearer is right in saying that Benitez will remain as manager for at least one more season. He obviously wants the club to be successful, and if he left now and it ended up being sold, then he would live to regret it. The Spaniard obviously has a glimmer of hope that it will happen soon, because there is only so long he can put up with an owner who is largely uninterested in giving some of his financial backing. The United legend is right – he will definitely go at the end of the season if things remain the same. There is no manager in the Premier League who would put up with the treatment he is getting from Mike Ashley, who is lucky to have a boss with such experience and calibre on board. Benitez has become a firm fan favourite at St James’ Park, and supporters would be sad to see him go – and they will have their fingers crossed that things will start to change.
