Kevin Ratcliffe fears Newcastle could lure Benitez away from Everton
Everton could lose manager Rafa Benitez if Newcastle United come calling following their takeover, according to Kevin Ratcliffe.
The Spaniard succeeded Carlo Ancelotti in the Goodison Park dugout in the summer after the Italian unexpectedly jumped at the chance to return to Real Madrid the moment the La Liga giants came calling.
Benitez left Newcastle for China before returning to the Premier League to take the Toffees job, but Ratcliffe would not be surprised if he does like Ancelotti should his old club or a bigwig make a move for him.
The Everton legend told Sunday Mirror: “Rafa has to have the broad shoulders to take the flak and carry on. I think he is capable of doing that, otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken the job.
“He knew the circumstances he was coming into, having to win the fans over, but he’s a top manager.
“Look at what he did at Newcastle, who were probably in a worse state than Everton find themselves now.
“My only worry – and it proved the case with Carlo Ancelotti – is that, if a big job becomes available, he could go. We know that.
“Newcastle would have him back given half a chance. He never does a bad job wherever he goes. He wasn’t my ideal choice because of his Liverpool history but, now he is here, I’m backing him.”
Very possible
Despite the fact that the Everton project is an exciting and huge one, it is not the biggest job in the land, and holding on to such a top manager could be indeed tough if the bigwigs come calling.
Newcastle finally have the cash to splash, and while Benitez insists he is not going to leave, that could change at the end of the campaign depending on how things go at the end of his maiden season with the Toffees.
He is still not popular with a lot of Everton supporters, and a poor season will further intensify growing pressure on him.
Financial Fair Play stopped him from spending as he would have loved last summer, but that is not going to be a problem at a place like Newcastle where the new owners and fans love him.
Most of the Toffees supporters would not be heartbroken should he decide to leave after just a season, but Benitez does not have plans to do that.
Nothing is guaranteed in football, though, and given that Ancelotti did not hesitate to walk away when Madrid approached him, a juicy or big offer could equally lure the incumbent manager away next summer or anytime.
In other Everton news, Toffees centre-forward has been pictured in training ahead of Wolves trip amid recent injury woe.
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