Rafael Benitez is wanted at Newcastle. Make no mistake. He’s popular with fans, and there’s no denying that he’s been incredibly good during his stint at the helm at St. James’ Park.
However, is anyone else getting a little bit sick and tired of having to wait around?
All signs, at least according to the Telegraph, are pointing towards him staying. And that’s great news. But why hasn’t he signed a contract yet?
As every week passes, and we edge ever closer to the summer, we’re losing valuable time in which we could be planning for next season. We could be scouting targets, we could be promoting young players, we could be putting a vision in place for the future.
However, unfortunately, thus far we’ve simply been jogging on the spot, with no progression.
Sure, we get why Benitez doesn’t want to commit yet. He wants assurances from the club, and he wants to make sure that he’s making the right decision.
But at what point does this start to harm Newcastle? At what point does the waiting become a bit of an issue? If he had already said he was leaving, we could have a new manager ready to come in at the end of the season, and plans could be well underway. That’s not to say that Benitez isn’t planning for the future already, but he certainly won’t be doing it with the same commitment given that he hasn’t signed anything yet.
The fact of the matter is that Rafa needs to make a call. He’s right to be cautious, but we’re right to question whether this is a good thing for the club.
If he’s not going to renew, announce it and let’s move on. But if he is, let’s plan for the future.
Thoughts?