Rafa Benitez was informed of his Newcastle exit by a FRIEND while at his Wirral home as club did not contact him before releasing statement

  • Rafa Benitez will officially leave his post as Newcastle manager on Sunday 
  • The Spaniard failed to agree a new contract with the club's owner Mike Ashley
  • Ashley made his decision following a heated email exchange between the pair
  • Benitez had not been expecting Ashley to issue a statement on Monday 

Rafa Benitez did not know Newcastle United had announced his departure on Monday after Mike Ashley reacted to an email in which the manager said he could see no way forward.

Sportsmail understands Benitez's last correspondence with the club had been an email in which he had outlined his frustration with negotiations over a contract extension. The Spaniard wanted the promise of more investment, greater control and an improvement on his £6million-per-year salary.

However, he was not expecting Ashley to issue a statement confirming their parting at lunchtime on Monday and he was only informed by a friend while at home on the Wirral.

Rafa Benitez was unaware that Newcastle United had announced his departure on Monday

Rafa Benitez was unaware that Newcastle United had announced his departure on Monday

The Spaniard was not expecting Ashley (above) to issue a statement confirming their parting

 The Spaniard was not expecting Ashley (above) to issue a statement confirming their parting

Sources close to the 59-year-old say he is 'angry, upset and disappointed' by an outcome that will see him leave a club where he was worshipped by supporters, many of whom are now threatening to boycott St James' Park.


Benitez's deal expires on Sunday and he had thought the club could yet return with a last-minute offer to persuade him to stay, even if he had given up hope on that being enough.

Club sources say Benitez was not answering his phone last week and Ashley has now issued the instruction to begin the search for a new manager immediately. Managing director Lee Charnley has been tasked with delivering the new man within the next fortnight.

Benitez will bring to a close his tenure on Tyneside after failing to agree a contract extension

Benitez will bring to a close his tenure on Tyneside after failing to agree a contract extension

Benitez, meanwhile, has the offer of a £12million salary from Chinese club Dalian Yifang, but sources say he will explore all options. There is caution that a move to China could diminish his reputation among Europe's top clubs.

We understand he would be open to discussions with Chelsea were their pursuit of Frank Lampard to fail. Benitez won the Europa League during an interim period with the Blues in 2013 and has a good relationship with owner Roman Abramovich.

As for Newcastle, they were only drawing up a shortlist on Monday night and it is likely that Neil Redfearn will take first-team training when the squad returns on July 4, even though he was only appointed Under-23s boss last week.

Ashley reacted to an email in which the manager said that he could see no way forward

 Ashley reacted to an email in which the manager said that he could see no way forward

Jose Mourinho is the market leader but he is unlikely to work within the financial parameters which Benitez refused to, while Arsene Wenger was being mentioned as an ambitious target by some close to the club on Monday night.

Of managers currently in employment, Burnley's Sean Dyche has been mooted by those same sources given his resilience and personality to take on what will be a difficult job in the wake of the popular Benitez.

Meanwhile, a proposed takeover of the club by the Dubai-based Bin Zayed Group has shown no signs of progress and prospective candidates will be told not to consider that as a distraction for the time being.

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