Richard Keys has defended Mike Ashley’s ownership of Newcastle United, arguing that Rafa Benitez is to blame for the side’s recent slump, and suggesting that the Spaniard should buy the club himself.
Following comments made on BT Sport by pundit Rio Ferdinand that also defended the Magpies’ owner, Keys took to his personal Twitter to agree with the former England defender.
In a post on Sunday morning, he applauded Ferdinand, before sensationally suggesting that Benitez buy out the current owner, saying: “If Rafa loves Newcastle as he says – spend some of his own money. He’s got enough.
“Management is about teamwork – why should it always be Ashley? Buy it. It’s still for sale.
“They’re in the bottom 3 & Rafa is responsible. He picks the team.”
Well said @rioferdy5 ??. If Rafa loves Newcastle as he says – spend some of his own money. He’s got enough. Management is about teamwork – why should it always be Ashley? Buy it. It’s still for sale. They’re in the bottom 3 & Rafa is responsible. He picks the team.
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) January 13, 2019
OPINION
Keys’ comments are so mad that they’re almost laughable. To absolve Ashley of any blame is bad enough, but to suggest that Rafa Benitez should be spending his own money to sign players for the club is almost unbelievable. This man was one of the best respected footballing pundits in the media for many years, and for him to come out and peddle this kind of nonsense is just daft. Whether it’s him playing devil’s advocate or crying out for attention, who knows, but surely Keys cannot believe that the manager should be financing transfer activity at any club, let alone one with the issues that Newcastle are facing. It is true that Benitez escapes a lot of blame because of the disdain for Ashley on Tyneside, and the Spaniard is far from perfect, but general consensus would be that he is punching well above his weight with a squad that is essentially Championship level. Keys has once again proven his increasing irrelevance with these comments.