One of Rafa Benitez’s first acts as Gerard Houllier’s successor
was to attempt to find a solution to Liverpool’s lack of quality on
the flanks. Nearly six years later, he is still trying.
Maxi Rodriguez is the latest to be hand-picked for the task of
recreating the halcyon days of wing wizardry at Anfield, when Ian
Callaghan tore down the right and Peter Thompson jinked his way
down the left, and it is to be hoped he fares better than his
predecessors.
From Antonio Nunez to Albert Riera, Benitez’s judgment has been
found wanting, almost without exception.
Rodriguez arrived at Anfield yesterday to complete a £1.5million
deal and Liverpool boss Benitez insists he has got it right this
time.
Making waves: Maxi Rodriguez is introduced to fans
before last night's match at Anfield
‘We were looking for players with character and a good
mentality,’ said Benitez. ‘He can play in three positions — on the
right, left or as a second striker — and is someone with a very
positive mentality.
‘He knows Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres and he can
provide a lift for some players. I think he will adapt to English
football because he is a clever player and takes up good positions
on the pitch.’
However, the fee seems bizarrely small for an established
Argentina international who was once the jewel in Atletico Madrid’s
crown and who lit up the last World Cup with one of the goals of
the tournament, scoring a sensational volleyed winner in extra time
against Mexico in the last 16.
But the past few years have seen the landscape shift
significantly for 29-year-old Maxi — the press and fans never use
his surname in Spain or Argentina — to the point where Madrid were
more than happy to take whatever they could for him before his
contract expired at the end of the season.
New signing: Rodriguez
The problems started shortly after Germany 2006 when he suffered
cruciate ligament damage to his left ankle during an Argentina
friendly with Spain which put him out for six months. He was never
the same player again.
He once dominated games from the middle of the park and tore
through defences with the sort of vision and execution which had
sealed him his blue-riband move to Atletico from Espanyol.
Lately, he has struggled to keep up with the pace of games and
failed to pull his weight. That didn’t stop him being adored by the
Atletico fans or being made captain after Torres’ departure in
2007.
However, an act of petulance last March cost him both.
After being substituted following a poor performance against
Barcelona, Maxi flew into a rage, throwing his captain’s armband to
the ground in disgust. The fans never forgave him, nor did his
manager Abel Resino, who fined him and stripped him of the
captaincy.
The situation quickly became unsalvagable. Resino used Maxi less
and less and the fans called for him to be sold. They appear to
have got their way.
Rodriguez: set to join Liverpool
But Liverpool supporters should not despair, thinking they have
signed a has-been with a terrible temper. Maxi can play anywhere
across the midfield and is a seriously
talented footballer.