With it being formally announced that Rafa Benitez has signed a two year contract to become Inter Milan’s next manager, speculation has inevitably arisen that he will bring some of his Liverpool players with him to the San Siro. An exodus of his staff from Anfield is fully expected to take place, especially when the Reds announce their new manager, and rumours have already begun to fly around that some players will also follow the Spanish manager to Italy. Two unsurprisingly linked with Inter are Javier Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt, both brought in by Rafa during his time with Liverpool, they are also two players who wouldn’t mind linking up with their old manager once again. Two other players have also been linked though, and are surprising to say the least. Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani have also in the last two days been connected with Inter. Johnson in light of the fact that Maicon may leave the San Siro for Real Madrid and Aquilani because a return to Italy may well reignite his career. So the question is, is Rafa gunning for these players and if he is, should we let them go?
To start with the two more likely transfer rumours, Javier Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt. Both certainly favourites of the Spanish manager, it would not take a big stretch of the imagination to see these players being wanted by Rafa, especially as he is aware of Liverpool’s financial plight and the low morale among the players. Mascherano is a case in point as for both financial and personal reasons; Rafa may believe he could persuade Liverpool to sell the Argentinean captain. No doubt a very important member of Liverpool’s starting eleven; Mascherano has expressed how unsettled his family is in Liverpool in recent months. His Spanish speaking wife and family find it difficult to make friends in this country and Masch may feel it is time to move to sunnier climbs in Italy. He has already said in recent days that he would like to link up with Rafa Benitez once again:
“Would I follow Benitez? I don’t know. At the moment I really know little about my future. But of course with Benitez at Liverpool I experienced three incredible years. His football is my football.”
He is also a very saleable asset for Liverpool and Benitez knows a sizeable offer may tempt the Reds to sell the player, especially if Masch wants to leave.
On Dirk Kuyt, the Dutch forward was certainly one of Rafa’s favourites when he was at Liverpool. Much criticised for a lack of flair, the Dutchman always worked hard out of position on the right hand side of midfield and scored some important goals in the last few seasons. Another player who might want to link up with Rafa Benitez once again, Kuyt is not however as unsettled on Merseyside and any decision on his future will surely be determined by the next manager. Whoever it is may see it as a good piece of business to sell the player so as to use funds to improve the squad (if of course he is allowed to keep any of the proceeds).
Now to the other two players, Johnson and Aquilani. In Johnson’s case, it maybe that the media are going with the logic that if Maicon goes then Rafa will look to his old club for an attacking full back in the same mould as the Brazilian. The Spanish manager brought Johnson to the club partly to increase the amount of English player’s in the squad as well as to improve Liverpool’s attacking options at the back. It is an unlikely prospect anyway that the England international would want to leave the Reds after just a year at the club and any sale would see Liverpool demanding a sizeable fee that would deter any bidders, including Inter if they wanted him.
The strangest link of them all is Alberto Aquilani. Aqua had a poor first season at the club after recovering late from a long term ankle injury. Benitez used the player sparingly even after he became fully fit and only in the last few weeks of the season did he begin to start the midfielder. Rafa may believe a return to Italy may see the player reignite his form but I doubt very much that he would be interested in him, although there maybe those in the Inter hierarchy such as Marco Branca who may see it differently. Aquilani himself has stated in recent weeks that he is determined to repay Liverpool with some performances next season, we will have to wait and see if that is the case.
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Rafa is more than welcome to Dirk Kuyt and Javier ‘Judas’ Mascherano can go for the right fee.
For the papers to quote 20million for Mascher is a joke though, it should cost them at least 30million for his services.
Johnson can’t go but if he did then he shouldn’t be sold for less than 25million quid….and not the 15million euros as mentioned in the papers.
Insua is free to leave but despite him being rubbish he does play for Argentina so he won’t go for less than 8million.
Mascherano yes, Kuyt no. Anyone who doesn’t want to play for Liverpool deserves to go. Players such as Kuyt give their all for the club he is an asset and selling him is unthinkable. A message to the LFC board of directors: for goodness sake put King Kenny in charge if you want to halt the club’s freefall. YNWA
I don’t mind Masch going as long as we get a decent fee for him, £25-30m. He’s world class, but with his wife moaning at him the whole time I can understand why he wants to leave. The Inter squad is full of Argies, and Italian culture is quite similar to Argentina, so it’s a good fit for them.
Wouldn’t want anyone else to go though, Kuyt is a still an important player for us, not the most skilful player to ever grace Anfield, but you can’t deny his passion for the club, his workrate, and his importance to us over the years, especially in big games. He’s a valuable squad player, and any managers dream. He’s not the Dutch world cup squad for nothing.
Johnson is the best right back in the league, would be madness to get rid of him, not going to happen; and there’s a lot more to come from Aquilani, I can’t see anything happening there either.
Don’t know why Lee mentions Insua, he had a poor season at the back, but was one of the better full backs in the league in terms of attacking play. I’m willing to put his defensive flaws down to inexperience and the fact that he didn’t have a break all season (he’s still young remember). Also, he’s our only left-back, so if we sold him we’d have to buy two new ones, which would be utter madness. What we need is an experienced left back to compete with Insua.
Wondering if Rafa will bid for Lucas, another of his favourite sons.
Even if it happens, how much will he be ready to pay Lucas?
