Rafa denies Juve 'deal'

Reds boss has not 'agreed' terms with Old Lady

Last updated: 31st January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Rafa denies Juve 'deal'

Benitez: Rubbishes Juve deal

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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has rubbished speculation stipulating he has agreed a deal to become Juventus' new manager.

Alberto Zaccheroni has been named caretaker coach at the Serie A giants, but The Old Lady still remain in the hunt for Ciro Ferrara's long-term successor.

Reports had suggested the Spaniard had agreed a deal with Juve and that his lawyers were working on finalising his Anfield departure.

However, the former Valencia tactician has categorically denied the claims, stating no agreement has been reached with Juventus or anyone else.

Top four

Benitez's sole focus at the moment is helping Liverpool back into the Premier League's top four and to secure UEFA Champions League football next season.

"Contrary to reports in the Italian media this weekend, I want to make it absolutely clear I have no agreement with Juventus and have not and will not be meeting Juventus or their representatives or any other club," Benitez told Liverpool's official website.

"I have a long term contract with Liverpool and I'll repeat what I said on Friday that I am happy here and my only focus is to do my job as well as I can to get the team back into to the top four, beginning with the derby against Everton."

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Comments (28)

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Rob Bennett (Manchester United fan) says...

poor liverpool, it dont get much worse than this. I bet Rafa cant wait to go!!

Posted 08:39 1st February 2010

Tony Babs (Liverpool fan) says...

Obviously Liverpool can't afford to sack Rafa, so Juve will buy out his contract. Good riddance, and please take Lucas, Reira, Skrtl, Ngog, and all the other second rate players with you. Bring on Guus, but also have a look at McLeish. What he's doing at Birmingham is a throwback to the old days and maybe we need a Scot, again, to rebuild our once mighty team. Regardless whether Rafa stays or goes, nothing will change unless the two Yanks go.

Posted 08:34 1st February 2010

Amos Olse (Liverpool fan) says...

Things might have not gone well this season with Liverpool and Rafa but I think this man remains a good tactician. If he leaves, Manchester United will be very happy because he has superior tactics agains Sir Alex Ferguson.

Posted 07:21 1st February 2010

Frank Miller (Newcastle United fan) says...

Rafa is a good manager, yes since he has been very successful before, even though his tactics are sometimes questionnable. Unfortunately, limited funds, injury problems cause major issues they have to get through. It just does not make sense playing so much for a player as Torres and not have many more funds available - is like putting all your eggs into one basket and when he is injured they are screwed. Players have to step up to be counted and quiet a few underperformed .. I think if the funds are not available to improve he will move on in summer ... no one wants to just play for forth place and get the breadcrumbs or leftovers ...

Posted 07:18 1st February 2010

Lets dawson Serebotseng (Liverpool fan) says...

I dont know what to think anymore if Rafa should stay or go but i still blame him for the departure of alonso, now he bought a player to replace him, he is not playing him. My thought was we keep initialy, if you compare his records to ferguson's for the first five years he have been incharge for us, he is better that ferguson was that time. But if he stays he should improve our squard. we need another top striker, a prolific left back, Insua doesnt do it for me.Lucas, Insua those guys i dont know what he sees in them

Posted 07:16 1st February 2010

Lhipon Miah (Liverpool fan) says...

I really think he aint doing himself any favours. The quicker he goes, saves him dignity. He has runied our team and is wasting the club's low money and not using it efficently.. Enough is Enough ..Show him the door..!

Posted 22:52 31st January 2010

Tnahsib Raee (Liverpool fan) says...

Don't know if this is a good thing for Liverpool, because they are in a worst situation this season after what they achieved last season. But the quality of the squad is the main problem this season and injuries are also not helping the team and also they don't have money to improve it. when given the money the option Benitez goes for is sometimes ridicules. When they sold alonso why didn't he included one of their players like negredo, gago, van der vat, snejider... Snejider was the one i would have preferred. But all said liverpool need to inject some cash in the squad to match the likes of man utd, chelsea arsenal, man city or even villa and spurs.

