Players signed by Rafael Benitez 1. SA In order to try and dispel a few media fuelled myths that sections of our fanbase seem to have swallowed; heres the full list of players hes signed since hes been at the club (please read the summary below): 2004/05 £2m - Josemi: peanuts and was moved on in a swap for Kromkamp 18 months later £1.5m - Antonio Nunez: part of the Michael Owen deal and filled a gap for a while. Peanuts. £10.7m - Xabi Alonso: Massive success and sold for £30m+ in the summer when he wanted to leave £6m - Luis Garcia: Massive success and sold to Madrid for £4m Free - Pelligrino: Stop gap that allowed us to rest Sami for league games, benefitting us massively in Istanbul. Now on the coaching staff. £6.3m - Fernando Morientes: Pretty much everyone made up when we signed him, top class, but never settled. Sold for £3m to Valencia. £1m - Scott Carson: One the most highly rated young keepers around. Lost out through injury and signing of Reina when Dudek left the club. Sold for £3.25m. Total bought: £27.5m Free - Marcus Babbel: Released to Stuttgart at the end of his career. £2.5m - Danny Murphy: Xabi Alonso signed to fill the role Murphy had in the side £8.5m - Michael Owen: Wouldnt sign a new contract and sold before he left on a free. Hes done nothing since that is a masterstroke with hindsight. Free - Stephane Henchoz: Released to Celtic at the end of his career Total sold: £11m A total of £16.5m net spend in his first year at the club, with the vast majority of that being spent on Xabi Alonso. 2004/05 net spend: £16.5m 2005/06 £240,000 - Antonio Barragan: Kid for the future. Sold for £675,000 to Deportivo a year later. Free - Boudewijn Zenden: Signed for nothing and released for nothing. Did a job for us. £6m - Pepe Reina: In the top 3 or 4 keepers in the world now and still young. One of Rafas best signings. £5.6m - Momo Sissoko: Brilliant for a few years, had that eye injury and sold to Juventus when his form dipped for £8.2m. Replaced by Mascherano. £7m - Peter Crouch: One signing I did question but proved to be a great bit of business. Turned him from a laughing stock into an international. Sold for £11m. Unkown - Miki Roque: Kid bought for peanuts. Sold again for an unknown amount. £150,000 - Jack Hobbs: Highly rated 16yr old signed from Lincoln. Didnt progress as hoped and sold to Leicester for a reported £1.5m, although figure not confirmed. £190,000 Besian Idrizaj: No idea who he is £1.5m - Mark Gonzales: Cheap player to provide back up for the left wing. Sold for £3.5m to Real Betis. Exchange - Paul Anderson: Swapped for John Welsh. Sold for £250,000. Exchange - Jan Kromkamp: Swapped for Josemi. Later sold for £1.75m £5.8m - Daniel Agger: Blighted by injuries but potentially top class and great signing for the money. £250,000 - David Martin: Young reserve keeper Free - Robbie Fowler: Pay as you play deal and no risk involved. Scored a few goals. Released in the summer. Total bought: £26.73 Free - Vladimir Smicer: Out of contract and released. Played a small part in Istanbul. £3.5m - El Hadji Diouf: The best £3.5m Rafa has ever recieved. Free - Pellegrino: Filled the gap in the last 5 months of the previous season, not good enough and released. £2m - Alou Diarra: Sold for £2m. One of Houlliers buys. £2m - Antonio Nunez: Bought for £1.5m and now sold for £2m when didnt work out. £6.5m - Milan Baros: A Houllier signing sold at a profit. Hes done nothing since. Exchange - John Welsh: Swapped for Paul Anderson Exchange - Josemi: Swapped for Kronkamp. Total sold: £14m 2005/06 net spend: £12.73m 2006/07 £6m - Craig Bellamy: Good signing and later sold for £7.5m to fund Torres deal. £2m - Gabriel Palletta: Played a few league cup games, not good enough and sold for £1.2m Free - Fabio Aurelio: Very injury prone but a good player when fit. Great signing for nothing. £6.7m - Jermaine Pennant: Second choice after missing out on Alves. Ran his contract down and released. Attitude stank. £9m - Dirk Kuyt: Has his critics, but has been brilliant for the money. 