Thankfully for Newcastle United fans, Jamaal Lascelles was signed to a new six-year deal but following the announcement of his new contract, the former Nottingham Forest man got himself into hot water when he described Mike Ashley as a ‘nice guy’.
Club captain Lascelles has become a cult hero at the club not just for his solid performances on the pitch but also for the way he has led the team since Benitez’s arrival.
However, his recent praise of the oft-maligned owner has received criticism from Newcastle fans who have been unhappy at how Ashley has run the club.
Rafael Benitez was forced to support today and with the manager now choosing to echo, his captain’s statement, it shows that Newcastle are even more of a mess than first thought.
Following a summer where Ashley failed to invest in the club, the fans were suitable angry at the owner and to make things worse, The Magpies have made a terrible start to the season and currently sit 19th, with only three points and have only scored six goals this year.
While Lascelles has been handed a new long-term deal, Benitez’s contract is still due to run out next year and as of yet, it seems unlikely that he’ll sign a new one.
It’s been a tough season for the club and the recent fiasco over Lascelles’ comments shows that it’s not going to get better anytime soon.