Rafa Benitez reacts to Jesus Gamez's criticism of him at Newcastle

The 33-year-old left the club in the summer after failing to prove himself at St James’s Park.

Gamez, signed from Atletico Madrid, only made a handful of appearance for the club during an injury-hit two years on Tyneside.

The former Spain Under-23 international is yet to find a new club.

Asked about his time at Newcastle, Gamez said: “Yes, it got complicated at the beginning with an injury, then I broke my collarbone. I struggled to get back.

“At the family level, the experience was very good.

“At sporting level, the fans and the team-mates were sensational, but the coach did not understand the situations that happened and also the deal was not the ideal one.

“He (Benitez) is a person that I do not like talking about, because he didn’t contribute anything to me in these two years, and I have nothing to say about him.”

Benitez, however, has refused to get drawn into a war of words with Gamez.

Asked about Gamez’s comments, Benitez said: “When we signed Jesus, we were signing a good player with experience.

“He has been unlucky, because he has always been injured.

“All I can say is hopefully he will be fine and he finds a new club.”