Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has been offered up as an option to Italian heavyweights Roma as their hunt for a new head coach takes a twist, according to Gazetta dello Sport.
The Italian publication claim on their website that the Serie A giants were chasing Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini as a potential replacement for Claudio Ranieri but that he has chosen to remain at his current club after sealing Champions League football.
It is stated that Roma have begun to look at alternatives and that Benitez has been offered to the club situated in Italy’s capital, with a decision said to take less than a fortnight over who they will look to appoint.
Opinion
The report does not say exactly who is offering Benitez up as an option to Roma but considering his contract status at St James’ Park, it would not come as a surprise if it was the Spaniard’s agent as he looks for alternatives for his client. Benitez’s priority certainly seems to be to stay at Newcastle but the lack of progress made over keeping him on board will no doubt have him looking elsewhere to see what is available to him. Roma would represent an interesting possibility – a big club who have not hit the expected heights of late and they could be a project which offers Benitez exactly what he wants in terms of finances and ambition. It would be heart wrenching for the Toon Army to see the Spaniard leave this summer but those responsible are the individuals in the board room. They should see what an asset they have on their hands and how a big club would be interested in taking him off their hands. A worrying time for the Newcastle United faithful.