Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., August 06, 2008 Av 5, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:14 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 02:12 06/08/2008
Liverpool keeping Israeli striker Benayoun despite Roma bid
By Eli Shvidler, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel, Liverpool F.C. 

Israeli soccer star Yossi Benayoun and his current club, Liverpool F.C., are both denying rumors of his imminent trade to A.S. Roma, but the Italian side's coach, Lucianon Spalletti, said Tuesday that signing the midfielder is one of the team's foremost objectives.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reported yesterday that Spalletti is interested in acquiring two players this summer, and that he has set his sights on Benayoun as well as A.S. Monaco's Jeremy Menez.

"I won't hide the fact that Benayoun is our preferred target," said the coach. "We hope the Israeli midfielder signs a contract with us in the coming days, and that Menez does the same."
Advertisement
British media have also recently reported that Benayoun may be headed to another English team, such as Manchester City or Tottenham.

Gazzetta estimated that Roma could raise Benayoun's salary by 20 to 30 percent, after Spalletti pressured team president Franco Sensi to place a significant investment in acquiring the Israeli, despite the team's current financial straits.

The Italian coach expressed hope that Liverpool owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks will put pressure on coach Rafael Benitez to release Benayoun so he can pack his cleats for the Eternal City.

Benayoun's agent, Ronen Katsav, said Tuesday that his client would not be leaving Liverpool because the team's management was not interested in releasing the player.

"I say this in the clearest manner possible - Yossi Benayoun is not for sale. Liverpool isn't interested in selling the player and he will play this year with them," he told the sports Web site ONE.

"It's flattering to us that other clubs are interested in Yossi, and we've received substantial offers, but from our perspective it's just not realistic. Yossi will stay at Liverpool and will be a contributing player to the team.

Meanwhile, the working papers of Argentine midfielder Sebastian Leto have expired, forcing the team to release him. Sources close to the club estimate that this loss only bolsters the team's necessity to keep Benayoun onboard.

Benayoun, 28, is captain of Israel's national team. Born in the hardscrabble Negev town of Dimona, he was a standout talent even before the age of 12. At 17, he began playing for Hapoel Be'er Sheva before moving to Maccabi Haifa.

In 2002 he signed with Spain's Racing de Santander before leaving for England's West Ham United, then Liverpool.

With his creative play, goal-scoring ability and feisty on-field demeanor, he has earned a place among Liverpool's fan favorites.

Related articles:
  • Benayoun quashes rumors of leaving beloved Liverpool
  • Yossi Benayoun nets hat trick for Liverpool in Champions League match
  • Benayoun completes Liverpool move, signs for GBP 46,000 a week
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    New bestsellers
    Three children's books about the US presidential race to be published soon.
    False accusation
    Pentagon admits it wrongly accused Jewish army engineer of spying for Israel.
     Read & React
    Israeli food company: We won't sell produce grown by Arabs
    Responses: 173
    Barak: If you miss Gaza raids, don't worry - they'll come
    Responses: 69
    Settler group planning to reestablish Gaza bloc
    Responses: 79
    Israelis in West Africa: We live in Hezbollah state
    Responses: 85
    Pentagon: We thought engineer was Israeli spy because he's a Jew
    Responses: 100
    Rosner's Domain
    Congress likely to see record number of Jewish legislators
    Israel looking for leader and agenda, but finds neither
    Should the U.S. invade Darfur?
    Lieberman seen as good veep choice (WTR)


    More Headlines
    22:20 UNIFIL: We vow to try to rescue any soldier captured in Lebanon
    00:39 IDF trains for simultaneous Hezbollah, Iran, Syria missile strikes
    02:11 PA: Mofaz as head of Kadima would be disaster for peace
    00:45 Mofaz: I will keep Jerusalem united as Israel's eternal capital
    22:34 Hamas warns of uprising against Fatah in West Bank
    22:33 Pentagon: We thought engineer was Israeli spy because he's a Jew
    20:14 NBA's only Jew visits Israel to instruct Jewish, Arab children
    22:29 America's new children's bestsellers: Obama and McCain
    22:38 Study: Israeli Arab attitudes toward women undergoing change
    22:21 U.S.: Iran response on nuclear freeze is unacceptable
    17:25 Israeli policeman arrested over death of Palestinian boy at Na'alin protest
    17:42 Following Russian pressure, Israel freezes defense sales to Georgia
    16:11 Palestinian refugees in Iraq to be relocated to Scandinavia
    02:12 Liverpool keeping Israeli striker Benayoun despite Roma bid
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Isaac Maimon at Dreamshoppe
    Special summer sale. Make an offer now. You will be surprised.
    MBA in Israel in English
    APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Yossi Avrahami Presents:
    New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat
    Your vacation starts here
    Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved