Richard Keys has told Rafa Benitez to ‘spend his own money’ on Newcastle United if he truly loves the club as much as he says.
Keys, the beIN SPORTS pundit, used social media website Twitter to comment on a row that has begun between Newcastle’s supporters and Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United and England defender.
Ferdinand defended Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, while working for BT Sport on Saturday evening, ahead of the Magpies’ 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.
Ferdinand claimed Ashley spent £50million of his own money to win Newcastle promotion back to the Premier League after their relegation, and he also questioned why Ashley should be forced to invest more money into the St James’ Park club at this moment in time considering he is looking to sell.
Ashley’s lack of investment is one of the key reasons he has become a figure hated by the Newcastle support, and Ferdinand’s comments ended up with the 40-year-old being widely criticised on social media.
Not by Keys, however, who actually praised Ferdinand for what he said – and went even further with a defence of Ashley.
“Well said @rioferdy5,” Keys began. “If Rafa loves Newcastle as he says – spend some of his own money. He’s got enough.
“Management is about teamwork – why should it always be Ashley? Buy it. It’s still for sale. They’re in the bottom 3 & Rafa is responsible. He picks the team.”
Keys’ suggestion that Benitez should invest his own money in Newcastle is bizarre, seeing as it is unheard of at football’s elite level.
Benitez hopes to secure signings this month to increase Newcastle’s chances of staying in the Premier League, though money appears to be a factor in restricting potential deals.
The former Liverpool manager refused to be drawn into discussing January business after the defeat at Chelsea, however, saying: “You know that I don’t talk about the transfer window.
“It’s not the time. I don’t want any distractions because if I say this or that you will say in which position? Then we will be talking about names and positions.
“We are where we are, we have what we have. and we will try to maximise what we have – if we can improve that, much better.”
Losing at Stamford Bridge kept Newcastle in the bottom three, one point behind Cardiff in 17th.
