Topic: Rafael Benitez's agent denies deal done with Juventus - bbc website

[SmallwoodRed]

Not sure if this is covered anywhere else today on here. Was on news as well as the agent having spoken to BBC this morning so am presuming this is not the previous denial he made.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8646542.stm

[DangerScouse]

Good stuff, could have come out earlier though to rubbish the rumours instead of letting them linger.




Rafael Benitez's agent has told BBC Sport reports the Liverpool boss has agreed a deal to take over Serie giants Juventus are "absolutely false".

According to reports in Italy, the Turin side are poised to secure the Spaniard on a four-year contract.

But Manuel Quillon Garcia denied that was the case, insisting: "There is no agreement with anyone."

He also denied meeting Juve director Roberto Bettega in Monte Carlo this week to discuss Benitez's future.

BBC Sport understands Benitez is one of several possible candidates Juventus want to succeed Alberto Zaccheroni at the Stadio Olimpico this summer.

However, Benitez's pay demands, and the fact he would want to bring several of his backroom staff with him, could cause difficulties.

 
There has been no contact between Liverpool and Juventus, with the Reds privately sceptical the Italian club could afford to buy the manager out of his lucrative contract, which still has four years to run.

Juventus have refused to comment on speculation their president Jean-Claude Blanc will fly to Liverpool this week in an attempt to lure Benitez away from Anfield after six years in charge.

Benitez is preparing Liverpool for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Thursday.

He wants to stay at Anfield but is yet to meet the club's new chairman, Martin Broughton.

Talks are planned for this week, when Benitez's future and the club's summer transfer plans will be discussed.

How those discussions go will depend on whether Liverpool have clinched another season in Champions League football.

They currently lie seventh in the Premier League, two points adrift of Tottenham in fourth but having played a game more.

The Reds entertain Chelsea on Sunday before finishing their league campaign with an away match at Hull on 9 May.

Juve, who appointed Zaccheroni as head coach in January after sacking Ciro Ferrara, are sixth in Serie A, six points off a Champions League spot with three games remaining.

They kept alive their faint hopes of qualifying for Europe's top club competition by beating Bari 2-0 at the weekend.

[maqu006]

I'm sure that if Rafa is given some form of assurance about long term stability of the club he will stay. After all, he stayed with Hicks and Gillett undermining him all the time.

Edit: wow, the names I used for Hicks and Gillett were automatically translated to Hicks and Gillett. Even computers know that they are a t**t and a t**t

[edeyj]

Hard to believe that Rafa is yet to meet Broughton!

[exiledintheUSA]

So does that mean that Torres, Kuyt, Mascherano, Johnson and Gerrard won't be joining Juve this summer too?

[Gigantic Lamb]

I d say the same if I was waiting on 5 million or so.....

[Rusty Oysterburger]

I have a feeling this story will rear its ugly head again on say...Wednesday night or Thursday morning

[royhendo]

Now there's a shock.

[Legendary]

So does that mean that Torres, Kuyt, Mascherano, Johnson and Gerrard won't be joining Juve this summer too?

No, I heard from someone who got a text from an ITK that all of them put their houses up for sale and are off in the summer. Oh, and Pepe too.

[Gus the teenage cow]

not sure what this part of the article means

"How those discussions go will depend on whether Liverpool have clinched another season in Champions League football."

Can anyone make sense of that?

[AlphaDelta]

BBC biased pricks, why do they have to publish a 606 comment off some dickhead who isnt even a fan!  talk about shit stirring.

[Robo707]

There must be a big game for Liverpool coming up this week is there?

[Brian Blessed]

He and Broughton couldn't gotten together for an hour in the last couple of weeks just to say hello?

[exiledintheUSA]

BBC biased pricks, why do they have to publish a 606 comment off some dickhead who isnt even a fan!  talk about shit stirring.

Thats no way to talk about our new Chairman.

[SalisburyRed]

He and Broughton couldn't gotten together for an hour in the last couple of weeks just to say hello?

Broughton only works one day a week for us I believe, so maybe they just haven't had time to fit it in yet.

[In the Name of Klopp]

I don't think Broughton likes Rafa for two good reasons.

1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11MQnQ8QjJs&feature=related

2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epdgku5z59A&feature=related

.... could be the reasons they haven't met yet. Broughton has still not recovered from those days 

[jaffod]

Hard to believe that Rafa is yet to meet Broughton!

Only just occured to me the implications for Sunday. LFC chairman/ Chelsea fan.

[Billy1561]

Would much prefer it to come from the horses mouth or if the horse is not available then Rafa himself.

[Number 7]

These Rafa to Juve rumours just won’t go away, and they are really beginning to concern me now. The situation bears some resemblance to this time last year and is turning very Alonso-esque in nature. There were numerous denials about Alonso going to Madrid but the fact of the matter was that he wanted to go no matter which way you spinned it. I’m not suggesting Rafa wants to walk, but if he does then he will go come hell or high water and there is nothing we can do about it. It will however be a bitter pill to swallow.

[Billy1561]

Only just occured to me the implications for Sunday. LFC chairman/ Chelsea fan.

