Rafael Benitez departing from Liverpool
It finally seems that Rafael Benitez is relinquishing his rights from the Anfield throne. After talks with Liverpool Chairman Martin Broughton, the thought of receiving more funds to re-establish a squad after all has gone down the drain.
Benitez had to have this awkward conversation while he was in Italy on vacations. The new chairman told him that he had assessed the financial situation of the club and it did not seem stable enough to allocate more funds.
This recent news item made it clear for Broughton to offer Benitez a severance package, ultimately ending his six year reign with ‘the Reds’.
The statement by Broughton was brought to the limelight after a gap of a few days after owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett had comforted Benitez of having enough funds to rebuild a squad.
It is expected that Benitez will be granted a compensation package of £3 million despite that fact that Benitez still has four good years left on his £5m-a-year contract. The move will make him the owner of £20 million but due to the current situation, he will probably get £16 million at the most.
Liverpool FC has established a formal dialogue with Benitez on the issue. However, the club’s management has failed to communicate more information relating to this topic. It has been confirmed though that the Spaniard’s departure is likely to take place in a day or two, probably leaving the ‘Red Devil’s’ on this weekend, if deemed necessary.
The decision has finally shed some light over things happening at Anfield after a disappointing season at English Premier League. The club finished at the 7th position which resulted in their disqualification from the Champions League.
About Benitez’s future club, there are rumours flowing across Europe that the Spaniard will be joining Inter Milan after José Mourinho’s departure to Real Madrid. Earlier in the season, Benitez received serious offers from the Serie A Club Juventus as well.
Currently, Broughton is making a search for potential buyers for the English club. Despite claims by the owners that a deal might be sealed before the end of the year, it actually may take as long as 18 months.
The owners have committed to sale the club in a deal with the Royal Bank of Scotland. The club forms part of the Kop Holdings which is in debt of £351million. Moreover, Kop Holdings has to make annual payments worth £40 million on an annual basis due to loans.
Gossip mongers believe that the sale of Liverpool is a direct result of an unstable position of players including Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Jamie Carragher. They aren’t the only ones to be unhappy at the club. A number of other players have shown their concerns as well who are on the verge of an exit too.
This season has been riddled with bad luck and performance for the Reds. Besides their dismal performance in the EPL along with receiving a knock out from the Champions League, they were humiliated in the FA Cup and the Carling Cup too.
Benitez’s agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon did not make any statements to the media, leaving things unclear. He said, “We don't know anything more than what's being said.” And then he further added, “We’re not saying anything.”
He joined Liverpool in 2004 and in his first season, he got the spoils of the Champions League title. The Premier League title however has been hard for him to get.
Benitez has said that he would require £50 million to put the club back in the run for the Champions League - leave alone other titles at the moment. The current situation is grim to say the least. The club has a little over £5 million to buy new players in the upcoming season.
This bitter decision will be hard for the Spaniard, who said, ‘I am very happy here in Liverpool. I have always been happy and I want to stay here for a long time - if it is possible.”
Liverpool was set up for sale in April for a price between £600 million to £800 million which the owners believe is highly likely in the days to come.
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