"Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” I would like to start my first column for The Athletic with this quote from Confucius, the Chinese philosopher and politician. People in Newcastle have been talking about my decision to move to China without knowing what happened behind the scenes during my three years at St James’ Park. I haven’t wanted to say too much about that — I’ve encouraged supporters to get behind Steve Bruce and his new team — but I’ve been made aware of what Lee Charnley, Newcastle’s managing director, claimed in the club’s match programme last weekend and I think it’s important I address that. Hopefully, it will be the last time I have to do so. In the future I want to write about football and nothing but football. When I joined Newcastle in 2016, I did it with all my heart. I could feel the history and see the potential of the club and I wanted to be part of a project and to stay close to my family on Merseyside. I tried to do my best every day, even staying when we went down to the Championship and saying no to other offers — bigger offers than the one I recently accepted with Dalian Yifang, by the way. If I was only interested in moving “for money”, as Charnley stated, I could have done it much earlier. Over my long career, and especially in my time at Newcastle, I’ve always shown commitment to my club, its city and its community and I’ve done it with professionalism and honesty. I want to remember the good moments I spent in the north-east — and there were many of them — and not have to keep denying things about my time there or about my departure. Newcastle’s board had a year to sort out my contract but, when we met after the end of last season, they didn’t make me a proper offer. They told me they didn’t want to invest in the academy or the training ground — if they like, I can explain the reason why Mike Ashley refused to do that. Their idea of a project was a policy of signing players under 24 and, in my opinion, the budget available was not enough to compete for the top 10. After that meeting, I knew they would not come back with a serious offer and, when it arrived, 19 days later, it was for the same salary as three years earlier and with less control over signings. Charnley’s comments in the programme about having a deal agreed for Joelinton in February explains a lot that I couldn’t understand at that time. After three years of unfulfilled promises, I didn’t trust them. When we finished 10th in the Premier League in our first season back, all players and staff were paid a bonus — aside from my coaching team. That felt like a punishment for me not signing an extension. So, by the end, I knew there would not be a proper offer and they knew I was not signing. I couldn’t explain that in public because I was not allowed to talk to the press without their permission, so I was waiting until late June, like every fan, hoping there would be good news about Newcastle’s prospective takeover. The time was passing and we were losing job opportunities in Europe. I couldn’t wait forever. I’m a family man and I have a responsibility to them, my staff, Paco, Antonio and Mikel, and their families, too. I don’t like to gamble with the future of my people. In front of us we had three options: nothing serious from Newcastle, the hope of a possible takeover or a different project. Yes, it was a big offer in China — I have never denied that — but it was also another continent and another league, from a club giving us a lot of recognition and respect. That decision wasn’t easy, but it was clear. So, here we are in the Chinese Super League with an ambitious club that has a big company in Wanda behind it. At Dalian, we are trying to build something important in this massive, fascinating country. It is another level, another way of doing things, another culture, but they believe in us, they listen to us and their priority is not just to make a profit. They are investing big money in developing a new scouting department, they are building a new training ground for the academy, the under-23s and, obviously, the first team. And, yes, they are using our experience to guide them. The CSL has 16 clubs so that means 30 league games plus the cup (we are in the semi-finals) and the Asian Champions League, if you qualify. The Chinese Federation tries to promote young players, which means the top teams like Guangzhou Evergrande, who have had the best young Chinese players for years, can manage better than us. We can’t compete with them at the moment, but our target this year is to finish in the top 10 (we are sixth), and we are improving and growing. They expect us to leave a legacy, the basement on which to build something. The whole experience is a challenge, none bigger than the language. I have worked in Spain, Italy and England, but this is very different. Here, you need a translator for everything: to transmit your thoughts in training sessions, team talks and to the media, down to working on computers. But there is a rich culture here; the city, the food, the life are all nice. And, as I say, we have been treated with nothing but respect. Over the coming weeks, I will talk more about that and more about what’s happening in the Premier League but, as I have started with Newcastle, I will finish with them, too. What can I say about them? Before their first game, I wished the players, fans and Steve Bruce all the best and I meant it sincerely, because they deserve it. Arsenal was their first match of the season and their first with a new manager, so we have to give them time. The signings we made to take us from the Championship have more experience in the Premier League now. I think the combination of “our” young players, like Jamaal Lascelles, Isaac Hayden, DeAndre Yedlin and Javier Manquillo, the new squad members like Miguel Almiron and Sean Longstaff, together with the experience of Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, Martin Dubravka, Fabian Schar, Florian Lejeune, Federico Fernandez, Jonjo Shelvey, Ki Sung-yeung, Ciaran Clark, Karl Darlow and Christian Atsu will be enough to stay up. The new players will have to make the difference if they want to finish better than 10th, but they will need — and they will have — support from the fans, even if they are not happy with how things have been done, because they know the club is bigger than anyone. They have to be United; Newcastle United. On Sunday morning, I switched on my television in Dalian and there was a documentary about Alan Shearer being shown. Can you believe that? It’s true. I saw joy in the faces of Newcastle fans after every goal. I didn’t need the reminder, because I was there so recently, there with all my heart, but it made me think again about that history and potential. And it made me consider something else: what would an 18-year-old Newcastle supporter think about his club now? Best wishes from China, Rafa
Rafa is a good honest human being and our owner is a disguting parasite thats made his money exploiting the third world and his staff and employees.
