Toon takeover collapse was no surprise to Rafa

RAFA BENITEZ has revealed Mike Ashley told him weeks ago that Amanda Staveley’s proposed takeover of Newcastle United was off — and refused to commit his future to the club under its current owner. Ashley let it be known on Tuesday that negotiations with Staveley and PCP Capital Partners — which began in November — had been ‘exhausting, frustrating and a complete waste of time’. Staveley, who was accused of only being interested in publicity by club sources, responded by insisting that she still wants to buy the club and an offer of £250million remains on the table, even though Ashley has made it clear such a deal is unacceptable. Benitez (below), whose side travel to Manchester City this evening, said: ‘When I was talking with Mike Ashley he told me that the takeover would not go through. Since then — and I’m talking maybe two or three weeks — we have just tried to do what we have to do in this transfer window. ‘There has been a lot of speculation about the takeover, but officially he told me it was not going to happen. I said, “OK, fine, the takeover is not happening”. I have known this for three weeks.’ When asked if he could reassure fans he would be happy to work under Ashley in the long-term, Benitez said only: ‘My future is Manchester City now, and after Chelsea and so on.’