Rafa Benitez has told Farhad Moshiri and the Everton board he will not be prised from the club despite admiration from Newcastle United’s new owners. Asked if there had been any contact from the new powers at Newcastle, following the £300m takeover,
Rafa Benitez said: “Not really because I was very clear from the beginning that I give my word to Everton Football Club and I am happy here so I tried to do that, to keep my word and do my best here so no-one was asking because they knew already.”
Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri was left stunned by Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to walk out on the club in the summer. Ancelotti left Goodison to re-join Real Madrid but Benitez says he told Moshiri and the Blues’ board, that he would not be following suit.
Rafa Benitez said: “I said at the beginning that I didn’t like to talk too much about that but just to clarify, it is not an issue. The people at Newcastle knew already that I was just thinking about staying here and I told our people they didn’t have to worry about anything because I’m happy here, working as hard as I can here and I gave my word so that is it. Again I will say I wish Newcastle United fans all the best because my relationship with them is good and I hope it is good forever but I’m here, I’m happy and trying to do my best and I don’t like to talk about the other option because the reality is I will stay here.”