He did actually state in the interview he gave when he first arrived that he would not be available for that particular game after he was asked. Erring on the side of discreet which is no bad thing after the shite we have had for 3 years.

[koptommy93]

shame

[Robo707]

These Rafa to Juve rumours just won’t go away, and they are really beginning to concern me now. The situation bears some resemblance to this time last year and is turning very Alonso-esque in nature. There were numerous denials about Alonso going to Madrid but the fact of the matter was that he wanted to go no matter which way you spinned it. I’m not suggesting Rafa wants to walk, but if he does then he will go come hell or high water and there is nothing we can do about it. It will however be a bitter pill to swallow.

When do these rumours normally come out? Big games by any chance?

Who do we have Thursday?

Who we playing Sunday?

Just think about it.......Liverpool fans are doing exactly what the media want!

[Number 7]

When do these rumours normally come out? Big games by any chance?

Who do we have Thursday?

Who we playing Sunday?

Just think about it.......Liverpool fans are doing exactly what the media want!

I bet you these rumours will still be around once the season is done.

[redgriffin73]

In the BBC gossip column it now says Man City are after Rafa.

[xerxes1]

If Rafa feels that there will be a worth while transfer kitty in the summer, and that G&H are likely to sell I think he will stay. If not, who could blame him for seeking glory elsewhwere?

As for the rumours, Rafa and his agent like to play, don't they?

My guess? he will stay with G&H giving him just enough to keep him happy.

[danwms]

If Hicks and Gillete are moving on I think he will stay.

[Billy1561]

If Rafa feels that there will be a worth while transfer kitty in the summer, and that G&H are likely to sell I think he will stay. If not, who could blame him for seeking glory elsewhwere?

As for the rumours, Rafa and his agent like to play, don't they?

My guess? he will stay with G&H giving him just enough to keep him happy.

Thing is though, are G+H in a position to give him anything with supposedly Broughton running the club? I mean do they get to make any decisions anymore?

[wardides]

So Ms.Benitez has rejoined the golf club then?

[Scribble8]

Stay is my say.

[Juan Loco]

Now there's a shock.

Agreed. Seems to be a coincidence as well, with Rafa having said that he's meeting Broughton this week.

Still, it's not like Rafa to use the press and the interest of other clubs to get what he wants at Liverpool... Is it?

[lfc_col]

So Ms.Benitez has rejoined the golf club then?

or was that just more made up stuff 

[buzzing]

Hard to believe that Rafa is yet to meet Broughton!

Was thinking the same.

Dont think it's as clear as rafa's agent makes out. Think new owners will have a big say. Rafa would be silly to tell juve he isn't interested as he could still end up getting the boot here.

Lost a lot of faith in rafa's ability this year, but the thing that worries me is torres. Not that city or chelsea will pinch him, but that he may go to barca or the likes. He came out the other day saying he is worried about his long term future in england. Not because we are shit, but it's taking his toll on him physically.

If he continues to be crocked new season on top of us being liek we are, i can see him wanting a move

[wardides]

or was that just more made up stuff 

Get out 

[xerxes1]

Thing is though, are G+H in a position to give him anything with supposedly Broughton running the club? I mean do they get to make any decisions anymore?

To clarify, my take is that Broughton's role as Chairman,one day a week,  is to sell the club and to act as an honest broker between G&H and a buyer. Purslow, three days a week, is still in charge of the day to day running of the club. G&H have a 100% say in what does, and does not, happen.

[Stevie07]

If Hicks and Gillete are moving on I think he will stay.

I think it's as simple as that. If there is no significant movement in the ownership of the club Rafa could well be off.

[exiledintheUSA]

In the BBC gossip column it now says Man City are after Rafa.

They would be Champions next year if that happened.

[lfcmaster]

i think rafa will go in the summer

i have always thought we will get new owners and a new manager

[Passmaster Molby]

Don't think Rafa will go anywhere to be honest - he has plans afoot.

[Keeno2003]

Hard to believe that Rafa is yet to meet Broughton!

Not really. Firstly, Broughton will spend little time round the club, he is not a day to day figure and so getting the two together could be more of a logistical nightmare than is appreciated, especially given our recent road trips. Secondly, it is Purslow that is in charge of football matters, Broughton's remit is simply to sell the club, and to do that, he may not want to associate himself with one manager, be that Rafa or anyone else. Simple fact, what Rafa does or does not do is irrelavent to him, he is there for one reason and one reason only. That said, they will no doubt meet on Thursday.

[the_red_pill]

I don't think Broughton likes Rafa for two good reasons.

1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11MQnQ8QjJs&feature=related

2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epdgku5z59A&feature=related

.... could be the reasons they haven't met yet. Broughton has still not reconvert from those days 

The Chelsea game has become quite a strange one, eh? Broughton's a pro, I assume, but damnit, we're all still little boys and girls down in our hearts. Wonder if the outcome might have an effect on him in ANY way. He'll keep his head, I'm sure, but just imagine supporting Chelsea and being a season ticket holder at that- and having to do all this with your wits about you.

If they can agree anything before the Chelsea game- as is rumoured, I'd be relieved. Then we can do the business against Chelsea at our leisure.