French player and former Newcastle United winger Yoan Gouffran spoke about his former boss Rafa Benitez once advised hi to look for a new club but changed his minds a few weeks later. Gouffran had been frozen out under Steve McClaren in the 2015/16 season but the arrival of Benitez was a big moment in his time at St. James’ Park.
Yoan Gouffran said “I started to think about leaving the club, and in pre-season Rafa said to me maybe this is better for everybody if you leave. He was honest with me, that’s what I liked in Rafa. I said to him to give me some days to find a new club, no problem and good luck. The season started and we had some bad results again. I was training hard to leave the club, but Rafa came back to me and said I need you. I was happy to hear that and I gave everything for him.”
Gouffran went on to bag seven goals in 36 appearances as United pipped Brighton to the Championship title on the final day of the season. The Frenchman played 119 times for Newcastle scoring 19 goals in the process.
