Rafa Benitez set to stay at Newcastle despite uneasy relationship with club hierarchy

Benitez was left angry and frustrated at owner Mike Ashley’s failure to back him in the transfer window, fuelling fears he could quit.

But despite his uneasy relationship with the club hierarchy, Benitez claims he is loving life at St James’ Park.

“The North East already feels like home for me,” he said. “I was made to feel so welcome by everybody at the club, the supporters and the city from my very first day.

“All I can do is continue to work hard every day and try my best to give them a team to be proud of.”

Benitez has twice previously had to make decisions on his immediate future – following relegation last year and again in May when he received lucrative job offers from China.

And he revealed it was daughters Claudia and Agata, who convinced him to stay at Newcastle. “My family wanted me to stay in England after time away in Italy and Spain,” he told lifestyle magazine North East Times.

“And it is true my daughters were showing me what the fans were saying on social media at the time.

“They were looking on different social networks and saying, ‘You have to stay and win for these people – the fans love you here!’.”