Rafa Gets Maxi

Rafa Benitez has secured the signature of Maxi Rodriguez on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid.  The 29-year-old player signed a three-and-a-half year deal after Atletico who are languishing in 11th place in La Liga deemed Rodriguez surplus to requirements and with his contract set to expire in the summer, and with no offers on the table the club seem to have felt that the players prospects for first team football in Madrid so bleak that it was better for them to get him off the wage bill.

This is another gamble from Rafa, but this one at least has not involved a sizable transfer fee.  Rodriguez, if he settles quickly and can adapt to the fast pace and tough tackling of the Premier League could prove a useful utility forward, who can play on either wing or provide cover for, or, alongside Torres.  Either way, he give Benitez some options.

Time will tell if Rodriguez proves a good signing, but I have my doubts that this signing will be the one that will bring Liverpool a top four finish and win back the increasingly deflated fans... If he bags a last minute winner in his first couple of games there could be some hype, but in my mind Rafa has brought in a squad player to fill in for the departure of another after Veronin's move to Moscow.