Rafa Benitez reveals he was never approached by Celtic -did the Hoops make the right choice?

Speaking to the Athletic, Rafa Benitez has revealed that Celtic never approached him over a potential move to Celtic Park last summer.

The Spaniard, who is now managing in China, was heavily linked with the job before Neil Lennon was handed it on a permanent basis.

Benitez left Newcastle just before the beginning of this season on the expiration of his contract after a turbulent relationship with owner Mike Ashley.

However, Benitez revealed that there had been no concrete interest in him from the Hoops, but he had been aware of the reports linking him with the job.

The Champions League-winning boss said in a Q&A: 

I was aware of some interest but we didn’t have any official approach. I was still under contract at Newcastle so we couldn’t even consider this option.

Read Celtic’s verdict

You’d probably struggle to find fans of any club who wouldn’t mind appointing Benitez as their boss.

With very little funding at Newcastle, Benitez was able to lead them to survival and could’ve done a lot more if he was handed some cash.

Celtic certainly could have done worse than appoint Benitez, but chose to go down the “safe” route, and appoint Neil Lennon.

As Benitez says, he was still at Newcastle when Lennon was given the job, so it’s hard to know if he was ever up for consideration.

But, after a turbulent start to his second full-time spell at Celtic, some fans may be wishing that they appointed Benitez instead.