OPINION
Rafa Benitez has not held himself back from hitting out at Lee Charnley over comments that Newcastle United’s managing director made in the club’s matchday programme at the weekend and understandably, a section of supporters on Twitter are absolutely loving their former manager’s response. Writing for The Athletic, Benitez revealed that Mike Ashley and Charnley failed to make him an acceptable contract offer, refused to improve the club’s training and youth facilities, refused to sign players over 24 and failed to hand him a big enough transfer budget to challenge for a top-half finish. Benitez said that the final contract offer that was tabled to him included the same terms that he was already on with “less control over signings”. It would seem as though Benitez was put in a position where he simply couldn’t accept a contract extension at St James’ Park with the terms that were on the table. Who can blame him for leaving? Yes, his move to China is one that probably was a financial decision – but who cares? Benitez left Newcastle because of Ashley and Charnley. Not because Dalian Yifang were offering him much more money.
Nothing But Newcastle has rounded up some of the best tweets below:
I think we all know Ashley is a liar.
— Rich Coulthard (@Rich1570) August 13, 2019
We knew all of this – but it is good to hear it and get confirmation that the club owner and MD are liars and will never change
— ian pollock (@ipolnufc) August 13, 2019
