Rafael Benítez on the brink of leaving Liverpool over Anfield rift

[Hermes]

Loved Maradona as a footballer but as a manager he is a laughing stock.

 

He may be the one laughing on July 11th.

[Torvald Utne]

I've been leaning towards Argentina to win the world cup for the last few weeks, fine he struggled to qualify but that was due to testing out just about every argentinian going.

[stringvest]

Sounds the most likely scenario somehow.

 

I was told he had a fortune, cookie.

[stringvest]

Loved Maradona as a footballer but as a manager he is a laughing stock.

 

More like a laughing stock cube these days.

[zigackly]

He may be the one laughing on July 11th.

 

If that team manages to win the world cup it will be because the players somehow manage it despite his ridiculous selections. It's a travesty; they have one of the best two squads in the tournament and the climate will suit them more than Spain, but they have absolutely zero chance because they've got a raddled, half-mad drug addict as manager.

[dirty_sanchez]

That's nonsense logic though Nick, if you'll forgive me. It's not as if him buying us depends on who he puts in as manager. And anyway, I don't want just any new owners, I want new owners who have at least one intermittently firing brain cell. Anyone wanting to put a joke in as manager from the start hardly fits the bill. Loved Maradona as a footballer but as a manager he is a laughing stock.

 

On the bright side though, he left Argentina's second best defensive midfielder out of their World Cup squad, so he wouldn't be rocking the Lucas/Mascherano combo.

[Jose Jones]

On the bright side though, he left Argentina's second best defensive midfielder out of their World Cup squad, so he wouldn't be rocking the Lucas/Mascherano combo.

 

He didn't pick Insua either.

Diego's looking more and more promising...

[navbasi]

I've been leaning towards Argentina to win the world cup for the last few weeks, fine he struggled to qualify but that was due to testing out just about every argentinian going.

 

People seem to forget that Argentina were a real mess when Maradona took over and did well to get them to the World Cup finals.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

People seem to forget that Argentina were a real mess when Maradona took over and did well to get them to the World Cup finals.

 

Maybe they were in a bit of a mess, but getting out of the usual qualifying group isn't exactly a major feat for a manager of Argentina.

[Anny Road]

Wel Rafa is not going to Juve. Sampdoria boss to be announced within 24 hrs

[stringvest]

Phew, thank heavens for that.

[TopMod]

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho enjoyed taking a swipe at Rafa Benitez's reign as Liverpool manager over the weekend.

 

Benitez has been linked with Mourinho's job in today's press.

 

Mourinho has stuck the knife in, stating: “Liverpool is an incredible phenomenon. From 2004 to 2010 it looks like the team instead of improving is getting worse.”

 

Those years constitute the precise period Benitez has been at Anfield

[Glen C]

http://www.guillembalague.com/rumores_desp.php?titulo=Inter%20contact%20Benitez&id=279

 

Inter contact Benitez

 

Initial contact between Inter Milan and Rafa Benitez has taken place. Inter technical director Marco Branca has been in touch with the Liverpool manager him to ask him if he would like to take over at the Serie A club.

 

Rafa will need to decide soon. He is still waiting for signs of a good reason to stay at Liverpool - or a major offer to convince him to leave. Inter Milan would be enticing, but Rafa`s first choice is to remain at Anfield. The problem is, nobody at Liverpool is willing to guarantee him that any money he can raise through selling players will be reinvested in the team – nor is there any evidence that funds available from the board will be sufficient for the squad rebuilding that is urgently required.

 

Should Benitez move to Serie A, he would inherit an ageing Inter squad with many senior players mirroring a brand of football in Jose Mourinho`s image and with just two genuinely creative midfielders in Sneijder and Cambiasso. Benitez would need money to spend and an injection of new blood should he decide to make the switch.

 

AC Milan have also made contact with Rafa`s agent on two occasions now, and an offer from Inter`s rivals may hold greater appeal than following in Mourinho`s footsteps after a season in which they could have won everything possible.

[zigackly]

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho enjoyed taking a swipe at Rafa Benitez's reign as Liverpool manager over the weekend.

