Barca eye Benitez

[JRC]

The style thing is moot if it's a choice between Rafa and Mourinho.

A few weeks ago, before our upturn in form, Rafa's future was being discussed by one of the podcasts (probably not The Times, given Balgue's input), and they laughed at the suggestion that any of the 'big' clubs would be interested in him, which says more about their undervaluing of his ability and acheivements than anything else. He'll be in demand at the big European clubs for many a year yet, which ought give us pause when we get frustrated and decide to vent.

[Scratch]

It would scupper his chances of being manager of Real Madrid, something unfortunately I think Rafa has his heart set on.

Or it coud enhance his chances....imagine the looks on Barca faces if Madrid poached their manager from them!

[frank the tank]

linked by the benitez camp to try and guage dic's committment to him. If the club is taken over, rafa wants a new contract and serious backing in the transfer market.....this is his way of seeing if that is going to be the case......expect more rumours like this except with ac milan also in the frame.....

[Sarb]

Oliver Kay says he's been sounded out by 3 spanish clubs in his article tomorrow

[Joe King]

I know Athletico are interested.

[Sarb]

Valencia too

[Joe King]

Valencia too

I think a good run from Koeman will allow him to keep his job. He has done well with beating both Real and Barca in a week. Juan Soler leaving might have also helped his position.

The thing with Athletico is that Aguirre is considered to have taken Athletico to a level and thats it. They believe Rafa will be one of few who can make them La Liga champions. With rumours of Xabi going there, I wouldn't be surprised if Rafa was linked more in the summer.

Real has to be the other club involved in this. Schuster is having a mare in Madrid with the press, fans, the board.

[El Jefecito]

Rafa won't leave of his own volition. He's too stubborn and proud for that. I don't think he'll leave until he has won the EPL.

[AFII]

Barcelona line up Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez to replace Frank Rijkaard
By David Maddock 27/03/2008

Rafael Benitez has emerged as a surprise favourite to become the new Barcelona boss.

Liverpool's Spanish coach finds himself in huge demand back home, with the Catalan club leading what could prove to be a four-way fight for his services.

Benitez has been identified as the man to replace current Barca coach Frank Rijkaard, who looks certain to leave the Nou Camp in the summer.

Johan Cruyff has already made a report to president Juan Laporta, urging the club to ignore the claims of Jose Mourinho and instead pursue Benitez, whose tenure at Anfield is far from certain. Cruyff holds no official role at the Nou Camp but he is Laporta's closest adviser.

The Liverpool manager could have a choice of destinations should he decide to leave England in the summer, with Real and Atletico Madrid vying for his services along with former club Valencia.

Atletico have already sounded out the Spaniard while Real are far from certain to keep current coach Bernd Schuster following their disappointing Champions League exit.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...9520-20364207/

[AFII]

March 27, 2008
Spanish clubs embark on Benítez watching brief
Oliver Kay

Amid the uncertainty at Liverpool, Rafael Benítez has been sounded out by at least three clubs in Spain, who have expressed interest in tempting him back to La Liga at the end of the season. Barcelona are among the clubs who are monitoring the Spaniard’s situation, but it emerged last night that the Liverpool manager has also been made aware of potential interest from Valencia, his former club, and Atlético Madrid.

Benítez’s priority is to stay on Merseyside, where his family is settled, but his employment prospects at Anfield remain unclear. Although his position is more secure than it was earlier in the season, when Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the club’s American owners, were preparing to sack him after a series of disagreements, little is clear at present, with Dubai International Capital, the private equity investment arm of the Dubai Government, planning a wide-ranging review of all aspects of the club if, as expected, it succeeds with its £400 million takeover bid.

Having improved his relationship with Hicks while guiding Liverpool to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they face Arsenal, Benítez is hoping to stay on regardless of who owns the club next season, but other options exist. Manuel García Quillon, his agent, has been approached by people from or working on behalf of Valencia, Atlético and Barcelona. With doubts over the future of Frank Rijkaard, the Barcelona hierarchy are discussing potential replacements, including Benítez, José Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager, and Michael Laudrup, the Getafe coach.

If he stays at Anfield, Benítez will ask for considerable backing in the transfer market this summer as he looks to assemble a squad capable of challenging for the Barclays Premier League title. He and his staff are making inquiries about several players and are monitoring the form of others, including David Bentley, of Blackburn Rovers.

Benítez has impressed upon his board the need to make changes to the squad and is likely to offload several players. Harry Kewell will leave when his contract expires in June, but there will be other departures, with uncertainty over the futures of Xabi Alonso, John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch.

As expected, Javier Mascherano, the Liverpool midfield player, has been charged with improper conduct by the FA over his reaction to his red card in the 3-0 defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.Mascherano has been given until 6pm today to respond, with the case to be heard by an FA regulatory commission a week tomorrow. He is suspended for the Merseyside derby against Everton on Sunday and is likely to face a further ban for continuing to argue with Steve Bennett, the referee, after he was shown the red card.

Benítez may get his opportunity to discuss the Mascherano affair with Keith Hackett, the general manager of Professional Game Match Officials Ltd, the referees’ governing body. However, it will not be until the case has been decided by the FA and will take place in private.

Mike Riley, the Premier League referee, will take charge of the matches between Charlton Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Coca-Cola Championship on Saturday and Carlisle United and Nottingham Forest in Coca-Cola League One on Tuesday. It is not viewed as punishment for his failure to send off Ashley Cole in the 4-4 draw between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea last week, more one of the “rest” periods in the lower leagues given to elite officials during the season.

- George Gillett Jr, the Liverpool co-owner, has teamed up with the owner of the Montreal Impact, who play in North America’s second division, to bid for a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise, Joey Saputo, the club’s president, said yesterday. “We are in discussions with Gillett Entertainment Group as well as with Major League Soccer to bring an MLS franchise to Montreal,” Saputo said. Reports suggest that they hope to call the team Montreal FC and begin playing in the 2009 season.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle3628907.ece

[Helios Creed]

Spot on, no way I could see barca going for a manager that essentially plays defensively controlling football as to the normal barca style of attacking and controlling...

If they take on a new manager in the summer, it will be one that plays a different style than Benitez IMO...

so not Mourinho either then?

[Rashid]

A lad who knows his stuff and is one of the main boys of Sons of Shankly has said that this has been leaked by Rafa and Quillon his agent. Another (DT) who recently interviewed Aggar for the Echo has said that Barrett has been briefed on this by Rafa's people. Basically Rafa is (again) playing mind games with the board to get a new contract/more money etc.

I think he is now beginning to take the piss and constantly destabilising the club.

[Kenneth]

linked by the benitez camp to try and guage dic's committment to him. If the club is taken over, rafa wants a new contract and serious backing in the transfer market.....this is his way of seeing if that is going to be the case......expect more rumours like this except with ac milan also in the frame.....

[El Jefecito]

A lad who knows his stuff and is one of the main boys of Sons of Shankly has said that this has been leaked by Rafa and Quillon his agent. Another (DT) who recently interviewed Aggar for the Echo has said that Barrett has been briefed on this by Rafa's people. Basically Rafa is (again) playing mind games with the board to get a new contract/more money etc.

I think he is now beginning to take the piss and constantly destabilising the club.

Well well well. Quelle Suprise.

We all know that your sources are not credible. We also know your anti-Rafa agenda and that this is almost certainly you just trying to destabilize Rafa.

Fortunately, we are smarter than you think and this won't wash.

[Darkon]

so not Mourinho either then?

Not unless they are want to change the style of play that they have become famous for...

If they do however, then mourinho or raffa could be a subject, otherwise there is no chance IMO...