15 goals last season from wide and vital to the way we play. Ultimate pro. Great signing. £200,000 - Nabil El Zhar: Few cameos last season and improving. Injured now. Promising still. Peanuts. £750,000 - Astrit Ajdarevic: No idea who he is, and released on a free to Leicester. Loan - Daniele Padelli: Reserve keeper, made one appearance and never seen again. Undisclosed - Jordy Brouwer: Young reserve. £2.5m - Alvaro Arbeloa: Bargain signing, great service for a few years and sold for £3.5m when running his contract down. Loan - Javier Mascherano: Rescued from West Ham, now one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and will probably be sold to Barca this summer for a massive profit. Paid £18.6m for him a year later at end of loan deal. Total bought: £27.15m £200,000 - Zak Whitbread: Youngster Undisclosed - Bruno Cheyrou: Houllier flopped, sold for a reported £1.5m. £3m - Fernando Morientes: Didnt work out. Cut his losses. Free - Didi Hamann: Great servant, released at the end of his career £675,000 - Antonio Barragan: Paid £240,000 for him. £2m - Djimi Traore: Houllier signing and daylight robbery getting £2m for him £500,000 - Neil Mellor: Signed as a kid and did a job for a while. Not good enough and released. £1.75m - Jan Kromkamp: Nunez bought for £2m, swapped for him, who then sold for £1.75m. Stop gaps at minimal expense. £525,000 - Darren Potter: Acadamy lad, not good enough and robbery getting that much for him. £1.5m - Steven Warnock: Probably sold to cheap and looks a mistake with hindsight. Good squad player. Free - Salif Diao: The clearout of Houlliers flops continues. Total sold: £10.15m 2006/07 net spend: £17m 2007/08 £5m - Lucas Leiva: Brazilian player of the year when signed. Could still go either way but a lot to prove. Undisclosed - Krisztian Nemeth: Promising youngster currently out on loan in Athens. £270,000 - Mikel San Jose Dominguez: Youngester plays in the reserves. £1.8m - Sebastian Leto: Left winger signing but refused a work permit. Sold for £3m. £20.2m - Fernando Torres: Bargain of the century Free - Andriy Voronin: Free transfer to strengthen the squad. Plays well in Germany, garbage over here. £5m - Yossi Benayoun: Took a while to settle but now a key player. Superb signing and an absolute bargain. £11.5m - Ryan Babel: Highly rated dutch international. Absolute waste of space. Bad signing on reflection, but nobody knew how hed turn out. Still got potential but he cant be arsed. Undisclosed - Charles Itandje: Back up keeper signed for peanuts. Now released. £1.3m - Emiliano Insua: Youngster who is now a full Argentinian international and massive potential. Bargain. £6.5m - Martin Skrtel: Been off form this season so far, but brilliant last year and a good signing for the money. £18.6m - Javier Mascherano: Completion of loan deal Total bought: £70.7m £2.7m – Florent Simana-Pongolle: Houllier youngster sold wanting first team football. £100,000 – Daniel O’Donnell: Kid sold Free – Jerzy Dudek: Released at end of contract Free - Zenden: Released at end of contract Free – Robbie Fowler: Released at end of contract £4m – Luis Garcia: Wanted to return to Spain. Great service. £6m – Djibril Cisse: Houllier signing sold to part fund Torres deal. £7.5m – Craig Bellamy: Sold at profit to part fund Torres deal £3.5m – Mark Gonzales: Signed for £1.5m and sold when didn’t work out. £1.2m – Gabriel Palletta: Bought for £2m but never worked out. Young defender. £3.5m – Chris Kirkland: Houllier signing. Injury prone and wanted first team football. £8.2m – Momo Sissoko: Great signing, good service, sold when lost his form at a profit. Total sold: £36.7m 2007/08 net spend: £34m We will continue in part 2. Do stay on. It is a vital part of debunking the Rafa myth. Special thanks to red and white kop for this info.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 20:42:37 +0000
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