Is Rafa really about to leave Anfield?

Get Liverpool Tickets at Fantastic Prices Now!

We’ve been nominated for a shiny award, please VOTE FOR US!

Sports - September 25, 2007

Rafa Benitez has agreed terms to become Juventus new manager, it has been claimed in Italy.
Sportsmail first revealed that the Serie A giants were lining up Liverpool boss Benitez to replace Ciro Ferrara earlier this month.
Ferrara was fired on Friday after a disappointing run of results and Alberto Zaccheroni has been appointed caretaker manager until the end of the season.
But Benitez, a close friend of recently appointed Juve vice-chairman Roberto Bettega, is set to quit Anfield for the Italians in June.
Respected newspaper La Repubblica claims there is already a verbal agreement between the Spaniard and his would-be new employers. (La Repubblica & Daily Mail)

Hopefully this amounts to nothing but there does appear to be a growing tide of speculation that seems to suggest that Rafa is keeping his options open and I guess that is only fair given the reportedly unstable situation he finds himself in at Anfield. Juventus did their half of any such deal by sacking Ciro Ferrara after a stunningly poor set of results left his position at the Serie A club untenable. We are on a good little run at the moment and hopefully any speculation about Rafa’s future at Liverpool will not jeopardise that.

The gaffer has put his neck on the line by stating that he guarantees a top four finish to I guess either way the end of the season will bring this all to a head. If he fails to deliver that Champions League spot then he will walk away and if he does then he deserves another chance to finish the job he started at Anfield.

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun is set to leave Anfield in the summer, according to the News of the World, having had a move to Dinamo Moscow blocked by the club.

The Russian club claimed last week to have been on the verge of signing the 29 year-old with Liverpool forced to release a statement that “The player is not for sale, it’s as simple as that.”

Although the Israeli captain signed a new Liverpool deal to keep him at the club until 2013, his relationship with Rafa Benitez has become increasingly strained according to the News of the World, having been left out of several high-profile fixtures.

Benayoun was reportedly given permission to talk to other clubs last season, when Dinamo first showed an interest with him. Benayoun is said to be unhappy that Liverpool changed their mind, having reached an agreement with the Russian club and is intent on leaving unless things change at Anfield. (IMScouting)

This is a little worrying but if it is indeed true, but given the original source it may well be rubbish, then I am not sure what Yossi would have expected Liverpool to do. If a team comes in for a player then that team has two choices. If he club had allowed him to talk to the Russian side then it could have been construed as the team stating pretty much that he could go and that he had no future at the club, at least by blocking such a move it would show the impressive Israeli that he is valued. Its kind of a damned if you do and damned if you don’t type scenario.

I guess the midfielder still needs to be shown that he is very much part of the first team picture at the club and he is definitely getting more of a look in this season than in his previous two seasons but that is probably as much down to the influx of injuries rather than anything else. All the fans appreciate Yossi for his hard work and his ability to change a game and score crucial goals and I think Rafa is slowly beginning to realise that too.

YNWA

Join Our Facebook Fan Page for the Latest News/Rumours/Forums/Videos/WAGS/Funny Stuff/Features!

Don’t forget to check out Online Football Manager!

GD Star Rating
loading...