I really like Rafa, he does come across and very honest. He, along with the many managers before him and hopefully not too many after him under Ashley's tenure will be shackled to the hilt whilst employed at the club in terms of what they can/cannot say and when they can say it, I don't think that's too different to most clubs but it wouldn't surprise me if there was a bit something extra in there to muzzle our staff a little further than the norm. Ashley is a ****bag full stop and Keegan was right...we will never achieve anything as long as he's in charge. Until that day comes though I'll still support my team, the manager whoever that may be (with the exception of Dennis Wise, Joe Kinnear to name but a couple). We have more than enough to stay up in my opinion which is all Ashley wants, sadly that is the best we can hope for most seasons for the time being.
I find it amazing how many people genuinely (not for wum points like Pouchy) accept the word of Ashley over a string of people who clearly understand and love the club in the same way fans do. Football legends like Keegan, Shearer and now Rafa - vs someone whose only connection to the club is what? That he was lucky enough, and unethical enough, to screw enough cash out of his parents and then his workers to buy the place. Money is all he has.
I am...i'm not buying tickets or shirts and I've not been to sports direct for months now. Means I have to pay a bit extra for my golf balls and tee's and **** but every little helps. He's not stopping me supporting my team though, i'm not giving him that satisfaction.
I'm gonna get one of these shirts instead which I saw over on the mackem board yesterday....what the ****ing ****? The goalie has a bit of a shay given look about him and the bloke on the right could well be Mike Williamson...**** knows.
Never understood ,that if you dont buy tickets etc ,it will do nothing to hurt him. Well , if a businessman s brand or company shows little profit or none , they fast move on .
Our club lies. This is proven in a court of law. I know who I believe. Anyone who believes the spin from Charnley is entitled to their opinion. But imho it’s a wrong one. **** Ashley and his snivelling pet beach ball.
I preferred your pet slug comment...nearly spat me beer out when I read that ! Hows the Efe's today mate? Might have to pick your brains about Turkey sometime, never been but i know a few people who have and they've loved it. No idea where's good etc.
Its defeatest imo to suggest it wont make any difference. Its not just the money its the signal it send and the media attention it would get. The reality is most fans just are happy to accept it and others dont have it in them to stop going. I know what defo doesnt work and its doing nothing different. Hes said it doesnt matter much to him , so call his bluff...
Anything's worth a shot. Protesting, marching, shouting at his shop windows will do **** all. If people want to boycott then that's fine and that's their right. What I don't understand is if you've bought a season ticket and you don't go is that really gonna make any difference to him? Are these people gonna stay away from all home games or just the ones that a select few decide to call a boycott against? If we'd started something properly 5 years ago he would have been gone by now, it needs to be en masse, consistent and targetted for it to have any effect though. -10,000 fans for a few games a season is gonna do **** all in my opinion, sorry but that's just the reality of it.
Roger that mate. Been around 40 times now since ‘94 so could probably do a decent job giving some advice on the matter. Efes is ice cold and it’s 42c by the pool. There are Russians everywhere... they are either stunning or they look like fellas (probs ex CCCP shot putters).
