Salomon Rondon says he would have remained at Newcastle if Benitez was still manager 

Salomon Rondon has admitted he would have signed permanently for Newcastle this summer had Rafa Benitez penned a new deal to remain as Magpies manager. 

Instead, the Spaniard joined Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang after failing to agree a new deal with Newcastle chairman Mike Ashley. 

Rondon opted to follow Benitez to Dalian, sealing a £16.5million move from West Bromwich Albion earlier this month. 

Salomon Rondo has revealed he wanted to join Newcastle on a permanent deal this summer

While the Venezuelan is now excited to experience a new culture with wife Valeria and son Rodrigo, he has expressed some regret over the way his spell in the North East came to an end. 

‘It was a beautiful year for me last season. I loved it because the supporters were behind me all the time,’ Rondon told the Sun.

‘Was I disappointed to leave? Yes, because I was waiting for something. I was waiting for Rafa.

‘So when Rafa said goodbye, I felt I would have to say goodbye as well. I understood in that moment I would not sign for Newcastle.’ 

Rondon scored 12 goals in 32 games for Newcastle last season while on loan from West Brom

In an interview with Sportsmail, Ashley claimed Benitez’s move was ‘all about the money.’  

However, Rondon has criticised the 54-year-old’s thrifty approach towards running the St James’ Park club, implying that Ashley did not bid to sign him because he is too old to have a high sell-on value.

‘It looks like the owner’s rule is that, “Because he’s 29, when I sell I don’t get more money from what I’ve invested in him”.’

The striker is now reportedly earning £8m a year in Asia but remains open to a Premier League return before the end of his career.

He provided 12 goals and seven assists in 32 games at Newcastle and went on to score on debut in Dalian’s 3-3 draw with Tianjin Teda. 

Mike Ashley has claimed Rafa Benitez’s move from Newcastle to China was ‘all about money’