Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has been fit for over a
month, claims his father.
The former Roma player arrived on Merseyside in a blockbuster move
after the two clubs agreed on a fee believed to be in the region of
£17 million.
The 25-year-old spent months on the sidelines following an injury
that required surgery, and has been used sparingly since making his
debut in a League Cup tie at Arsenal in October.
However, the player's father - who is a Giallorossi medic - is
dumbfounded as to why Rafael Benitez has been so reluctant to field
his son in the Premier League.
"Alberto's available to play and has been for more than a month,"
he told The Guardian.
"He feels good and the injury has cleared up, and now the only way
he can get truly fit is to play more and more minutes.
"He is desperate to get his career in England up and running. He
has been very frustrated, first at being injured, then at not being
chosen to play for so long. Obviously he's not happy at waiting for
such a long time to get involved with the team.
"I don't know the reasons why Benítez has chosen not to play him
since he came back for injury.
"That is an issue for Alberto. He must convince the coach that he
has to play. I don't know of any special motivation for Benítez in
not playing him."
The Liverpool manager has so far maintained that he has no
intention of shoving the silky passer into an intense situation, as
he wishes to ease him back to full fitness.
And despite being unhappy with his son's situation, Aquilani Snr
concedes that the Roma youth product has settled down very well in
England.
"He is really happy in Liverpool, he has settled in really well,"
he said.
"He's getting to grips with the language, which was a problem at
first, and he is always surrounded by friends, family and his
fiance.
"He likes the city a lot, the culture, the football and the
atmosphere at the stadiums. He has been really impressed by the
bond the crowd have with the players."