Toon offer for Spain

NEWCASTLE offered to let manager Rafa Benitez take charge of Spain during the World Cup finals.

Benitez (above) has admitted he nearly took over as boss of his country after Julen Lopetegui was axed for agreeing a secret deal with Real Madrid.

And SFA president Luis Rubiales confirmed yesterday that he received a letter from Newcastle, offering to release Benitez.

But Rubiales promoted Lopetegui’s assistant Fernando Hierro as coach.

Rubiales said: “When I sacked Julen, I immediately called Hierro. Two days later, a letter arrived from Newcastle saying, ‘Are you interested in our coach? He’s at your disposition’.

“We said thanks, but no. We’d never have done that.”