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Rafa Benitez explains how had to settle for Everton after expected Newcastle return failed

3 years ago
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The 30 June 2021 saw Rafa Benitez eventually confirmed as the new Everton boss.

After weeks and weeks of behind the scenes talks, the former Newcastle United and Real Madrid manager agreeing to take the job.

Those weeks and weeks of course also filled with many Everton fans wanting to tell the world how much they didn’t want the ex-Liverpool manager to fill the vacancy, whilst their lunatic fringe made threats and even left a banner outside Rafa’s house. Only for them to leave it outside the wrong house…

Talking passionately about what he intends to help Everton achieve, Rafa Benitez has now confirmed that he had waiting on Newcastle United.

The Spaniard revealing: ‘I was following them [Newcastle United] when I was in China. I was in contact with a lot of people. I was expecting maybe something will happen.’

It was the widely reported worst kept secret that the Saudi financed consortium wanted Rafa Benitez once the Newcastle United takeover was completed and Rafa certainly appearing now to confirm that.

He has said any number of times that he’s turned down job offers from elsewhere whilst he waited for the ‘right’ one.

Whilst nothing he really fancied came along, not the worst case scenario for Rafa Benitez that he got rare time to spend with family (and his dogs!) as he wondered, like the rest of us, if the NUFC takeover was / is ever going to happen.

However, despite the hostility / stupidity of some Everton fans, no Newcastle United fan can really blame Rafa Benitez for taking this job. Even though hopes of the NUFC takeover happening have yet again been raised for many with Mike Ashley challenging the Premier League, arbitration taking place this month and an anti-competition case set to follow.

It will be a strange one seeing Rafa Benitez in the wrong dugout when Newcastle face Everton and mixed emotions.

The respect and affection he earned, means Newcastle fans will wish him all the best in terms of getting success elsewhere. Whilst the fact that the club in question is Everton, makes the hopes of success for the Spaniard significantly more difficult to sustain.

Whilst we deal with our never ending circus at St James Park, it will be very interesting to see what happens with Rafa Benitez, now that he has club owners who will respect him and are set to keep their promises of proper support in helping Everton progress.

Rafa Benitez talking about taking the Everton job:

“I went to China, I wanted to win. If I stay here, I want to win.

“I was following them [Newcastle United] when I was in China

“I was in contact with a lot of people.

“I was expecting maybe something will happen.

“It didn’t happen. That is it.

“I have to concentrate on now and with Everton I could see the vision, as a club they want to be successful. We were talking about the new stadium, so many things that means the club is going in the right direction.

“My CV is there and I will try to help Everton with my experience. I want to win every game. 

“Everton has a great chance to develop something, to challenge for the title, to challenge for Europe.

“You start winning games and growing in confidence and you never know what can happen.

“As I have said many times, for me it is a challenge.

“We want to fight from the first day. We are really fighting, trying to improve every single detail in the training sessions.”

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