Rafa rejects row rumours

Reds chief also denies interest in Brazilian

Last updated: 13th January 2009

Rafa rejects row rumours

Benitez: No row with owners

"We have agreed the length of contract and we have agreed the salary. Now we have to discuss my role and my responsibilities as manager of the club."

Rafa Benitez
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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has rejected reports that he was in more conflict with the club's American owners over his role at the club.

Reports emanating on Tuesday suggested Benitez's contract talks were in danger of collapse because of the Spaniard's demand to have total control of Liverpool's transfer policy.

Benitez found himself in a power struggle with American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillet last season over his future, but he insists there is no trouble on the horizon with the pair.

"My agent only received the draft document of my contract yesterday evening so my surprise is that some journalists can talk about there being problems before I have even read it properly and discussed it," Benitez told the Liverpool Echo.

"We have agreed the length of contract and we have agreed the salary. Now we have to discuss my role and my responsibilities as manager of the club.

"But we haven't had the opportunity to do that yet.

"Someone has information and clearly wants to create a mess, but I haven't discussed anything yet because, as I say, the contract only arrived last night.

"I don't have any problems at all with the American owners."

Denial

The Reds chief also rejected rumours that he was set to go head-to-head with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson again for the signing of Brazilian defender Anderson.

Both Liverpool and United have been credited with an interest in the Fluminense ace, but Benitez has denied Anderson is on his list of transfer targets.

"That is not true," added Benitez. "We are not trying to sign that player."