Spanish clubs on alert over Rafael Benitez's uncertainty

[StevieH]

[url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3628907.ece]Spanish
If he stays at Anfield, BenÍtez will ask for considerable backing in the transfer market this summer as he looks to assemble a squad capable of challenging for the Barclays Premier League title. He and his staff are making inquiries about several players and are monitoring the form of others, including David Bentley, of Blackburn Rovers, who has been identified as a potential candidate for a role on the right-hand side of midfield.

BenÍtez has impressed upon the Liverpool board the need to make changes to the squad and is likely to offload several players. Harry Kewell will leave when his contract expires in June, but there will be other departures, with uncertainty over the futures of Xabi Alonso, who is attracting interest from clubs in Spain, and John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch, whose contracts run only until the end of next season.

As expected, Javier Mascherano, the Liverpool midfield player, was charged with improper conduct by the FA yesterday over his reaction to his red card in the team’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Mascherano has been given until 6pm today to respond, with the case to be heard by an FA regulatory commission a week tomorrow. He is suspended for the Merseyside derby against Everton on Sunday and is likely to face a further ban for continuing to argue with Steve Bennett, the referee, after he was shown the red card, but Liverpool are optimistic that he will be suspended for only one additional match, rather than two.

- George Gillett Jr, the Liverpool co-owner, has teamed up with the owner of the Montreal Impact, who play in North America’s second division, to bid for a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise, Joey Saputo, the club’s president, said yesterday. “We are in discussions with Gillett Entertainment Group as well as with Major League Soccer to bring an MLS franchise to Montreal,” Saputo said. Reports suggest that they hope to call the team Montreal FC and begin playing in the 2009 season.

[Newport]

No good news as always

[rebel23]

if Bentley is the height of our ambitions then Rafa is clearly mad....

[Ulysses Everett McGill]

I fucking love the fella but he either needs to reign his agent in or keep his mouth shut.

He showed his hand earlier in the year and we backed him all the way

Whether it has come from him or his agent leaking stories like this bang out of order.

[theRedHorse]

Originally Posted by Kaizer Sauze I fucking love the fella but he either needs to reign his agent in or keep his mouth shut. He showed his hand earlier in the year and we backed him all the way Whether it has come from him or his agent leaking stories like this bang out of order.

What the fuck makes you think this is coming from him? Or even his agent?

[Ulysses Everett McGill]

Originally Posted by theRedHorse What the fuck makes you think this is coming from him? Or even his agent?

Of course it has, and it isnt the first time he's or his agent have decided to play games.

[theRedHorse]

Originally Posted by Kaizer Sauze Of course it has, and it isnt the first time he's or his agent have decided to play games.

For what End?

[Rashid]

Rafa's annual mind games with board. Every spring it happens.

[Liam]

Originally Posted by Kaizer Sauze Of course it has, and it isnt the first time he's or his agent have decided to play games.

To be fair, it doesnt take much to get these stories circulating. The Spanish media are bound to suggest he is a target after the speculation in this country regarding his uncertain future, especially after whats been with Hicks.

[Ulysses Everett McGill]

Originally Posted by theRedHorse For what End?

You want a list?

Get guarantee's about the size of his transfer kitty

Secure his position at the club even further by rallying the fans in his favour, possibly due to the uncertainty of his position if DIC come in OR he knows that he has fuck all to spend in the summer

Angle for a new/improved contract

He's flexing his muscles

[theRedHorse]

whats happened to the rest of the article in the original post?

[Ulysses Everett McGill]

Originally Posted by Liam To be fair, it doesnt take much to get these stories circulating. The Spanish media are bound to suggest he is a target after the speculation in this country regarding his uncertain future, especially after whats been with Hicks.

It's come from Quillon or Rafa, hence the reason why it hasnt been in the Spanish press yet.

It's intended for our eyes

[Liam]

Originally Posted by Kaizer Sauze It's come from Quillon or Rafa, hence the reason why it hasnt been in the Spanish press yet. It's intended for our eyes

The report on Sky Sports states "reports in Spain" I am pretty certain...

