Former Liverpool and Newcastle -Baas Rafa Benitez has rejected the chance to manage Brazilian side Botafogo.
Benitez has managed some of the top clubs in the world – with 15 in total – including Liverpool, where he won the Champions League in 2005, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Napoli and Newcastle.
The 64-year-old has not worked anymore since leaving Celta Vigo last year and had conversations with Botafogo, who were looking for a new manager after Portuguese coach Artur Jorge left to become a member of Saudi-Arab side Al-Rayyan.
According to the Daily Mail, Benitez has arranged himself from the race for the job despite holding conversations and achieving the last two candidates.
Benitez has told Botafogo that he does not want to take on the role after conversations with his family – in what would have only been his second job outside of Europe. If he had accepted the job, he would have committed himself to, among others, former Manchester United -defender Alex.
United paid £ 15.4 million for tells in 2020, but could never justify that edition. He only spent two seasons in Old Trafford and played a total of 50 games before he came to Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr.
He would only play 44 times for another two more seasons with the Saudi Pro League before his contract was mutually terminated last year.
Although Telles was not a big hit at United, he found success with Botafogo after he started the club in the Copa Libertadores final and his first goal scored from the penalty spot in a 3-1 win over Atletico Mineiro.
Botafogo, who are owned by the majority of the Crystal Palace shareholder John Textor, will now have to look for a new boss somewhere else. It is said that Textor and Co are impressed by Benitez during the first discussions and was the leading favorite for the job.
Other candidates to play the role are Vasco Matos and former Barcelona boss Tata Martino, where Benitez is still looking for his last role after a failed enchantment at Celta Vigo.
He only lasted nine months in the La Liga club and became Bijlat after he led the team to only five victories in 28, with Vigo 17th in the table when he left.
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