Liverpool FC Forum

Raoul wrote:From soccernet:

Liverpool move for Simao collapses at the death

Liverpool's move for Simao Sabrosa has broken down after Benfica demanded £13.6million for the Portuguese winger.


Simao was given permission to travel to Merseyside for talks with the European champions but the deal floundered when Liverpool refused to increase their initial offer of £7million beyond £10.2million.


Benfica sporting director Jose Veiga admitted the 25-year-old would be disappointed in not having secured a move to Anfield but insists the player will still give his all for the Lisbon club.


Veiga told the Renascenca radio station: 'I am convinced that Simao will not be against us because he is a great professional and he has proved this throughout the years he has played for Benfica.


'He is the captain of this team and knowing the spirit of sacrifice, I know that he will put his soul and body into it in order to help us achieve success.'


Simao came through the Sporting Lisbon youth system before moving to Barcelona in a £7million deal in 1999.


After two campaigns in Spain, he returned to his homeland with Benfica, who he helped to win the 2004 Portuguese Cup and last season's SuperLiga title.


Benitez was keen on Simao, Benfica's captain who can play on either flank, and would have finally solved Benitez's desperate chase for a right-sided attacking option.


Benitez had hoped the move for Simao would take away some of the pain following Owen's decision to sign for Newcastle.




I'm gutted.  Was 2 mill really to hard to find.  I know the club has got to be sensible with funds, but I've been waiting for weeks for the RM and CB, and then I read this.  I'm not worried about Owen, it would have been immoral to let Cisse go in my opinion, but Benitez apparent could afford an extra 12 mill (+ wgaes) for Owen, but not an extra 2.4 mill for a quality RM - which clearly is a big gap in our team right now.

And what happened to Bouma, Bonera and Nobby?

I am so frustrated.

Oh well, at least I'm not a Newcastle supporter, aye?

read my last post mate   

The Manhattan Project wrote:Price seemed too steep.

If we could afford that much to buy this guy, then I would have rather we just add a bit more and got Owen instead.

it was a joke  project   13.6 million  they just didnt want to sell sabrosa   and rafa benitez will never pay over the odds like that   as good as the guy is hes just not worth 13.6 million   rafa more than likely roared down the phone forget the whole deal  were the european champions we can cope  have a nice day         

Big Niall wrote:personally i've never heard of the guy, I mean Duff was going for that money a couple of seasons ago, taking a punt on some foreigner who'll take a couple of seasons to settle (only Alonso really performed last year) is one thing, paying £13m is another.

I'm glad we're showing some mettle in transfers. Rafa shouldn't have given off the vibes that he was desparate for a cb and rm as that gave the advantage to the selling club. Mourinho said he'd like essien but wasnt that bothered if they didn't get him.

The Manhattan Project wrote:Price seemed too steep.

If we could afford that much to buy this guy, then I would have rather we just add a bit more and got Owen instead.