Off Topic Rafael Benitez confirms Napoli departure

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Rafael Benitez confirms Napoli departure
Rafael Benitez says he will be leaving Napoli following the final game of the Italian club's season on Sunday.
The Spaniard, 55, is favourite to take over at Real Madrid, who sacked coach Carlo Ancelotti on Monday.
"I want to thank the chairman, club and fans because after two years my experience here in Napoli is coming to an end," said Benitez.
"On Sunday, we have a very important match and I want to finish my two years with a victory."
Napoli, in fourth, host third-placed Lazio in their last game of the Serie A season with a Champions League place at stake.
Benitez's side are three points behind their rivals and a win would see them qualify for Europe's premier club competition on the basis of a better head-to-head record.
Benitez refused to discuss his future and the prospect of taking charge at Real Madrid, where he had stints as a youth coach, Under-19 coach and assistant first-team coach in the 1990s.
"The family has been the key to my choice," he added. "Napoli and [president] Aurelio [De Laurentiis] have made every effort and we were close to renewal."
If Benitez does become Real boss, he will return to manage in his homeland for the first time since leaving Valencia to take charge of Liverpool in 2004.
He won two La Liga titles and the Uefa Cup with Valencia, and led Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2005.
Napoli won the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup during his two years in charge.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32911775

 

So Real Madrid it is then. Now make us a whopping offer for Sterling

 

Rafa's coming back, Brod is off to Real Madrid

 

Not good enough for us but good enough for Real ..... either way round

 

I think Rafa would come back to us but obviously not at the expense of saying no to real. he now counts merseyside as his home, the wife and kids are settled here and the wife still owns a few properties here that she rents out. I have met him twice and the wife a few times at charity events ( she does a lot) he obviously is a bit coy about it but the wife certainly gives the impression that she and kids are here for the long term.

PS In any kind of wish list for potential new managers he would be top.

 

I'm not so sure about this. Given an offer by both he could/should choose us because he's guaranteed another offer from Real next year, the year after, the year after that ......

 

Lol he could just go there win the treble and then come to us next season after he is sacked for being "too defensive"

 

Who? Brod?

 

... that works for me ........... in reverse

 

No

I do recall a few months ago our esteemed friends across the park saying RM was in the frame ....

 

For the Real job?

 

He's been waiting ten years for this one lol

 

Benitez's side are three points behind their rivals and a win would see them qualify for Europe's premier club competition on the basis of a better head-to-head record.

GD not come into it in italy?

 

Get him

 

No. Italians only care about head

 

insert no sex jokes lol

seriously though i think its the fairer way of doing it as apposed to battering ****e throughout the season and getting superior gd.

 

I put it that way intentionally

I prefer GD, it encourages tasks to attack.

 

Yes

 

I think league positions should be on GD,for me much fairer representation of every minute of every game,

 

Real are mental. Not that we didn't already know.