Rafa rant at City and labelled Gareth Barry a money-grabber
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LIVERPOOL NEWS
Rafa rants at Man City as Johnson is unveiled
ANFIELD OF DREAMS ... Rafa Benitez welcomes new signing Glen Johnson
Rafael Benitez used the unveiling of defender Glen Johnson to attack Manchester City's "money, money, money" approach to transfers. The Liverpool boss splashed £17million on the England right-back, but paid substantially less than that to Portsmouth, who still owed money on the transfer of Peter Crouch.Benitez stressed Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano would not be leaving, but said he found the market increasingly "crazy" to negotiate given the big spending of Manchester City and Real Madrid.
He also admitted he moved again for Gareth Barry, but was pipped to the post by City.
Benitez said: "We had to pay big money, the market is now crazy. It is all money, money, money now. But we were signing a good player, an England player, and that is very positive. He has a good mentality, and when I spoke to him first it was clear he wanted to come here.
"Things have changed. You have to adapt to a situation. Manchester City and big clubs in Europe are spending big money, so the market has changed and we have to work harder. You have to do that to stay at the level we are at because of the big money being spent here and abroad.''
City also wanted Johnson, but Benitez said: "It was difficult, some clubs are offering big money. But he wanted to come here, that was the difference. We did go back again for Barry, but as I said. it is all about money, money, money. It is as simple as that.''
On City's influence on the market and their prospects for next term, Benitez added: "City have signed a lot of good players, but that is no guarantee they will win anything. But it will be interesting to see what happens next season. But whatever happens, experience is more important and we feel that we have that to be in the top positions.
"If you spend big it is always easier to perform well. But when you have a good understanding between players that is also important. If they are together, they work hard, that is just as important.''
Benitez has also had to contend with a summer of transfer speculation over Alonso, wanted by Real Madrid, and Mascherano, a target for European champions Barcelona.
But although it is believed both players are being swayed by the advances of the Spanish club, Benitez made it clear that he does not want to sell and would like some loyalty shown by the pair.
He said: "I do not think Alonso or Mascherano will go. It is clear that they both are under contract with long-term agreements. That is it. There has been a lot of things written, a lot of rumours, but both players are under contract and we have no more need to talk about things.
"They are both very good players and I will be very pleased to keep them. They both have very good contracts. We signed them both from different situations. Alonso was coming from Real Sociedad and nobody had really heard much of him outside of Spain, he did well and we renewed his contract because of that.
"Mascherano came from West Ham where he had not been doing well. We brought him here and gave him a good contract, so we are very pleased with them both and that Liverpool has been very good to them.''
Benitez also dismissed rumours that full back Fabio Aurelio will be out for six months with a knee injury. He said: "One, maybe two months, I expect him back by then. Certainly not six.''
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why didnt he railed against his former club RM? RM spent alot of money for ronaldo, kaka, benzema and albiol what, not city.
does he wish that he is managing RM now with the likes of kaka and ronaldo.
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what for RM ? He's talking about EPL only , the competitions for transfer domestically .....
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RAFA BENITEZ has branded Gareth Barry a gold-digger for choosing Manchester City's cash ahead of a move to Liverpool.
Kop boss Benitez blasted: "With Barry it's 100 per cent about money. Money, money, money." Benitez wanted to land Barry this summer but the England midfield ace chose Eastlands rather than Merseyside.
Barry insisted his decision was based entirely on his desire to be in at the start of the City revolution. But Benitez scoffed: "In the market now, money should not be the main thing - because all the people in football at that level are on big money.
"At the end of the day, the most important thing for me is the passion of the players."
Benitez knows the money on offer at Eastlands, both in wages and the amount they can offer in transfer fees, makes City top dogs. Yet he had a harsh warning for City fans who think it is a sure-fire route to glory - and are rubbing their hands at the prospect of ending 33 years without a major trophy.
On the day he unveiled new right-back Glen Johnson, Benitez added: "Signing a lot of good players is good but no guarantee, so it will be interesting to see. "It may be more difficult next season now but experience is so important and we have more than in the past.
"Money to sign good players does make it easier but only if you have understanding between the players. That's crucial. "The understanding between our players is much better. We'll have our chances this season."