Posted 22:52 31st January 2010

David Hudson (Liverpool fan) says...

keep rafa in its the owners that need to leave In 1999, Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst bought Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, a successful Brazilian club team. The club initially succeeded under the new ownership group by winning the FIFA Club World Cup. Before the purchase of the club, the ownership group assured the fans that a new stadium was in development. This never materialized and after legal/financial troubles and partner infighting, Hicks retired from the company and the ownership group eventually sold Corinthians. The ownership group drew the fury of Corinthian's fans due to financial decisions, the introduction of corporate sponsors on the players' uniforms and the changing of the club's colors. The club was eventually sold and left in a worse position after they were relegated to a lower level league. Comparisons have been made between Hicks's Brazilian failure and his current troubles at Liverpool Football Club.

Posted 22:38 31st January 2010

Mark Riggall (Liverpool fan) says...

Rafa, Thanks for the great times but enough now. Good luck with your move but lets make it sooner rather than later. That way we can get a replacement in nice and early for next season... Hopefully Dalglish.

Posted 22:37 31st January 2010

Liam Henney (Liverpool fan) says...

If Rafa Leaves what is that going to do to us? it is going to make us worse than ever before. if anybody should leave then it should be Hicks & Gillette.

Posted 22:31 31st January 2010

Richard Aughpin (Liverpool fan) says...

Benitez was being coy, Hicks comes to town, they (presumably) meet and now he is denying the whole thing. Hopefully this means he pressured the ownersto provide funds to strengthen the squad.

Posted 22:28 31st January 2010

James L (Liverpool fan) says...

I'm glad rafa has opened up and put these stupid rumours to bed, i think it would be a massive mistake to sack him or let him go, he's a fantastic manager, world class and iv always thought this, i wish the press would get off his back and shut up for 5 minutes, its all being made out to be worse than what it is, look at man u and arsenal for examples sake, we've lost/drawn maybe 1 or 2 games more than them and does the press give wenger and fergie as much stick?? i think not, leave rafa benitez alone.. i know the majority of sane liverpool fans are with me on this. We will finish in the top 4 FACT, and rafa will be our manager next season and one after and so on.. FACT. Have a little faith guys.

Posted 22:24 31st January 2010

Gab Emordi (Liverpool fan) says...

I hope this is not true, enough is enough, please spare us and move on!!

Posted 22:21 31st January 2010

Sean Conlon (Liverpool fan) says...

Sorry Rafa time to go. To many bad signings and you lost the majorty of the support home and abroad.

Posted 22:15 31st January 2010

Rob Kelly (Liverpool fan) says...

All well and good Simon but who are we gonna get to replace him? There's only one manager i'd consider superior or on a par with Rafa and that is Hiddink. I read the other day though that Juve were considering him but his wages were prohibitive! last thing we need when we are financially crippled is a gamble on an expensive manager, the cost will go straight onto the debt pile along with the transfer cash an incoming manager will expect. We need to let Rafa reap the rewards of the youth investments he's made.

Posted 22:09 31st January 2010

Michael Bull (Liverpool fan) says...

I hope he doesn't leave. Man Utd and Arsenal have had the same manager for years, and when they go through rought times they don't get rid of their manager. Just keep him and get more investors in. YNWA

Posted 21:59 31st January 2010

. . (Liverpool fan) says...

he is the best thing to happen to us in a long time... to lose him would be a a massive step backwards.

Posted 21:58 31st January 2010

Dale Harrison (Liverpool fan) says...

Regardless of whether he is a good manager or not (which I do agree he is a very good manager) sometimes a club simply needs a change in order to improve its fortune. We have struggle in 99% of games this season, rarely have we won comfortably. Benitez has had his time, and I'm sure a new team for him will benefit both parties, allowing us to get a fresh face with fresh ideas (preferably a manager that doesn¿t play two holding midfielders every bl**dy game!!!) Who we'd bring in I'm not sure, however I'd love to see Hiddink, Mourinhoor O'Neil at the helm.

Posted 21:56 31st January 2010

Shaun G (Liverpool fan) says...

I can honestly see him leaving for Juve but not until the Summer, it would do neither Liverpool or Juve any good doing the deal now, and if he does leave us i cant have any complaints, although i stick by him as our manager i have never been a fan of his defensive style of play. Maybe Guus Hiddink will be a realistic replacement in summer should he leave? who knows.

Posted 21:53 31st January 2010

Paul Seery (Liverpool fan) says...

Juve get their man, but who do Liverpool end up with..? I too hope Rafa stays and is given the chance to turn it around.

Posted 21:48 31st January 2010
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