Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has said that Rafa Benitez will not be the next Celtic manager after The Mirror said that the Spaniard was set to be announced as Neil Lennon’s replacement. However, Balague has shut down this rumour.
The BBC journalist, who specialises in La Liga and The Premier League, said the former Valenica and Liverpool boss would be resting for a while before eyeing a return to management but it wouldn’t be with Celtic or Newcastle.
Rafael Benitez will not be Celtic or Newcastle's new manager – a wee chat with @BBCSport
https://t.co/2UVhil0Kwg— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) January 24, 2021
Supporters allowed themselves to maybe believe that the Mirror report was true but the lack of concrete source and the Daily Mail’s Rob Draper saying that Rafa-Celtic would be very unlikely – all suggested that the Spaniard would not coming to Celtic.
Rafa Benitez v unlikely to end up at Celtic. Premier League still the most likely destination. But not Newcastle. The acrimony at the end was too great for reconciliation
— Rob Draper (@draper_rob) January 23, 2021
It must be noted that there feels like a degree of inevitability that Neil Lennon will leave the club. Lennon will always be a club legend even if this season has been a disaster. The buck must stop with those above him and not the Irishman albeit it seems as if his second spell will come to an end shortly.
