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Knowing that this summer's European Under-21 Championship would serve as a shop window for many of Holland's younger players, national coach Marco van Basten urged them prior to the tournament not to move abroad.

Van Basten warned Babel that if he did, it would affect his chances of breaking into the full international squad for next summer's Euro 2008 tournament.

But the 19-year-old striker admits that once Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez came in for him, there was no way he could refuse the offer of a move to the Premiership.

Babel told the Sunday Mirror: "Van Basten spoke to us before the European Under-21 Championship this summer and he told us maybe it would be best for us all to stay in Holland if we wanted to be in the senior squad next summer.

"It was his idea that we would be better off playing first team football at home rather than take the chance of signing for a foreign club and spending too much time on the bench.

"But if I am honest, his words did not even enter my mind when Liverpool said they wanted to sign me."

Babel joins a sizeable striking contingent at Anfield which now includes Peter Crouch, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Andriy Voronin, but the former Ajax ace remains confident of getting a chance to play for Benitez, and of breaking into Van Basten's Euro 2008 plans.

"I spoke to Rafa Benitez to hear his plans and I have enough confidence in my own ability to believe I will play enough games for Liverpool to convince Van Basten I should go to the tournament," he added.

"I don't see this move to Liverpool as a risk. Perhaps time will prove me wrong. Maybe people will back in 12 months and say I was stupid to join Liverpool because I didn't go to the European Championship.

"But at this moment I have confidence in my ability to believe I will be going.

"I am still young and maybe people see me as a player Liverpool have signed for the future. I can understand that but I am also here to make an impact now.

"When I spoke with Rafa Benitez he told me how he works and he said it was his intention to give me games straight away.

"Sure he knows I will have to settle in at a new club, but he told me that I am part of his plans for the coming season as well as the future."

Eurosport