With Rudi Garcia expected to leave Marseille at the end of the season after a hugely disappointing 2018-19 campaign, the Ligue 1 side are currently working on finding the right replacement.
Many names have circulated around the French press over the past few weeks such as Laurent Blanc, Leonardo Jardim and Claude Puel, but one has caught the eye more than others recently: Newcastle’s Rafa Benitez.
The Spanish manager’s contract at St James’ Park is currently due to expire at the end of June, and while renewal talks have been ongoing, there is yet to be a guarantee the 59-year-old will stick around beyond 2019.
This has led Marseille, according to La Provence, to make the Newcastle manager a ‘credible option’ that ‘has recently been explored’, suggesting early steps have been taken to potentially allow him to take over at Stade Vélodrome, as his profile is one those behind the scenes at the French club like.
Benitez’s experience, ability to win trophies and contractual situation all play in his favour, and seem to currently put him ahead of other, perhaps easier, options.
Something else for Newcastle fans to worry about, it seems.
Today’s edition of L’Equipe stated Benitez would be complicated for Marseille, but La Provence seem more optimistic.
