Newcastle United winger Christian Atsu insists the playing body want Manager Rafa Benitez to stay.

Benitez has just a year left on his contract with the Magpies but the Ghanaian wide man says they all want him to stay long at the club.

“Rafa is more than a manager to us, the way he helps us even outside football, because he believes there is more to a footballer than just going on the pitch to deliver.” Atsu told Mirror

“Obviously it’s hard for me to speak for everyone in the locker room but I can say we are all very happy with him and his coaching staff.”

“It’s clear the players want him to stay and it’s not just the playing body – you go into the kitchen for lunch and the way he relates to the kitchen staff and their response to him – it is so clear that everyone, even the fans, want him to remain here for a long time.”

Benitez signed Atsu from Chelsea on a permanent deal in 2016 after an impressive loan spell and he has risen to become one of his trusted players.