The Portsmouth defender completed his £17million move
to Anfield last night and penned a four-year deal worth around
£100,000 a week.
Former club Chelsea matched the offer to try and coax
Johnson, 24, back to Stamford Bridge while City have never
officially confirmed their interest. But Benitez was confident
right from the first time he spoke to the England defender that he
only wanted a move to Merseyside.
The Spanish boss said: "Manchester City and Chelsea
were there - they were making offers. We had to be quick and the
club acted quickly.
"It was down to the player whether he chose us or City
or Chelsea and he chose us. It was very clear from talking to him
that he wanted to play for Liverpool. "We were thinking about
bringing in players with quality - that's the first
thing.
He is also English and that is important for the
Champions League list. "We were thinking about improving the team
and Johnson is a very good player who will do that."
Johnson could be the only new arrival at Liverpool this
summer as Benitez has to watch the pennies. So the Kop boss had to
be sure there would be no mistakes this time - and he was sure
about Johnson from early on in the negotiations.
Benitez added: "One of the main things is his mentality
- it's really good. He is a winner. "I was impressed with the
conversations I had with him. He wants to improve. He was important
at Chelsea and in the last year at Portsmouth he has improved.
"I've already said we could buy one more player without
selling anyone. We now have to wait." Johnson's arrival could
hasten the departure of Spanish full-back Alvaro Arbeloa, who is
wanted by Real Madrid.
Benitez said: "We have offered him an extension and
we're talking. He is our player but if there is a good offer we
have to consider it.
"We have two or three clubs asking about him. He would
like to stay but he knows the competition will be hard."
