OPINION
Newcastle United fans will surely be thrilled to know that Roberto Martinez has no interest in quitting his job with the Belgium international team.
According to the Sun, Newcastle have made contact with Martinez, 45, as they aim to hire a successor to Rafa Benitez, who left St James’ Park at the end of last month when his deal expired.
The newspaper claimed that the former Everton and Wigan boss could find the lure of the size of a club like Newcastle too much for him to turn down as he aims to return to management in the Premier League.
However Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur, who works for newspaper HLN, has dug out quotes by Martinez from last month that would suggest that the Spaniard is not keen on quitting Belgium any time soon.
“I want to finish my job here. I can’t terminate the contract that I signed with Belgium. What will happen after the Euros is another story,” Terreur quoted Martinez as saying while adding that the 45-year-old is on Newcastle’s radar.
Roberto Martínez might be on #NUFC’s radar, but last month he kept on insisting that he will stay with Belgium: “I want to finish my job here. I can’t terminate the contract that I signed with Belgium. What will happen after the Euros is another story.” https://t.co/CxATiUqkOm
— Kristof Terreur
It’s not hard to see why they do not want the Belgium boss either.
Although he did win the FA Cup at Wigan, it would be fair to say that was just one of those things in football because Martinez’s work at Everton was less than impressive.
According to transfermarkt, he had a win percentage of 43 per cent at Goodison Park even though he spent a lot of money on signing players like Romelu Lukaku, Oumar Niasse, James McCarthy and Ramiro Funes Mori.
Martinez was allowed to spend big on Merseyside – but he will surely stand no chance of that at Newcastle as long as Mike Ashley remains the owner.
Hiring the Spaniard would just be an average appointment, and Newcastle need someone better than average to even come close to replacing Benitez.
You have to fear for the Magpies next season because if they do not get this appointment bang on, they could well be preparing for life in the Championship at this time next year.