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Newcastle United players left SC Braga’s Estádio Municipal without saying anything on the record to the travelling media in Portugal.

The players held a meeting to decide not to talk after the 4-0 hammering against the Portuguese side but it wasn’t understood to be because of the result or anything to do with the lack of recruitment.

It is believed that United players are yet to agree an incentive package for the new season and don’t feel the time is right to talk about the season’s objectives at the moment.

Players were still affable towards the media on their way to the team bus ahead of their red-eye flight home from Portugal but nobody stopped to speak in the mixed zone, which is used to conduct player interviews.

And even the club’s official TV channel and website weren’t permitted any post-game content from Toon players after their penultimate friendly.

The message from the dressing room after the defeat in Braga was that there would be no interviews and it was “nothing personal” towards the press pack.

(Image: Newcastle United)

The situation is expected to be temporary and will be resolved soon.

Rafa Benitez was well aware of the situation after the game and when asked why players weren’t speaking, he said: “As I say things aren’t going well off the pitch and you can see a reflection.”

In recent years Newcastle players have been in negotiations at the same stage of the year on their bonus.

And it must be agreed in time for the start of the Premier League campaign.

Last year United’s squad agreed to share £4m if the club achieved top flight survival and £1m for every place above 17th spot.

It was also claimed that Ashley has agreed a £20m bonus for the FA Cup but interest ended away to Chelsea in the fourth round.