Just for a little balance: Benítez seemed unaware of just how eroded his relationship with many of the players became – something they were not slow to reveal, pointedly, even cruelly, once he had gone – Name that club The man who demands to control everything, who famously complained that Valencia had bought him a sofa when he wanted a lamp and who Jermaine Pennant memorably accused of trying to control him by remote, snapping, “Just stick some batteries in me and call me a robot” Which other managers apart from Rafa, employ a personal PR person? Almost immediately after I was appointed, there was a match on a Monday night (against West Ham) so I sent a message to Rafa that I would like to have breakfast with him on the Tuesday morning. Don’t interfere with the manager on the day of the match, so let’s have breakfast the next morning. “That was fine, but it turned out that that was the week with the volcanic ash problems, and Liverpool were off to Spain on the Thursday. “They were leaving Tuesday lunchtime, so I didn’t think that would stop Rafa from meeting Tuesday morning. That wouldn’t have been an issue for me, but in the early hours of the morning a message went from Rafa to Christian Purslow to say that he couldn’t meet me because he had to be off Tuesday lunchtime. “I didn’t really understand that. I had been at the club three days maybe at this point, and still hadn’t met him. So anyway he went off to Spain, then the following weekend there was an away game (at Burnley) which I didn’t go to. “Then the following week there was the replay (second leg, against Atletico Madrid) and again I asked to meet for breakfast the day after the match. “Liverpool won the game but went out on away goals, and again in the early hours comes a message that says ‘I’m too distraught with the result, my head’s not in the right place, I can’t meet’. “To me, this is getting weird. This was the second opportunity to meet, just for a chat. “But on the Saturday, in his pre-match chat with the TV, Rafa says ‘I don’t understand what is going on here, the new chairman has been here nearly two weeks and I’ve not even met him yet!’ “I thought ‘hmm, I see the tone of things now!’ But I still didn’t want him to go. I’m used to people playing silly games at times, so I thought let’s keep it straight.” Broughton did eventually meet Benitez, and detailed the discussions which took place at that face-to-face. He said: “We had an interesting thing where I did then meet him, and I had a two-hour download from Rafa, without being able to get a word in, where he told me what was wrong. “That was fine, get it off your chest, it’s not a complaint at all. I like to hear his version. I then had another meeting with him maybe a week later, and got the same two-hour download. “I kept interrupting ‘Rafa, you told me that...’ and he said ‘you just need to hear this...’ before we could have a conversation. “Essentially, I was saying to him ‘what do you need?’ In my background, if you want investment you say what is wrong, what have you tried to do about it that hasn’t worked, what do you need and how is it going to work. “He had come with a shopping list which included, for example, a left back. And I said ‘Rafa, you’ve been here six years, and you’ve bought six left backs and you’re telling me none of them have worked. So what are you going to differently this time?’ There was no answer. “I asked him to write down everything he wanted and why it was going to work. And he did. He thought it was totally incomprehensible from a football viewpoint but he did it! “And I was beginning to think we were starting to get on the right wavelength, when it became obvious that he wanted to have discussions through his lawyer – and that’s when it became obvious that he wanted out.” “I think he’d probably already decided he’d had enough before I got there,” Broughton said. “The atmosphere was pretty awful, and I think he’d seen the opportunity to maybe get out with a new person coming in. “I didn’t want to get distracted by all of this. And it was very interesting that the fan input to me personally, a bit face to face but usually via e-mail, was about 50-50 – there was no moderate – it was totally polarised. “It was ‘do not get rid of Rafa’ to ‘this club will never go forward unless Rafa goes’. It was about 50-50, but they were total polar opposites. My idea was still that he would stay. “Rafa basically pulled out of the whole thing and said ‘I’m going to leave this to my lawyers to negotiate.’ “He didn’t say he was leaving, and I never told him he was leaving. It was ‘I’ll leave this to my lawyer’ and his lawyer’s stance was ‘what are the terms for Rafa going’?”
Who to trust? Keegan Shearer Given Carroll Benitez Gutierrez The courts Or Ashley Llambias Wise Kinnear Charnley
