RAFAEL BENITEZ has defended his decision to sell Aleksandar Mitrovic, and agreed with the striker’s assessment that his playing style did not match the requirements of playing with Newcastle United.
Mitrovic joined Fulham in a £22m move this summer, and has been in fine goalscoring form this season, claiming four goals in his opening four Premier League games before adding another two for Serbia in a Nations League draw with Romania this week.
His run of success has led some supporters to challenge the wisdom of allowing him to leave, and also raised questions about Benitez’s refusal to play Mitrovic for most of the last two years.
Mitrovic used a recent interview to underline the extent of his frustration during his time on Tyneside, claiming “I tried to give my best, but it wasn’t me. I was just running and getting in the team shape. He (Benitez) told me what he wanted and I tried, but I’m 90 kilos and if I run so much defensively, I have no power left when I’m in the box. He knew I couldn’t play in that style, and I felt it too.”
Benitez does not dispute the Serbian’s version of events, but is adamant it would have been wrong to tear up his tactical template just to accommodate the 23-year-old. The Newcastle boss felt he could not fit Mitrovic into his system, so regarded a summer departure as the best solution for everyone.
“The first thing I would say is that I wish him all the best,” said Benitez, whose Newcastle side will return to action against Arsenal tomorrow. “I didn’t have any problem with him.
“He was a professional. He’s a nice lad, and that’s it. He was very clear (and said), ‘The way that I play, maybe, is not the way we have to play’. In another environment, in another division, and now with confidence, fine, he’s doing well. He’s in another team, and it’s totally different.
“He had chances for us. He was playing more than (Jacob) Murphy, and Murphy was similar. You see the stats, but I will not waste too much time on that. I wish him well. If we are safe, they can be safe, no problem. For us, he was not the kind of player we were looking for. That’s it.”
While Mitrovic’s future was resolved when he penned a long-term deal with Fulham, Benitez’s contractual situation remains up in the air.
The Spaniard’s current deal expires at the end of the campaign, and after an initial round of talks broke down last season, there have been no new discussions since the transfer window closed last month.
Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley remain keen to tie Benitez to a new agreement, but there appears to be little prospect of the Newcastle boss penning a new deal until he receives the kind of cast-iron guarantees over transfers and future investment that were not forthcoming in the summer.
“Have there been contract talks? No,” said Benitez. “This time, for us, for everyone, it’s just to concentrate on (football). I think questions, answers and comments about my contract will change nothing.
“The main thing, for me, is to realise where we are. I’m realistic, but I’m optimistic. Why? Because I know we have to work really hard, and this team has done that. Can we keep the confidence? That is our job. To be sure the team is working really hard until the end of every game.”
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