---
title: "Celtic: Benitez appears to rule out Hoops move"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-benitez-appears-to-rule-out-hoops-move/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-03-24T20:45:32Z"
modified: "2021-03-24T20:45:32Z"
---

# Celtic: Benitez appears to rule out Hoops move

**Rafael Benitez has seemingly confirmed he is not in the running to replace Neil Lennon at Celtic Park.**

The 60-year-old [left Chinese Super League side Dalian Professional by mutual consent](https://theathletic.com/news/rafa-benitez-china-liverpool-latest/uioJjC0cM0CJ) back in January and remains out of work, but it doesn’t look like his next role will be in Glasgow.

### Benitez eyeing Premier League return

[Reports](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/breaking-rafa-benitez-appointed-celtic-23374588) shortly after his Dalian Professional exit claimed that the Spaniard was set to replace Lennon in the Parkhead dugout, however, a move never materialised.

Lennon [resigned](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/12143403/neil-lennon-resigns-as-celtic-manager-with-club-18-points-behind-rangers-in-scottish-premiership) from his position at the end of February, with the Hoops now [waiting until a director of football is brought in before landing a new first-team boss](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-harkin-appointment-close-after-celtic-talks/).

Talking to [The Times](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rafa-benitez-ready-to-return-and-has-premier-league-in-his-sights-k95008mtk), cited by the [Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-breaks-silence-amid-23785472), Benitez admitted the right project ‘is not there at the moment’, revealing he wants to return to the Premier League.

> “The priority is England. Why? Because obviously I like the Premier League and my family is here.
>
> “I have a lot \[of offers\] from the UAE, United States, Brazil, China, but I want to stay in Europe. And I want to stay in England.
>
> “If it’s the right one, we can do it tomorrow but the project, the competitive team, is not there at the moment so we have to wait. But I don’t want to stay without working.”

\[freshpress-poll id=”348946″\]

### Transfer Tavern take

[Several Celtic fans wanted Benitez in](https://readceltic.com/2021/01/23/celtic-fans-react-as-rafael-benitez-leaves-dalian-professional/) prior to Lennon’s resignation, so those supporters will be gutted at his latest comments.

However, to us, we never thought a move to Celtic Park was a realistic one. The Spaniard’s salary was [£12m](https://talksport.com/football/586509/rafael-benitez-mike-ashley-china/) in China, double his Newcastle pay packet.

Lennon was on [£2.4m-a-year](https://www.sportingfree.com/football/celtic-fc-players-salaries/) during his second stint as Hoops boss, so financially, a reported deal looked impossible.

***In other news: Celtic keen on 24-year-old ace who has 12 assists this season, find out more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-hoops-keen-on-siriki-dembele/).***