TalkSport pundit Micky Gray has slammed Newcastle United’s ‘ridiculous’ treatment of manager Rafael Benitez and has boldly claimed that the Spaniard should quit the club.
The Chronicle revealed on their website that Benitez is hoping for three or four new additions with a week remaining in the transfer window.
Gray, who spent 12 years at hometown club Sunderland, was disappointing with the way that the respected manager has been treated by the club in terms of transfer deals.
Benitez was even offered by Newcastle to take up the role as manager of the Spanish national team after then boss Julen Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of the tournament after agreeing to move to Real Madrid.
“It seems to me as if they (Newcastle) have gone behind his (Benitez) back and try to sell him off,” said Gray, as shown on TalkSport’s official Twitter account.
“Why should Benitez walk away?
“He has gone in there and done a brilliant job and is absolutely loved and adored by the Newcastle supporters.
“They want him to be backed in the transfer windows and it has not happened the way he thought it was.
“For Ashley to go behind his back and sell him off to Spain just before the World Cup and then receive a letter two days later after they appointed Hierro is absolutely ridiculous.
“If I was in the position that Rafa Benitez is in, he should walk away.”
“Rafa should walk away!” ?@MickyGray33 says #NUFC’s treatment of Rafa Benitez is ridiculous.
[? via @talkSPORTDrive] pic.twitter.com/PpYg6hpqii
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) August 1, 2018
OPINION
Since achieving a top-half finish last season, the Magpies have added just Ki Sung-yeung, Fabian Schar and Yoshinori Muto to their squad. It seems that Ki, a free transfer, may be a squad player, while it will be interesting to see how involved centre-back Schar and centre-forward Muto will be. Loanees Martin Dubravka and Kenedy have also been brought back in with Dubravka signing permanently and Kenedy completing another loan move. The treatment of Benitez has been very poor and Mike Ashley should be backing the Spaniard given his excellent season last year in dealing with what was a Championship squad. There is yet to be a big money signing for the Magpies as the search goes on for Newcastle’s transfer record to be broken and, with clubs such as Bournemouth and Brighton making strong transfers, then the Magpies supporters will continue to remain frustrated with their owner.