Alberto Aquilani arrived at Liverpool in August 2009 with the departure of Xabi Alonso. Many inside the media labelled him as a replacement but I don’t think he was ever that. The two are so unlike each other. Alberto is much more of an attacking midfielder, whilst Xabi is the heartbeat of the team, the one that always keeps you ticking from the middle of the pitch.
It has really got me down Aquilani being loaned out to Juventus because I think this was the season we were going to see what he was all about. This was his chance to prove to the current manager, his fellow players and the Liverpool fans that he could stay fit and more importantly play an important part in this club’s future. When fit the Italian had shown some flashes of brilliance and I really think, given the chance on a regular basis in the team, he could have done well at the club. Roy Hodgson has clearly seen something in him he doesn’t fancy. Be it a poor record with injuries or the simple fact that he just doesn’t rate him as player.
I think that he will be back to his best in Italy once he settles into the team. He will have the chance, all be it not at Liverpool, to show that he still has what it takes to be a top class player. My hope was that if he did well in Italy and he stayed clear of injury, we would decide to give him another chance. I thought he deserved the opportunity to be the player we were all hoping he would be for this club and not Juventus. However Aquilani said this recently:
“Liverpool counted on me and in the end I would also have stayed because at the end of last season I was getting in gear physically and I had played the last eight games of the campaign. The fans had started to show me affection. Then this opportunity arrived and I didn’t even need a minute to think about it. Liverpool wanted to only send me on loan, but [Juve general director, Beppe] Marotta insisted to have the option to buy.”
This is disappointing because if he does stay fit and gets back to top form we will surely lose him. It will be a case of the one that got away and would be very sad for both Alberto and Liverpool. The better option, not to criticise the decision making of Roy Hodgson too much here, would have been to give the lad this season and see what comes of it. But you cannot change the past, only the future, I wish the lad nothing but good luck; I hope that one day we can see him back here at Liverpool.
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arhhh…shurrrrupp
You just might see him back at Liverpool but probably not as a Liverpool player!
I dont care now whether he returns or not but the possible 13 mill for him would have got the striker or wing we badly need.
The loan deal with an option to buy was just daft business. If he’s great we lose him for cheap, if he’s a dud he comes back to Anfield. I don’t see any upside for the club in this deal.
its a lose lose, he does well we lose him for low price, he does badly or gets injured we get him back.
i just dont get the gaffas thinking on this one. ynwa
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I think he is good player.but injury and less games mekes him crap