Benitez warns Liverpools owners- Sell Torres and I will quit - even for 100m
17 Nov 2009 - 16:02:30
Rafa Benitez has told Liverpool's owners he will quit if star striker Fernando Torres is sold against his will - even if they were offered £100million.
Key man: If Fernando Torres leaves Liverpool, so will manager Rafa Benitez
The club's debts - reported to be up to £500m in the red - have led to questions about whether co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett would be tempted should a big-money offer come in for the Spain forward.
But Benitez said the 25-year-old would not be sold, even if an offer in excess of £100m was made for a player who cost him around £20m in 2007.
'I'm confident it will never happen,' he said. 'If it did, I'd resign.'
The financial situation at Liverpool means they struggle to compete with their Barclays Premier League big-four rivals in the transfer market.
Benitez has seen his spending power sharply reduced this year, his last signing being Sotirios Krygiakos for £2m.
This followed an £18.5m fee for Glen Johnson that cost little more than £10m once money Portsmouth still owed for Peter Crouch was taken into account and the £20m paid for Roma's Alberto Aquliani - which was funded by the £30m received for Xabi Alonso's move to Real Madrid.
Americans Hicks and Gillett are known to have differing views of the direction Liverpool should take, Gillett believed to be ready to sell his half stake to Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia.
That was then: Fernando Torres poses with Benitez the day he signed
But this is now: Liverpool's co-owners Tom Hicks (left) and George Gillett could be tempted with jaw-dropping offers for Torres
But Benitez insisted in the Times: 'We are progressing - I'm happy and want to do the best for this club. The team will improve. When we have key players on the pitch we are as good as anyone. We have proved this in the past.'
But he reiterated that success at Anfield will only be with Torres in the side, not replacements bought with cash from his sale.
He warned: 'That won't happen. I'd quit.'
Benitez: Liverpool have never looked so good - and I was right to sell AlonsoLiverpool boss Benitez defends his rant at Manchester United chief FergusonFERNANDO TORRES TALKS TO MARTIN SAMUEL: Liverpool's Spain superstar on Kaka, feeling at home and the battle to stop Manchester United's title chaseI'm no marriage counsellor! Saudi prince warns Liverpool owners to reduce debt and end feud before he'll investTorres: Why I rang up for quotes on second-hand cars after Anfield arrivalLiverpool are £300m in debt, have stars Torres and Gerrard battling with injury and face the worst run of defeats for 56 years... so can Rafa Benitez stop the rot?Button it! Torres told to bite his lip against rivals by boss Benitez'Cheap' £26.5m Fernando Torres is one of the world's best, gushes BenitezFernando Torres facing turmoil: Striker will play in Lyon but fears are growing that he'll need surgeryLIVERPOOL FC
