Bit of him on .tv - love the dig at Masch's hometown
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Maxi: I like Scouse life
12th Mar 2010
Maxi Rodriguez claims adjusting to life in Liverpool has been easier than he predicted.
The Argentina international has been in England barely two months but is already enjoying the lifestyle - and claims Liverpool is just like his hometown Rosario.
"I'm settling into life here very well," the 29-year-old told LFC Weekly. "It has been a lot easier than I thought. Argentina and Spain are very similar - the language, the lifestyle - and for my whole life it is all I have known.
"I have spent a lot of time walking round the city getting lost. What I realised quite quickly is that Liverpool is quite similar to my home town Rosario.
"There is a lot of focus in Argentina on Buenos Aires because it is the capital, like there is with London in England. But like Liverpool, Rosario is a big city - an important football city - with two clubs and it is a place which has strong working class roots. That has made it easier for me to settle."
One of the first tastes of Mersey life for Maxi came when he started the Anfield derby back in February - an occasion the No.17 places among his career highlights.
He explained: "The derbies here and Argentina are very similar because there are more fans from both clubs in the stadium and the supporters are more vocal.
"In Spain, there might only be a few hundred tickets available for away supporters, which means there doesn't seem to be as much passion inside the stadium. The derby between Liverpool and Everton last month was one of the best experiences of my career."
Rodriguez joined countrymen Javier Mascherano and Emiliano Insua when he arrived from Atletico Madrid during the last transfer window.
Asked about banter between the trio, he replied: "Every player in the squad - not just the Argentinians - gets on really well.
"Each player from Argentina is from a different place in the country and we are different but good friends as well. Emiliano is from Buenos Aires, I am from Rosario and Javier is from San Lorenzo, which is only very small. You could probably fit its entire population inside this room.
"Javier also played for River Plate, and Newell's Old Boys are big rivals with them, so we have a bit of banter."
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/maxi-i-like-scouse-life