Did I miss something?

[Maldini]

The back page of today's Sunday World (Irish rag) says that Rafa has admitted his agent spoke to Real Madrid, did he say that? If so, when?

[Kindred]

That would be here then...

 

 

He may be uncertain where Steven Gerrard belongs, but Rafael Benitez is so insistent he's at home with Liverpool he turned down the chance of returning to Spain as manager of Real Madrid.

 

Benitez's revelation comes in the wake of reports linking him with yet another migration, this time to Italy.

 

His agent suggested he might be interested in Serie A and the story rolled across Europe.

 

Benitez endeavoured to pull the plug on that one and prove his long-term commitment to Merseyside by declaring he and his family would shortly be moving to a new house in the area.

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"The agent has to do his job but the manager decides," Benitez said. "I assure you I am happy here. I'm not talking or looking to another team.

 

"A top club was talking to us and we said 'No'. We have a contract. We want to stay here."

 

Pressed to confirm that the club in question was Real Madrid, he replied: "Yes, you know which one. There's no thought about leaving. We're moving to a new home, on the other side of Merseyside, and it would be a big problem if I told my wife I was going!"

 

That will be comforting news for Benitez's extended family at Anfield. The team's resurgence in recent matches has helped reconcile the manager with any dissenting factions and they go to Arsenal today seemingly as one.

[Maldini]

Hadn't seen that, thanks