“Please stay”.
Rafa Benitez’s team went out with a bang, beating Tottenham 5-1 on the final day of the season to give a glimpse of what could have been. And what could be in the future.
Despite it having initially seemed unlikely, former Real Madrid manager Benitez could yet stay in the North East and try to lead the club back to the Premier League.
But fans aren’t sitting back and hoping the Spaniard stays on. They’re doing something about. They’re quite literally taking to the streets.
https://twitter.com/cathgibs/status/732559162127863808
And he is not the only big name seemingly set to remain on Tyneside, with enigmatic striker Aleksandar Mitrovic telling the Serbian media that he wants to “be at the club for many years and [become] a legend”.
Mitrovic, who arrived from Anderlecht for £15m last summer, scored nine times for Newcastle in his first Premier League season.
And he told Blic that he wants to lead Newcastle back to the top flight…if they want to keep him.
“Many children dream of playing for Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United, while I have always just wanted to wear the shirt of Partizan and Newcastle, and represent my country.
“I am sorry about relegation, but Newcastle is a big club and I hope that we will soon return to the elite.”
Newcastle will likely sell some of their higher earners following relegation, with Sylvain Marveaux and Gabriel Obertan poised to leave when their contracts expire. It remains to be seen whether out-of-contract Englishmen Steven Taylor and Rolando Aarons are offered new deals.
Still, if they could keep Benitez they’d be happy enough. After all, he is all they have left.
Two months into their relationship…
WATCH: Newcastle are edging closer to confirming Rafa Benitez as manager after agreeing to his demands. #SSNHQ https://t.co/HqXeovL1qU
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 16, 2016
