Benitez rejected Real Madrid twice

• Posted on September 8, 2014September 8, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The current Napoli boss was offered the chance to take over the Santiago Bernabeu side on two separate occasions but opted to remain at Anfield

Rafael Benitez twice rejected the opportunity to coach Real Madrid during his time with Liverpool, the Spaniard’s agent Manuel Garcia Quilon has claimed.

Benitez spent six seasons at Anfield, winning the Champions League, Super Cup, FA Cup and Community Shield during his time on Merseyside.

The 54-year-old’s achievements at Liverpool did not go unnoticed, with his agent revealing the former Valencia boss was highly sought-after by Madrid president Florentino Perez, whose attempts to lure Benitez back to La Liga proved unsuccessful.

“Rafa was for two consecutive years given the chance to become coach of Real Madrid,” Quilon toldcalcionapoli24.

“We received a very interesting proposal from the Blancos five years ago and the year before that.

“In order to convince him to accept the offer, Florentino Perez flew out in person with a private jet to England.

“He tried, without success, to convince Rafa’s wife Montse to follow her husband in this new adventure.

“However, as Rafa had just renewed his contract with Liverpool and is a man of his word, he turned down the offer from his beloved Real Madrid despite the fact it was the best economic and sporting proposal he’d ever received.”

Benitez also coached Inter and Chelsea before eventually joining Napoli in 2013.

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