Thought to ponder for all the LUcas-SupportERS (LUSERS)
It is lunacy that anyone should refer to Masch as “Judas”. He was one of our most consistent and untiring performers last season and there is no question over his quality. Kyut can never be faulted on effort though at times his quality was disappointing. Until a fortnight ago, SG was being linked to Real and he still might leave. That makes him a “Judas” too! The fact is last season, we were let down by Gerrard and Torres. We surely did not look forward at the start of the season to Kyut and Lucas winning us the title. They were in supporting roles. Chelsea won the title because of Drogba and Lampard, not Mikel, etc! That was up to SG & FT. Both were either unfit or out of form. SG started the season poorly and ended with the famous back pass against Chelsea. So he should not be aggrieved. He would have been justified the previous season when he and Torres were excellent form and we almost finished on top. We needed more players, not selling a player for +40m and the owners running away with 20m of those. There are plenty of Judas’, and they are the owners and their stooges in the boardroom. If we do not even have the ability to see what is wrong, insulting language for departing players will not stop them. But it does show that we have also lost off the field in the quality of supporters in recent years.
Masca and kuyt can go, but please please please take N’gog as well
keep all of them we need to keep key players and I would consider Gerrard,Torres,Mascherano,Johnson,Carragher,Aquilani,Reina, Kuyt and Agger all key to building the future we have other good players like Benayoun,Lucas{good holding cover despite what many say} and Skrtel but they are not essential,our team is not as far off as the league table suggested we only need a few small tweeks ,a left back,a striker and a right and left winger as I can see Babel,Benayoun and Riera all leaving,I would love to see us sign Joe Cole for the right wing and Kris Boyd as a back up striker on bosmans,Ashley Young£18m for the left and Luis Filipe£12m,with these minor changes we will challenge and if we could raise around £20m from sales and spend £30m it is not to unrealistic
Forget loyalty, Kuyt is rubbish. I’ve seen more footballing ability on a donkey – who can hit a barn door (unlike Kuyt).
As for Insua, the kid was useless. He hasn’t got a defensive bone in his body and was just as bad going forward. You need a brain and ability to play at Prem level and Kuyt and Insua have neither.
Mascher can’t leave for less than 30million (irrespective of anything else).
Kuyt and Insua are not key players – they are s***e! The same applies to Lucas and Ngog.
I liked Mascher but he wants to go and his moaning is becoming incessant.
Selling them lot along with Babel and Riera and we could get a few million to spend – assuming the owners don’t keep it
you don’t get more assists than any other full back in the league if you’re useless going forward.
and Kuyt is far from rubbish, you don’t get into the Dutch world cup squad with less footballing ability than a donkey.
please take that donkey lucas
Cloudno, by your sentiments, can we call you a CLOUN (in case you are an idiot, i mean a clown) Lucas was one of the most consistent and best players last year, you are one of the media monkeys that is bringing our great club to shame, now go and support Chelski until you learn to understand football, i can only describe fans like you as whorefans.
Mascherano’s heart isn’t at LFC. He wanted to leave last year, so we should have no probs letting him go. Irrespective of how good he is, he is also replacepable. Kuyt, hmm runs around like a chicken without a head. We can do better, although he has the right attitude so that counts for something. Aquilani, i think is a dark horse. He has shown glimpses of brilliance, i think with a little time, he will settle in nicely and perhaps replace the hole Alonso left. And as for Johnson, he leaves us thin in defence going forward all the time, but he is class, and i personally love attacking football so i would definatley be sore to see him go. I think we have a decent squad, we do need some reinforcment, especially upfront, but if Torres and Gerrard stay, after a poor season the lads will definately want to make up for it. Even Lucas, who hasn’t shown any flair, maybe becasue he was played out of position,(?) But he was consistent all season. I truly think with a bit of positve reinforcment in the dressing room, we might see a different team in the following season, heres hoping anyways…YNWA
Couldn’t agree more with Alan… hate the media monkeys who no f*** all about football…
Dirk Kuyt should be sold if Rafa is willing to give 15mil for him, we have a better right winger in Maxi anyway, although the cover would be handy but I like the look of some of the youngsters like Amoo.
No point in selling Lucas as the fee that we would receive would only be about 5mil and it would take a lot more than that to replace him, Masch however should stay but only if he can get over his problem with living over here and if not id push Carragher up there for a season until we get bought out and play Agger and Skrtl together as I believe they will form a strong base for the future of our team and finally for Insua, He has potential and working with a quality left winger that is in the team with him week in week out I think he will improve greatly and on that regard it is left of midfield that needs strengthening the most
Last year when Masch was talking about leaving, Rafa slapped a £50million price tag on him. I think that’s fair. If Inter come up with that he can go.
But we’d miss him…
lfcforever, play Carra as a DM? are you mad? you need someone capable of passing the ball there. Ever Banega would be a great option if Masch left, kind of a cross between Xabi and Masch (not as defensive as Masch, not as good a passer as Xabi, but a lot more mobile than him).
It’s nice to see an LFC website with sensible well-argued comments from the fans
My problem is (and no-one here has even thought of it) that the money from sales will go to paying of the two idiots who own the club’s debts.
The next manager won’t get a penny.
Nice of Benitez to come back and take players.
Soften the fans up with the hillsboro donation I wonder?
Everything is a well plotted plan. Knowing that Morinho has left Inter, the Anifield Board purposely sacked Rafa for him join as Inter’s manager so that he can spend millions buying Liverpool’s players to rescue the club from financial crisis. Rafa will join Liverpool back after finishing his 2 years contract in Inter. Trust me.