Disgraced former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys has suggested Rafael Benitez doesn't have "an ounce of decency or integrity" after making the doomed decision to take on the role of Everton manager.
Keys, who now works for beIN SPORTS in Qatar after leaving Sky 11 years ago, has been a regular critic of Benitez ever since his time in charge at Liverpool.
Writing in his latest blog, the presenter could barely contain his delight at the Spaniard being sacked by Everton on Sunday less than seven months into the job.
And Keys has claimed it was a sign of the questionable character of Benitez - who has helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities in Merseyside and beyond - that he took the Goodison role in the first place.
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"What was there about the eventual, inevitable, predictable outcome that Farhad Moshiri wasn’t warned about - or didn’t expect?" said Keys.
"What he should be grateful for is that it came to a head quickly enough for limited damage to have been caused to the club - just as it did at Real Madrid, Inter and Chelsea.
"I'm not going to make this personal. The above statement is a ‘fact’. So is this - Rafa Benitez should never, ever have been anywhere near the manager’s job at Everton.
"If he had an ounce of decency or integrity he’d have felt that way himself and turned Moshiri’s offer down in the summer - not wanting to tarnish his reputation at Anfield."
Keys also had a message for the ECHO by revealing "facts" about Philippe Coutinho and Sean Longstaff that had in fact already been reported by the ECHO back in July and August respectively.
"Especially for my friends at the Liverpool Echo - the following is true," said Keys.
"Fact. He turned down the chance to take Philippe Coutinho to Goodison. Coutinho would’ve been a bigger attraction than Benitez. (Damn, I’m trying hard to keep this to ‘facts’). So Coutinho went to Villa - along with Everton’s best player, whose reputation Benitez tried to trash.
"And do you know who Everton were putting a deal together to sign instead of Coutinho? Sean Longstaff. Fact. Sean Longstaff - who can’t even hold down at place at Newcastle."
Keys believes Roberto Martinez and Wayne Rooney would be suitable replacements for Benitez, but has urged Everton owner Farhad Moshiri to look to another former Goodison favourite.
"If I were Moshiri I’d be testing West Ham’s desire to hold onto David Moyes," he said.
"I’ve no idea if Moyes would take it - bearing in mind he’s shaken hands with Moshiri previously - only for Carlo Ancelotti to be appointed 48 hours later.
"Moyes loves it at West Ham - but he’s a Toffee at heart."
