Rafa Benitez to Remain at Newcastle United: Latest Comments and Reaction

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has committed his future to the club, signing a new three-year contract with the Magpies to end speculation he planned on leaving the team.

The Magpies confirmed the news on their official website. In an official statement, Benitez expressed his excitement at signing the new deal:

"

I am extremely pleased to be staying at Newcastle United.

The love I could feel from the fans was a big influence for me in my decision to stay, as was my relationship with Lee Charnley and all the staff.

This is a huge club and I wanted to be part of the great future I can see for Newcastle United.

"

Managing director Lee Charnley also reacted to the news:

"

When we brought Rafa to the club in March, we knew he was a phenomenal manager and everything we have seen from him since has only served to reinforce that.

We are therefore delighted to have secured his services for the next three years and I believe with Rafa as manager it gives us the best possible chance of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking and delivering success for this football club beyond that.

It is clear that Rafa has connected deeply with the club's supporters and we do not underestimate the role they have played in his decision to stay.

"

The former Real Madrid boss took over from Steve McClaren in March but was unable to guide the club to Premier League safety.  

Under Benitez, Newcastle were unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches, and the team came agonisingly close to avoiding relegation. The Magpies finished the season on a high by beating Tottenham Hotspur 5-1, and there's a strong belief the team will earn promotion back to the Premier League in a hurry.

Per Mark Ogden of the Independent, the club is making the right decision by sticking with the Spaniard:

Newcastle need stability right now, and Benitez is a top manager with years of experience with some of the biggest clubs in the world. While his recent record hasn't been great―he flopped with Napoli and Real―there are few better managers available, and his short stint at the end of the 2015-16 campaign was promising.

The decision to stay at St James' Park makes sense for Benitez, who wasn't the most popular manager in the world after his sacking by Real. United have been stuck in a downward spiral for years, but the team has plenty of young talent, a loyal fanbase and excellent infrastructure―the tools are there for a quick rebuild.

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