Benitez happy with Nunez arrival

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is delighted to have signed midfielder Antonio Nunez.

Nunez arrives as part of the deal that took Michael Owen to Real Madrid and Benitez is a big fan of the right sided midfielder.

"I'm very happy because we have signed a good player," said Benitez.

"He is a winger and a right midfielder, and for us it is another possibility.

"In Spain you know almost all the players at Real Madrid well.

"When I was at Valencia I was looking for a man like this. My idea was the same here and we had this opportunity to sign him.

"Michael Owen has gone now and we can't do anything more than sign a good player."

Nunez is looking forward to the opportunity of playing for Liverpool after leaving Madrid.

"I'm very happy to be at Liverpool, one of the best clubs in the world," said Nunez.

"It was difficult to leave Real Madrid but Liverpool is my team now and I am happy to be here. I hope to do well and achieve good things with Liverpool.

"I know about The Premiership and I know the Liverpool players having watched them on television."

Nunez could be joined at Anfield by Real Sociedad ace Xabi Alonso with Benitez admitting a deal is close to completion.

"Bringing Xabi here will give us more possibilities in the midfield. It will give us more options as we'll have him, Gerrard, Hamann, Diao and Biscan for that position," added Benitez

"He's a very intelligent midfielder. He's more intelligent than he is physical and he's a great passer of the ball.

"We are close to completing the signing but whether he'll play against Manchester City at the weekend, I'm not sure."