 

Benitez has been linked with Mourinho's job in today's press.

 

Mourinho has stuck the knife in, stating: “Liverpool is an incredible phenomenon. From 2004 to 2010 it looks like the team instead of improving is getting worse.”

 

Those years constitute the precise period Benitez has been at Anfield

 

Mourinho is just sticking the knife into Rafa a bit, I wouldn't take what he says too seriously.

.

[PaulMcC]

http://www.guillembalague.com/rumores_desp.php?titulo=Inter%20contact%20Benitez&id=279

 

Inter contact Benitez

 

Initial contact between Inter Milan and Rafa Benitez has taken place. Inter technical director Marco Branca has been in touch with the Liverpool manager him to ask him if he would like to take over at the Serie A club.

 

Rafa will need to decide soon. He is still waiting for signs of a good reason to stay at Liverpool - or a major offer to convince him to leave. Inter Milan would be enticing, but Rafa`s first choice is to remain at Anfield. The problem is, nobody at Liverpool is willing to guarantee him that any money he can raise through selling players will be reinvested in the team – nor is there any evidence that funds available from the board will be sufficient for the squad rebuilding that is urgently required.

 

Should Benitez move to Serie A, he would inherit an ageing Inter squad with many senior players mirroring a brand of football in Jose Mourinho`s image and with just two genuinely creative midfielders in Sneijder and Cambiasso. Benitez would need money to spend and an injection of new blood should he decide to make the switch.

 

AC Milan have also made contact with Rafa`s agent on two occasions now, and an offer from Inter`s rivals may hold greater appeal than following in Mourinho`s footsteps after a season in which they could have won everything possible.

 

That's a fucking joke. Can't even spend what he brings in.

[Royal Family]

I think this is more nonsense from Guillem, doing his master's bidding in order to create the impression of a queue of clubs courting Rafa.

 

AC Milan have already said they will appoint a former player. Possibly Van Basten, maybe Rijkaard.

 

Inter are more plausible, but Moratti is - according to the Italian press - not at all convinced about Benitez, especially given Liverpool's recent troubles. Mijhailovic is being spoken about as their next manager.

 

As i say, it's all about persuading Liverpool to keep Rafa.

[JohnnyH]

It was only a matter time. This is good as it forces our CEOs and Chairmans hands to act so at least we know what kind of summer is ahead of us.

[zigackly]

That's a fucking joke. Can't even spend what he brings in.

 

If it's true, then I wonder how much of it is them trying to force him out of the job and how much is the financial situation? I wouldn't be surprised at any mixture of the two.

[PaulMcC]

Didn't Moratti try to get Benitez before appointing Mourinho?

 

I doubt 1 bad season would change his mind too much.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

I wake up every morning with the faint hope he has gone. Hopefully some of these big clubs being rumoured are interested, the fucking mugs.

[Guest PurpleNose]

Didn't Moratti try to get Benitez before appointing Mourinho?

 

I doubt 1 bad season would change his mind too much.

 

Benitez was first choice. Couldn't get him, so went for Mourinho.

 

Or we could pretend Moratti doesn't rate him.

[Glen C]

Rafa would be crazy to go to Inter after the season they have had.

[goatboy59]

If he's getting offered the reigning Italian and possibly European champions, he is insane if he doesn't take it.

[Glen C]

If he's getting offered the reigning Italian and possibly European champions, he is insane if he doesn't take it.

 

Not really. Anything less than winning serie A and getting to the final of the champions league will be seen as a failure after the season they're having.

[goatboy59]

Then for all of the Rafa supporters on here, do you agree with that?

 

If he is one of the best, then surely he has to go to one of the biggest jobs available where he will most likely get the funds and players he is currently pestering us for (with no success)? One free from the Galactico short-termism shit that plagues his (probable) number one choice.

 

Again, it's Ballague so it's not just 'if' but an auntie's balls job, but IF he is offered that job and if he turned it down then he has bottled it big time.

 

Not that I care, but Mourinho would dine out on that for years.