Salomon Rondon wanted to stay at Newcastle, but Rafa Benitez’s move denied him chance as he criticises Mike Ashley transfer policy
Salomon Rondon would have joined Newcastle on a permanent basis this summer if Rafa Benitez had remained at St James’ Park.
The manager’s acrimonious exit sparked outraged among the Toon faithful, who idolised the former Liverpool boss.
The West Brom striker soon followed Benitez out of the exit door, linking up with his former boss at Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang in a £16.5m transfer, after failing to agree terms on a new deal in Tyneside.
Rondon, who scored 12 goals in 32 games during a productive loan spell last season, has admitted his preference would have been to remain with the Premier League side.
“It was a beautiful year for me last season. I loved it because the supporters were behind me all the time,” Rondon told the Sun.
“Was I disappointed to leave? Yes, because I was waiting for something. I was waiting for Rafa.
“So when Rafa said goodbye, I felt I would have to say goodbye as well. I understood in that moment I would not sign for Newcastle.”
Rondon also hit out at Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, who recently claimed in an interview that Benitez’s move overseas was ‘all about the money, for the transfer policy he has implemented at the club.
He added: “It looks like the owner’s rule is that, ‘Because he’s 29, when I sell I don’t get more money from what I’ve invested in him’.
“I get that because, for the owner, it is a business.
“But I showed to all of them that even though I am 29, I am still scoring goals, I still assist my team-mates, I am still working really hard, I still feel like a young guy.”
However, it’s not been all bad news for Rondon – after all the Venezuelan is earning a reported £8m-a-year in China.
Meanwhile, Benitez is on a whopping £12m-a-year deal at Dalian Yifang.
Rondon, who also registered seven assists for the Toon during the 2018/19 campaign, netted on his debut for his new club in a 3-3 draw with Tianjin Teda.
Micky Quinn does not hold back when reacting to Rafa Benitez's departure from Newcastle
Benitez’s replacement, Steve Bruce, told talkSPORT his biggest challenge now is to win over the loyal fanbase.
“I’m not everybody’s cup of tea, and many have voiced their disapproval that I got the job, but I’ll give it everything I can.
“One thing I do know is that the Newcastle fans will be there cheering their team like no other set of supporters can do when the season starts.
“There’s been talk of a boycott but I firmly believe they will stand by their team.
“This club has an incredible fan base and I hope I can be the man to keep moving this club forward.
“Rafa was that popular with the fans here that whoever was going to come in had big boots to fill.
“There aren’t too many Rafa Benitez’s around who have been as successful as he’s been and won the Champions League.
“So there was always going to be an adverse reaction. I completely understand that and it’s up to me now to prove people wrong by getting results on the field.”
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