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Real Madrid manager Juande Ramos, who was manager of
Tottenham Hotspur when Robbie Keane
was sold to Liverpool, has told Rafa Benitez that he made a
big mistake in letting the striker leave Anfield.
Speaking ahead of next week's Champions League last-16 clash
with the Reds, Ramos said: "You can't tell me Robbie will not score
goals at a top club."
"He's definitely a match winner for any club and if he were
still at Liverpool, I would be telling my defenders to watch for
him."
Liverpool forked out £20million for Keane last summer and Ramos
could not disguise his surprise at Liverpool's decision to sell him
back to his old club for £12m just six months later.
"It was a lot of money to lose on Robbie over such a short space
of time - especially in this market," Ramos said. "Let's put it
this way. I wouldn't want to lose that amount of money on one
player."
"Maybe Liverpool should have kept Robbie until at least the
summer to give him more time and try and get the right price for
him when there was more time to do so!"
Since Ramos replaced Bernd Schuster at Madrid in December he has
dragged Los Blancos from fifth place in La Liga into
second place, 10 points behind leaders Barcelona, and was quick to
remind Liverpool of the pedigree of his new club ahead of their
Champions League clash.
"[Liverpool] are a massive European Cup club but the fact is we
are bigger - bigger than anybody in this competition," said
Ramos.
"Everybody knows about Liverpool's successes but at the same
time everybody knows we are the most famous and successful club in
Europe.
"For the Real Madrid fans it has been too long since they won
the European Cup and with Barcelona so far ahead in La Liga before
I arrived maybe this is our best chance of a major trophy this
season."
