"Rafa has been tremendous. My sons and I followed the sport here before we came; we knew about Rafa Benitez and what he had done in Europe," said the new co-chairman.
"We knew of him but I don't think we realised how good he was, and not just as a coach.
"Not only was he a brilliant coach but he is a very sharp, savvy businessman. He knows what he wants and how to get it.
"The more we have seen of him the more impressed we have become. We have talked money but that is not the main point. We have discovered that the way people operate privately is not always the same as in public.
"We will be supporting him during the summer but it is not about money, it is about giving people opportunities."