[theRedHorse]

Originally Posted by Kaizer Sauze You want a list? Get guarantee's about the size of his transfer kitty

Guarantee's from who? The current owners? The owners who gave him "guarantee's" last summer, and then began plotting his replacement?
The future owners, who are apparently also already looking to replace him? I doubt transfer kitty guarantee's are what he's after.

Originally Posted by Kaizer Sauze Secure his position at the club even further by rallying the fans in his favour, possibly due to the uncertainty of his position if DIC come in OR he knows that he has fuck all to spend in the summer Angle for a new/improved contract He's flexing his muscles

You know what...

I can't be bothered. You're probably right.

Fuck him. Fuck Benitez. the Prick who bought us a 5th European cup.

[Ulysses Everett McGill]

Originally Posted by Liam The report on Sky Sports states "reports in Spain" I am pretty certain...

Trust me, it's come from Rafa's camp

[theRedHorse]

From The TimesMarch 27, 2008 Spanish clubs embark on Benítez watching brief Oliver Kay Amid the uncertainty at Liverpool, Rafael Benítez has been sounded out by at least three clubs in Spain, who have expressed interest in tempting him back to La Liga at the end of the season. Barcelona are among the clubs who are monitoring the Spaniard’s situation, but it emerged last night that the Liverpool manager has also been made aware of potential interest from Valencia, his former club, and Atlético Madrid. Benítez’s priority is to stay on Merseyside, where his family is settled and where he is making plans to strengthen the Liverpool squad for next season, but his employment prospects at Anfield remain unclear. Although his position is more secure than it was earlier in the season, when Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the club’s American owners, were preparing to sack him after a series of disagreements, little is clear at present, with Dubai International Capital, the private equity investment arm of the Dubai government, planning a wide-ranging review of all aspects of the club if, as expected, it succeeds with its £400 million takeover bid. Having improved his relationship with Hicks while guiding Liverpool to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they face Arsenal, Benítez is hoping to stay on as manager, regardless of who owns the club next season, but other options exist. Manuel García Quillon, his agent, has been approached by people from or working on behalf of Valencia, Atlético and Barcelona. With doubts over the future of Frank Rijkaard, the Barcelona hierarchy are discussing potential replacements, including Benítez, José Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager, and Michael Laudrup, the Getafe coach. Two of the Catalan club’s directors, Ferran Soriano and Marc Ingla, are understood to favour Mourinho, but Joan Laporta, the president, is eager to explore other options, among them Benítez. Sources in Spain indicate that Laporta has been persuaded by well-placed contacts that Benítez could be available and that an informal approach has been made to García Quillon with regard to sounding out the Liverpool manager. Related Links Benitez seeks talks with Hackett Mascherano charged with improper conduct If he stays at Anfield, Benítez will ask for considerable backing in the transfer market this summer as he looks to assemble a squad capable of challenging for the Barclays Premier League title. He and his staff are making inquiries about several players and are monitoring the form of others, including David Bentley, of Blackburn Rovers, who has been identified as a potential candidate for a role on the right-hand side of midfield. Benítez has impressed upon the Liverpool board the need to make changes to the squad and is likely to offload several players. Harry Kewell will leave when his contract expires in June, but there will be other departures, with uncertainty over the futures of Xabi Alonso, who is attracting interest from clubs in Spain, and John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch, whose contracts run only until the end of next season. As expected, Javier Mascherano, the Liverpool midfield player, was charged with improper conduct by the FA over his reaction to his red card in the team’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Mascherano has been given until 6pm today to respond, with the case to be heard by an FA regulatory commission a week tomorrow. He is suspended for the Merseyside derby against Everton on Sunday and is likely to face a further ban for continuing to argue with Steve Bennett, the referee, after he was shown the red card, but Liverpool are optimistic that he will be suspended for only one additional match, rather than two. -George Gillett Jr, the Liverpool co-owner, has teamed up with the owner of the Montreal Impact, who play in North America’s second division, to bid for a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise, Joey Saputo, the club’s president, said yesterday. “We are in discussions with Gillett Entertainment Group as well as with Major League Soccer to bring an MLS franchise to Montreal,” Saputo said. Reports suggest that they hope to call the team Montreal FC and begin playing in the 2009 season.

Sorry... a bit annoying to have just half an article at the top.