Plenty of Liverpool fans have been reacting to comments made by former manager Rafael Benitez over the apparent lack of transfer funds during his time at Anfield, with many Kopites accusing the Spaniard of questionable decisions in the market.
In an interview with Marca, the 2005 Champions League-winning boss said that a key difference between his time at Liverpool and the current regime was the lack of investment in the squad, claiming that the Reds had a transfer budget of just €17m (£14.58m) in his final summer at Anfield in 2009 (as shared by @AnfieldEdition on Twitter). He added that he had been forced to sell players in order to bring others in, with Xabi Alonso leaving for Real Madrid that summer.
Rafa Benitez on not winning the title: “We had no money. Our transfer budget, in my last year, was €17m.
“So, with that you could not compete. We had to try to sell to buy and when you sell Mascherano, Xabi Alonso, Torres…”
— Anfield Edition (@AnfieldEdition) March 3, 2020
Benitez infamously considered selling his fellow countryman in order to try and sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, a move which never came to fruition. Some of his more expensive signings did not work out greatly, with Robbie Keane spending just six months at Liverpool following a £21.6m move in 2008. Alberto Aquilani cost £18m from Roma but his Anfield career was overshadowed by injury, while £18m acquisition Djibril Cisse scored just 24 goals in 79 appearances.
These Reds fans on Twitter had little sympathy for Benitez after his recent remarks:
I would say that when Rafa got the money didn’t actually spend wisely
— Ahmir Amin (@Mahnoor39727590) March 3, 2020
He sold Alonso because he thought Gareth Barry was better. Inexcusable and I still haven’t forgiven him
— joël matip (@LivDelD) March 3, 2020
He means we had to sell Alonso to buy Gareth Barry?
— AK (@AKayani07) March 3, 2020
I was devastated at that time … it was a fatal and ridiculous mistake from Rafa … very unfortunate
— amin rahim (@aminskinovic) March 3, 2020
Rafa’s record in the transfer market was pretty abysmal. He’d fill the squad with average players like Josemi and Nunez etc just so he had the numbers rather than coach the players he had or trust in youth. Whereas with Klopp he will wait for the right player
— Adam (@ady_brown) March 3, 2020
He’s right but he also wanted to sell Alonso for Gareth Barry so… ????
— Ste (@JustRodge) March 3, 2020
Do you think Benitez could have won more trophies at Liverpool with better backing from the then-owners or did he often spend the club’s transfer budget poorly? Share your views in the comments section below!
