Benitez defends Aquilani Liverpool deal

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insists his 15 million pounds swoop for Alberto Aquilani will turn out to be a bargain despite concerns over the Italy midfielder’s fitness.

Aquilani completed his move to Anfield from Roma last week but will miss the start of the Premier League season with an ankle injury.

The 25-year-old has been hampered by injuries for the past two seasons, with his first-team outings in Rome severely limited as a result.

Aquilani’s lack of action has prompted fears he may not be able to withstand the strains of life in the physically demanding Premier League.

But Benitez is adamant Aquilani has just been unfortunate and will prove his worth over the duration of his five-year contract.

“If Aquilani was in a normal market he would cost 25-30 million pounds but because of the operation he had on his ankle he was a bit cheaper,” Benitez told the Daily Mirror.

“We have to wait for a month for him to be fit but he is a player we are signing for five years, not for five matches.

“He had a bad tackle and an operation and that’s normal he missed matches. It would have been the same with (Fernando) Torres or (Steven) Gerrard. That is why I don’t think his signing is a gamble.

“I was talking with a lot of people in Italy and people are saying it is a fantastic signing.”