Rafa Benitez snubs Premier League return as he watches managerless Arsenal toil at West Ham
RAFA BENITEZ has told managerless Arsenal and Everton: I'm not coming back to the Premier League...yet.
The former Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea boss ruled out a switch back to the Prem as he watched the managerless Gunners at West Ham as part of Sky Sports' Monday Night Football team of pundits.
The Spaniard moved to the China Super League this year managing Dalian Yifang on a two-year deal worth a reported £12million-a-year.
But when quizzed by Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher over whether he would return to England, he said: "I must be very clear, there is no chance I would come back. I am very happy.
"They trust me. They have a lot of staff working in a big project. It's a massive company.
"They want to create a legacy. We are working with players from six-years-old to the first team.
"We want to leave a legacy.
"It's a great experience. I am learning a lot."
Benitez, whose family still live in Liverpool, has been strongly linked with the Goodison Park hotseat for several years.
The Spaniard was also in the frame to replace Unai Emery - and was even said to be on the Gunners' shortlist before Emery replaced Arsene Wenger in 2018.
But when specifically asked about snubbing Arsenal and Everton and quitting China, Benitez said emphatically: "Yes."
Latest Arsenal news
However, he did not rule out a return to England when his contract is up in 2021.
He added: "Obviously in the future I would like to return to the Premier League."