PALETTA
Promising Argentinian defender Gabriel Paletta has completed his £2 million move to Liverpool after signing a four-year contract.


The Boss, Rafael Benitez is delighted to have secured Paletta's services.

Benitez said:

“I've worked with other Argentinian defenders in the
past and there is a good tradition of aggressive and tactically strong
defenders from the country.
“Paletta is very tough and he's exactly the sort of player we need
who will suit the Premiership.
“When you talk about the Ar gentinian defenders I worked with in Valencia, Paletta is more like Roberto Ayala than (ex-Liverpool player Mauricio) Pellegrino.
“If you're talking about Liverpool, he's more like ‘Carra ’ (Carragher) than Sami Hyypia. This is good because we will have a bal ance in the style of defenders. “He is a defender with a lot of aggression, and we're sure he has a great future. He will learn a lot here, like Daniel Agger, and provide competitiveness in our defence.”

Follow up:

Liverpool scouts spotted Paletta in the Youth World Cup in Holland last year. Argentina, with Lionel Messi scoring a total of six goals, emerged champions in that tournament.

“Paletta has attracted a lot of interest from top clubs in Argentina like River Plate and Boca Juniors,” said Benitez.
“River Plate even reserved a No 6 shirt for him, so we had to move
quickly to sign him. We're delighted to have done the deal now.”

JOAQUIN

Liverpool have also put together a massive bid for Real Betis wing ace Joaquin.
Benitez is willing to offer £12 million plus fringe players Jerzy

Dudek, Bolo Zenden and Antonio Barragabe for the Spanish international.


Betis have welcomed the interest, with new president Pepe Leon admitting they have prepared to see Joaquin this summer if the right offer arrives.
Liverpool want to split the cash component in two, with the initial £7 million arriving before a second instalment of £5 million being paid in 18 months time.