Guillem Balague: Alisher Usmanov wants Rafa Benitez as Everton boss
The owner of USM Holdings Alisher Usmanov wants Rafa Benitez as the next Everton manager, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.
The Russian billionaire’s company currently owns the naming rights of the club’s training ground, Finch Farm, and he shares close ties with
Toffees owner majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri. Usmanov has continued to expand his Everton investment over the years, increasing his involvement with the Merseyside outfit, and could have a huge say on who becomes Carlo Ancelotti’s successor.
Balague took to Twitter on Friday morning to push the Benitez agenda, and he shared Usmanov’s plans.
Incredible
The former Arsenal shareholder is not an Everton fan and does not feel what we feel about Benitez.
Appointing the former Liverpool manager will be hugely unpopular, and we can only hope Moshiri listens to what the supporters want.
He has wormed his way into the hearts of the fans with his willingness to splash the cash, but going for Benitez could undo all that.
Everton need a modern and dynamic coach capable of guiding us into the top-six, and Nuno Espirito Santo fits the bill.
The Portuguese was impressive in his first three seasons at Wolves before everything went south last term, owing largely to Raul Jimenez’s injury.
Santo has much-needed top-flight experience and a keen eye for quality players, and that is whom the Toffees should be going for.
Despite the seemingly strong Benitez links, nothing is guaranteed yet and we can only hope the board listens to the fans.
In other Everton news, reliable journo shares what he’s been told about Ferguson if Benitez arrives at Finch Farm.
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