MX23RW : Thursday, November 14 19:13:45| >> :60:753:753:

Rafael Benitez 'rejected Real Madrid to stay at Liverpool'

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez reveals that current boss Rafael Benitez turned down the job after guiding Liverpool to second in the Premier League in 2008-09.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has revealed that he offered Rafael Benitez the chance to take charge of the club in 2009, but the Spaniard turned them down to stay at Liverpool.

Benitez took over at the Bernabeu this summer but could have taken over from Juande Ramos instead of Manuel Pellegrini if he had been prepared to leave Anfield.

However, after guiding the Reds to second place in the Premier League in 2008-09, as well as beating Real 4-0 in the Champions League, he decided to stay at the English club.

Quoted in the Liverpool Echo, Perez said: "I thought of him in 2009 and offered him the job.

"The circumstances did not allow it because he had renewed with Liverpool and could not leave them."

Benitez was sacked as Liverpool boss a year after the offer after the club dropped to seventh place, but after spells with Inter Milan, Chelsea and Napoli, Perez is adamant that the former Real player is the right man for the job in Madrid this season.

"Rafa Benitez is the best for Madrid at this time," he added. "He is Spanish, a Madridista. He knows the culture, the values, and is from this house."

Real have taken four points from their opening two La Liga games under Benitez this season.

ID:244307: cacheID:244307:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2434:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Louis van Gaal the manager of Manchester United looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on March 15, 2015
Read Next:
Premier League in numbers: Matchday 1 preview
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!