Report: Celtic haven't contacted Rafa Benitez and won't consider it right now

By John McGinley

January 25, 2021

Despite speculation, Celtic haven’t contacted free-agent manager Rafa Benitez and won’t consider doing so right now, The Daily Record reports.

The paper say that Celtic made tentative enquiries with the Spaniard in 2019, in the wake of Brendan Rodgers departure.

However, they’ve yet to make a decision on Neil Lennon, so won’t consider reaching out right now.

There was fierce Benitez to Celtic chat over the weekend after he left Chinese club Dalian Pro.

He was quickly installed as the bookmakers’ favourite before a sensational and unlikely report emerged in The Daily Mirror.

However, reliable Spanish journalist Guillam Balague soon put the fire out on that gossip, updating that Benitez was unlikely to be in the Celtic dugout anytime soon.

With no interest from Benitez via Spanish reports and no interest in Benitez via Scottish reports, I think we can put this rumour to bed once and for all.

Rafa Benitez to Celtic was always unlikely

It’s understandable why Celtic fans would get excited about Benitez. He’s an elite manager who has won the Champions League, Europa League and La Liga, amongst other honours.

Of course, while he’s a free agent supporters are going to dream of Celtic making an approach.

However, Benitez was until very recently one of the best-paid managers in the world. He won’t be short of offers this year.

Clubs from Germany, Italy and England have all been credited with interest already and he’s not even been out of a job for 72 hours.

Rafa Benitez in China / (Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images via Getty Images)

Unless the Spaniard has a particular desire to take charge of the Hoops, I doubt we’ll be seeing him in Glasgow.

Celtic have more realistic concerns at the moment. They have to figure out what to do with Neil Lennon first and foremost.

Hopefully, that’s dealt with either way this week.

Then we can start building for the future.

In other news, one pundit has come to the defence of under-fire goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas.