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Rafa Benitez has snapped up Chelsea outcast Kenedy on a season’s loan.

Newcastle’s boss offered the Brazilian an escape route to the north-east after learning he was up for grabs.

Benitez has moved quickly to secure the deal using well-established contacts made during his spell in charge of the club four years ago.

And the winger will offer the Tyneside giants added impetus going forward as the Spaniard continues his re-building of the Magpies.

(Image: Darren Walsh) (Image: Serena Taylor)

It is little surprise that Chelsea have made the 21-year-old available following a huge public relations own goal during the Londoners’ pre-season tour of China last month.

The former Fluminense teenager caused outrage with a couple of ill-advised posts on social media which were not well-received in the Far East.

Kenedy went public with a couple of shots on Instagram in which he wrote: ‘Damn China,’ and ‘Wake up China, you idiot,’ the second of which was accompanied by a picture of a security guard asleep.

Chelsea were accused of racism and xenophobia and the official paper of the ruling Communist Party reprimanded the youngster in an editorial for his ‘absurd comments.’

That led to a grovelling climbdown by the Premier League champs who confirmed they had ‘reprimanded and disciplined’ their player.

They also issued an apology in which the club said it ‘had the utmost respect and admiration for China’ and that they were ‘shocked and saddened by the negative impact.’

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It is no surprise now that the hierarchy at the London club have chosen to pull Kenedy out of the firing line and sent him on loan.

He was allowed to leave on a similar basis to Watford last season but struggled with injuries and was returned to Stamford Bridge after making just one appearance for the Hornets.

(Image: Laurence Griffiths)

This switch to Tyneside, under Benitez’s watchful eye, will afford Kenedy a clean slate and will give the player himself an opportunity to shine.

Benitez has been working over-time on a couple of deals this week and, although he has admitted the Magpies will find life tricky back among the elite, remains positive he can improve the squad further before the window closes.