Richard Keys has suggested that Rafa Benitez should be “honoured to have his job” at Newcastle United, and has claimed that he would leave if a better offer came along.
The Spaniard has yet to agree terms on a new deal at St. James’ Park, with his current one set to expire on June 30th.
But Keys believes that he should be happy with his lot on Tyneside.
Writing on his personal Twitter account, he said: “Newcastle is a fantastic club. Rafa should be honoured to have his job – not be threatening to walk away every week.”
He added in another post: “He’d be out of there like a shot if he got a sniff of a better job. He’s been trying.”
@ghost_city1 Btw – more than happy to engage in a sensible conversation. Newcastle is a fantastic club. Rafa should be honoured to have his job – not be threatening to walk away every week. Now it won’t cost £6m he can. Do you honestly look forward to seeing your team play?
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) May 31, 2019
@NUFCTheMag He can’t. And he won’t. He’d be out of there like a shot if he got a sniff of a better job. He’s been trying. He will never excite like Keegan. Come on – staying up was not a ‘miracle’. Leics WH. Watford Palace. Are they better than you? Style is a choice.
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) May 31, 2019
OPINION
What is Keys’ problem? It feels like every couple of months or so he pops up with a remark that he must know will be inflammatory to Newcastle fans, and yet he continues to spout this nonsense anyway. Does he genuinely believe this or is it just for attention? To claim that Benitez should be honoured to have the Toon job is wrong on a couple of levels. Firstly, a comment like that would give the impression that Benitez does not appreciate the club, which, judging by his adoration for the fans and his players, is simply not true. Secondly, regardless of the size and status of a club, it does not mean that he can be held to ransom by the owners. Benitez has had to put up with an awful lot more than most of his peers in the Premier League, and has had to work on a relative shoestring. Given his own achievements as a manager, that’s more than enough reason for him to walk, if he were to. Keys is out of order.
