Mike Ashley accuses Rafael Benitez of putting money before Newcastle

Maurizio Sarri wasn't as impressed by the midfielder as Conte was and he was loaned out to Dutch club Telstar for the first half of last season, scoring twice in the Dutch second division. Ashley stated that Newcastle had been close to signing both Miguel Almiron and Joelington in January, only for Hoffenheim to say he wasn't for sale.

"He asked for a 50 per cent pay increase and I think he did that because he knew it couldn't work". It puzzles me why any fan thinks I wouldn't want him. And if we had agreed to that, I think it would have been something else.

Upon his appointment in Dalian in early July, however, Benitez said: "I have had offers of greater financial significance during my career, but they weren't the project I was looking for".

"He had talked about what he could earn in China previously".

Ashley said: "So just on technical kit sponsor alone, we could start more than £90m behind them, in one year, on one sponsorship".

Four years on from Ashley's interview with SkySports before their game against West Ham United he still claims he can not compete with the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. He's one of their own.

However, this will come as another kick in the teeth for Newcastle fans as they do not want to compete with teams in the top four, they would like to compete with the likes of Bournemouth and Aston Villa.

"There's been some hurtful stuff, that he was our 11th choice".

Newcastle fans have been pushing for Ashley to leave the club for a number of years now and some of the owners' quotes will not have helped his cause.

I think I could own this football club forever.

However, in the absence of any genuine bids he expects to remain there for some time.

He said: "There are no offers". I thought he had us offside, he had us cornered, it wasn't fair, it wasn't right, I've been totally out-maneuvered, I probably shouldn't own a football club, it's ridiculous, but I'm a big boy.

Newcastle United have three more friendlies left on their pre-season schedule after already playing against Wolverhampton and West Ham in China last week.