I knew my Liverpool career was over when Rafa Benitez sat next to me after Champions League final – I needed to leave
CRAIG BELLAMY has revealed how he was told his Liverpool career was over hours after the 2007 Champions League final.
The forward had two spells at the Reds, first joining under Rafa Benitez at the beginning of the 2006/07 campaign.
Rafa Benitez told Craig Bellamy to find a new club hours after a Champions League final defeatAFP – Getty
GettyBellamy is now assistant boss at Burnley[/caption]
He scored nine goals in 42 appearances including a famous strike at the Nou Camp to help Liverpool into the Champions League quarter-final.
Liverpool went on to reach the final but Bellamy was an unused substitute as AC Milan enacted revenge on the final of two years earlier with a 2-1 win.
Shortly after the final whistle Benitez informed Bellamy he would not be part of his plans moving forward, so he told the Welshman to start looking for a new club.
Bellamy told The Overlap: “On the way back, [from the 2007 Champions League Final], he [Rafa Benítez] comes and sits next to me.
“He said that they’ve identified other targets, that they feel they are able to bring in.
“If you feel there is an opportunity for you to go to another club, speak to your agent, you’re able to go and explore that.”
Bellamy, 44, opened up about several incidents during his time at Anfield on his Overlap appearance.
He reflected on his clash with team-mate John Arne Riise when he attacked the Norwegian with a golf club after a falling out.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Bellamy said: “As I was about to enter my hotel room, the players were coming back.
“They all steamed into our room and trashed it – it was one of these double-floor rooms, with a downstairs kitchen.
“Steve [Finnan] comes into my room in the morning and says Pako [Ayestarán] and Rafa [Benítez] are downstairs, and they want to see you.
“I go downstairs, and there’s plates everywhere. He’s looking round, and he asks me to tell him what happened.
“I told him the truth – I couldn’t get out of this one..”
