Craig Bellamy and Djibril Cisse’s transfer away from Anfield have been confirmed by Benitez.
Djibril Cisse’s transfer to Marseille has been rumbling for a while and the player agreed personal terms towards the end of last week. Cisse is believed to have moved for a fee of around 9 million euros (£6.3 million).
Craig Bellamy meanwhile is set to move to West Ham in an £8 million deal. The player is believed to be in London to sign his contract tomorrow, though some websites are suggesting that he is trying to pressure Liverpool in to paying him an exit fee. West Ham United had been keen on a straight swap with Yossi Benayoun but Liverpool rubbished their valuation of the player. Rafa has had a £4 million bid for Yossi knocked back, but the reds are considering upping their offer.
Rafa said:
“The deals for Bellamy and Cisse are completed.
“And any move for Benayoun to join us from West Ham will not be linked with the Bellamy sale. We have made an offer which has been rejected.
“He is a player I like and would want to sign, and I believe he wants to join us, but that deal will be separate now. We will have to wait and see what happens now next week.”
Liverpool have done well to secure a deal for Djibril Cisse even if they have taken a massive loss on the £14 million he was bought for – but considering his double leg-break injuries and mediocre performances at Anfield – both sides will feel they have done well out of the deal. The reds have managed to turn a profit on Craig Bellamy who they acquired after activating his £6 million release clause last year.
We wish both players well in their future careers.
I like Cisse I think Raf shouold keep him here
i think i echo a lot of liverpool fans when i say why sell a pacy player like bellamy, who has years of premiership experience both with newcastle and blackburn, to accomodate voronin, a player both untried and untested at this level.
sad to see him go.
cisse on the other hand deserves to leave, after sticking by him through his horrific injuries, and allowing him 2 play in 2 cup finals, shows the faith rafa had in him, and then 2 launch an attack on rafa’s rotation? no player loyalty was shown.
bellamy left with liverpool’s respect and best wishes, as he was honest in saying he couldnt hack the bench time. fair enough, you deserved another season.
lets hope torres lives up to the price tag, but i think our main goal threat will come from kuyt and crouch…and if our midfielders and defenders keep up the goal tally, (gerrard, agger etc), who’s complaining?
glad they have both gone, didnt like nay of them… cisse should have gone for atleast 10million… no way 6.3 million is enough.. rafa is a kn*b
Bellamy had to go but why go for benayoun and not Quaresma
Bellamy was not without talent, but was just more trouble than he was worth – another Lee Bowyer. I’m glad he’s gone; I expect more from a Liverpool player.
Didn’t want to see him go but as a Pool fan I can only wish him well but not against the Pool. He’ll never walk alone.
My personal view is that coupled with his average form – the incident in Portugal probably helped seal his fate.
I don’t know if anyone feels sorry for Bellamy, he’s not the type of person who deserves a lot of sypathy, but i think he deserved more time & another season at least!
However Rafa has his 4 strikers now, so I am just praying that Torres, letalone Voronin will deliver THIS season!
Ruthless Rafa strikes again…
I agree – pitty but his pace was his downfall – the ref always thought he was off side!
I like Bellamy. I don’t think Rafa gave him enough time.