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Benitez Still Wants Barry

Tue 29 Jul, 04:09 PM


Rafael Benitez has confirmed he must sell again to bring Gareth Barry to Liverpool after completing the £20.3million signing of Robbie Keane.

The Reds manager insists that is what he aims to do, but he has no intention of selling Spain international Alvaro Arbeloa.

Liverpool are believed to have had a £7million bid from Sevilla for the 25-year-old, but Benitez has made it clear the player is going nowhere, despite speculation defender Arbeloa wants to return to Spain for personal reasons.

Benitez maintains there is no truth in the assumption Arbeloa is eager to leave and the former Deportivo La Coruna player will be part of his plans in the coming season.

But there is no question that Benitez still wants to sign former Aston Villa skipper Barry, the subject of a summer-long saga which has frayed tempers at Villa Park and Anfield.

Benitez could sell Jermaine Pennant, Andriy Voronin or Steve Finnan, but it is still more likely that he will persuade Xabi Alonso to leave if he can get a £15million-plus bid for the Spanish midfielder.

After completing the Keane deal, Benitez talked in terms of one more major departure rather than a string of smaller deals, to finance an £18million move for Barry.

Benitez said: "We knew that we could only spend money by selling players and we have been doing this (for Keane).

"We are still trying to sign the players that we need, and if we need to sell someone now, okay, we will do so.

"If we can do it (the Barry deal) before the end of the transfer window, we will continue to try. We will always continue to improve our squad."

Benitez was delighted to finally land Keane, and he declined to discuss Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy's anger over how the move was concluded.

Benitez said: "We are pleased he is here. We dealt well with Mr Levy, and my role was to bring the player here as quickly as possible.

"Robbie is one of the very best forwards in the Premier League. He is settled and more than used to the requirements. He is a good professional with a solid mentality, obviously I am pleased he is here, other managers would say the same.

"Robbie can play alongside (Fernando) Torres and (Dirk) Kuyt, and also (Steven) Gerrard. He is clever and is the right kind of player.

"He can play on the right, he can play up front. If you have clever players it makes it easier for the manager."

He added: "If you play 4-4-2, Keane can play alongside Torres. If we play 4-2-3-1 he can play as a second striker or on the right.

"He is the kind of player who is adaptable, and can be used in different positions and will give you 100%.

"Robbie is intelligent, he can play on the right and he can adapt. He is a very positive signing.

"He scored twice at Anfield last season, he knows where he has to be to score and where he must be to support team-mates. He is very clever.

"We have known he was a good player for a long time, the goals he scored against us just underlined what we already knew.

"We wanted the player, he said he was a Liverpool fan and wanted to come here. We are happy, our fans are happy."

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Comment 1 - 19 of 19

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  1. just let keane play football and give your brains arest you all think you no it all if that was true we all be managers earning mega money, wouldn't that be great more money in our pockets

    From BARBARA M, on Wed 30 Jul 1:33PM

  2. forget about barry he's not worth it. alonso is a far superior player, he has shown what immense talent and skill he has since the day he joined us. barry isn't good enough and look at the way he has treated villa now, who's to say he wouldn't do it again??

    Also keep voronin. Best player from a free transfer for a long time, hard worker and although he has struggled with injuries, when he plays he always puts in a solid performance.

    From Tash, on Wed 30 Jul 11:17AM

  3. i think finnin alonso Pennant and Vorrinin should stay and should sell players like Robbie Threlfall and some other players that we (Liverpool) hardly use and buy Barry

    From joeyharb@..., on Wed 30 Jul 8:21AM

  4. I don't think you can blame Barry for wanting to go simply because he's not going anywhere while at Villa, ONeal is a fine manager but, for Barry to to progress with his career he needs to play for a team like Liverpool and have champions league experience..

    From ceivers@..., on Wed 30 Jul 7:55AM

  5. Robbie Keane is a very good player, excellent Signing for Liverpool, Rafa should keep Alonso and sell players like Veronin and finnan to get the money for Gareth Barry.

    From Akash, on Wed 30 Jul 1:27AM

  6. I agree with john.rimmer9 you keep alonso and we will keep Barry.Their is not one VILLA fan who wants to see him go, as spurs have said its dirty tricks that have seen you land kean if Barry goes he would regret it,but rafa keeps trying to turn his head.You can't blame Barry for wanting to go after the underhanded way liverpool are doing buisness but i tell you villa will be there under ONeil.Watch this space

    From spiderspudblack, on Wed 30 Jul 12:48AM

  7. SHame full Rafa, Keane is never a winger and don't even go there. Rafa can never win nothing man.

    From oluwaseun a, on Tue 29 Jul 11:18PM

  8. Rafa should keep alonso but buy barrry he should sell some of the players he doesnt use and that should get him the money for barry!

    From SARAH, on Tue 29 Jul 10:32PM

  9. Sell Kuyt. LIv needs mids who can deliver the ball in the air and to the feet. Alonso, Barry, and Gerard would be unstoppable.

    From staubreyz, on Tue 29 Jul 10:27PM

  10. hah..rafa buy keane because he wants him to play in the right..hahaha

    From Bojan, on Tue 29 Jul 8:21PM

  11. i dont think barry is as good as alonso the pool keep der money and spend a little on swp he'd be better on the wing than kuyt

    From John F, on Tue 29 Jul 8:13PM

  12. me personly wud rather alonso stay than buy barry, roy keane cud b the boy wonder we have bin waitin for, alls we have to do is start beating the man us an chelsea an instead of losin to the lower sides in prem is just kick @#$% an then the title will come......

    From john.rimmer9@..., on Tue 29 Jul 6:46PM

  13. keane will deliver the goals which is more important for liverpool right now. barry will eventually join l'pool. if not this season, he will most likely join next season because he has clearly stated that he wants to play for the reds.

    From Sami s, on Tue 29 Jul 6:36PM

  14. in regards to the comment from alikhan who in there right minds would pay £16m for voronin!! haha! and yeah in that article Benitez mentioned several times that Keane could play on the right. I really think he should just invest in a proper winger instead of playing playrs out of position! I don't think it worked out too well with Kuyt last season and I can't see it working with Keane either!

    From marieodonovan@..., on Tue 29 Jul 6:31PM

  15. barry`s worth 18 million,liverpool pay`ed 19 million for keane if barry is sooooo important to liverpool why did`nt they buy barry first.

    From darrennicholls@..., on Tue 29 Jul 6:10PM

  16. Skrtel is a great defender, you ever seen him?

    From daz_b@..., on Tue 29 Jul 5:41PM

  17. i think RAFA should sell skirtel for £7m and sell voronin for £16m!

    DO IT RAFA!

    From Gerrrad, on Tue 29 Jul 4:24PM

  18. i think raa should sell skirtel for £7m and sell voronin for £16m!

    DO IT RAFA!

    From Gerrrad, on Tue 29 Jul 4:24PM

  19. I can sense trouble already, Keane will be played out of position. Just like Dirk Kuyt. I would play Kuyt as a winger in my team he sucks in that position

    From umgodoyi, on Tue 29 Jul 4:15PM
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