Benitez bemoans Cisse injury

Rafa Benitez has admitted Djibril Cisse's injury has hit his own transfer plans.

Cisse sustained a broken leg in Wednesday's friendly with China which will rule him out of the World Cup.

The injury has cast a doubt over Cisse's future with Liverpool willing to sell the striker this summer.

Benitez admitted the club had held talks with Marseille and Lyon over Cisse, but the injury is likely to end their interest for the time being.

"There are two issues here," Benitez told the Liverpool Echo. "Firstly, from the player's point of view I'm really sorry for Djibril. That's important. It's really unfortunate for him but it's true it's now impossible for him to be sold.

"We were expecting to sell him to Marseille or Lyon and planned using the money for other players. We were talking to both clubs.

"Now we won't have this money. We won't expect him to play again until November or December."

Benitez insists he will have no problem working with Cisse again even though the club were willing to let him leave.

"It was a professional decision and we were honest with Djibril," added Benitez. "There will be no problem when he comes back."