Liverpool unveil fab four
Monday, July 4, 2005
Article summary
Liverpool FC have completed the signing of four players, including the Villarreal CF goalkeeper José Manuel Reina.
Article body
Spanish success
The 22-year-old Reina helped Villarreal to third place in the Primera División last season, conceding just ten goals at the Madrigal, having joined from FC Barcelona in summer 2002. Reina had an eight-year contract with the Spanish side, including a clause allowing Reina to study offers from Europe's biggest clubs.
National team
Reina has represented Spain at various youth levels and kept goal for his country in their 1999 UEFA European Under-16 Championship success. In May, he received his first senior call-up, although he was an unused substitute for Iker Casillas in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lithuania and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Zenden delight
Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez revealed Reina's signing at a press conference to unveil Dutch international Boudewijn Zenden, who has joined as a free agent after his contract with Middlesbrough FC expired on 1 July. "I am absolutely delighted to be signing for Liverpool," Zenden, 28, said. "When a club like this comes in for you, you don't need asking twice."
González role
Benítez also announced that the English Premiership team had secured the services of Albacete Balompié's 20-year-old Chilean winger Mark González on loan, and Sevilla FC right-back Antonio Barragán, 18. "We have today introduced Bolo Zenden as a Liverpool player but we have also signed José Reina, the best goalkeeper in Spain, Mark González, the best player in Chile, and Antonio Barrágan," said the Liverpool manager. "We will be signing two or three more players this week."
Gerrard negotiations
Of speculation surrounding the future of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Benítez added: "I can assure our fans that we want Steven Gerrard to stay with us for the rest of his career. I renew my deal with Liverpool in four or five years, and when I do, I would like Stevie to be my next coach, assistant manager and maybe even the next manager after me. He can even have the chief scout position if he wants it.
Team building
"We are trying to build a better team and a better squad and I want Stevie to be a major part of that," Benítez continued. "Last season I tried to get Stevie to sign a new deal three times. On each occasion he said 'wait', so we waited. This year we want to win more trophies and that is why we are improving our squad with new signings."
