Newcastle’s announcement that Rafa Benitez is leaving the club was a devastating blow for fans, and players alike, but it is likely to affect one player more than most.
Salomon Rondon was a sensation for the club during his loan spell last season, and the player made it known that he wanted to return to St James’ Park on a permanent basis.
But Rafa’s departure from the club significantly reduces any prospect of that happening now, with his future likely to have been one of the demands included in the Spaniard’s negotiations.
Rondon took to Twitter to wish Benitez well, and he probably inwardly realises that his best chance to pull on the black and white shirt again may have left with the manager.
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The club’s ridiculous policy of only signing young players means that a deal for Rondon was only ever expected to be sanctioned as an olive-branch to get Benitez to stay on.
Newcastle will never have a consistently successful side under Mike Ashley
That policy is also one of the big reasons why Newcastle United will never be successful under Mike Ashley’s ownership, as his first thought is about making a profit, and never about making a better side.
It is great to have talented youngsters in a team, but that youth has to be blended with experience and guile. Rafa – renowned footballing tactician and expert coach – saw that; Ashley – expert chain store mogul and footballing nobody -does not.
That alone spells out everything wrong with Newcastle United, and why the effects of the decision to let Rafa leave is likely to haunt them for years to come.