Finnan surprised by move

Defender admits he had no choice but to leave

Last updated: 8th September 2008

Finnan surprised by move

Finnan: Surprised by Spain switch

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Steve Finnan has admitted he was surprised by his transfer deadline day switch to Espanyol from Liverpool.

The Republic of Ireland international left Anfield for Spain as a sweetener to push through Albert Riera's move to Merseyside.

Finnan concedes he never wanted to leave Anfield, but admits he had no choice other than to go after dropping down the pecking order in Rafa Benitez's plans.

Exciting

"It was totally out of the blue," Finnan told the Liverpool Post.

"It's exciting to be going to a great club in Spain but I didn't want to leave.

"But it was obvious that I wasn't going to get a game by staying so I didn't really have much choice."