LFCNY.org - MPRed episode 45

LFCNY.org - MPRed episode 44

LFCNY.org - MPRed episode 43

LFCNY.org - MPRed episode 42

Pennant signs for Real Zaragoza

Benítez accuses Barry of greed for choosing City over Liverpool

• Liverpool manager unhappy at Barry's choice of Man City
• Alonso and Mascherano get tacit warning about loyalty

Rafael Benítez laid bare his anger at the disruption to Liverpool's transfer strategy yesterday when he accused Gareth Barry of joining Manchester City "100% for money" and demanded greater loyalty from two potential departures, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.

The Liverpool manager remains livid with Barry for favouring City's ambitions above Champions League football at Anfield, having spent 12 months attempting to lure the England international from Aston Villa. Benítez was caught cold by Barry's £12m move to City as soon as the transfer window reopened last month and, despite the midfielder's protestations that he wanted to avoid a repeat of last year's saga with Liverpool, believes the decision was based entirely on the offer of £130,000 a week. City's package is at least £30,000 a week more than Barry would have earned at Anfield and, Benítez argued, tempted the former Villa captain to make the wrong career move.

"Maybe it's just me but in this market, the top level, I don't think money is the most important thing," the Liverpool manager said. "At this level everyone earns big money. The question is do you make the right decisions and do what is best for your career? If it's just for money sometimes you will make mistakes and I've been surprised by some decisions this summer – like Barry. I won't say too much but it was clearly 100% for money. The most important thing for me, though, is the passion of the players."

Barry's transfer was beyond Benítez's control but he is determined to dictate the futures of Alonso and Mascherano, two midfielders under contract at Anfield but coveted by Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Liverpool have not received an offer from either of the Spanish giants for their midfield pair, despite almost daily declarations of intent from the Bernabéu and Camp Nou, and Benítez is adamant he will not be forced into a sale either by his players or their suitors.

Liverpool's hardball stance could change if they receive a staggering offer from Real or Barcelona and a transfer request from Alonso or Mascherano in the coming weeks. Benítez, however, is aggrieved at the uncertainty surrounding two influential players, and the fact it is largely of the midfielders' own making, with his transfer strategy now heavily dependent heavily on whether Alonso and/or Mascherano stay or leave. The Liverpool manager said: "When you are the manager of a top side you can tell players that they are staying. You have to decide about the way to do things but I don't have a problem with that. We have to be strong enough and, if we have to be, we will be. Both players are under contract and we are really pleased about that.

"Don't forget we signed Alonso from Real Sociedad when nobody knew about him and we renewed his contract two years ago, so he was happy then, and you know what happened with Mascherano at West Ham before we brought him here. Both players owe a lot to Liverpool. They owe Liverpool some loyalty and they both know that."

Benítez would not divulge what his response would be should Alonso or Mascherano submit a transfer request, however. "That is not the case at the moment," he added. "At the moment we are pleased with them. I don't know what can happen but both players are under contract."

Ancelotti at ease as Terry begins training

• City have sounded out Chelsea's 28-year-old captain
• Daniel Sturridge hopes City become 'big club' one day

Carlo Ancelotti met John Terry for the first time yesterday and Chelsea's manager suggested it was business as usual as he attempted to brush off the link between his captain and Manchester City and outline his blueprint for the season.

But Chelsea's insistence that Terry had been welcomed back for pre-season training only by Ancelotti and not by any member of the board – to discuss his future – was taken as an encouraging sign at Eastlands, where City executives remain convinced that Terry has his price.

Chelsea's stance is relaxed on an issue that flared once again towards the end of last week, when City made a bid of around £30m for the England captain. As with their offer for him in January, it was rejected out of hand and, in a strongly worded statement, Chelsea said that Terry is not for sale.

Ancelotti and Peter Kenyon, Chelsea's chief executive, reinforced that message on Monday, with both also saying that Terry had told them that he wants to stay, yet City do not believe it and until they hear categorically from either Terry or his agent that he has no interest in a move, they will not lose hope.

City are ready to increase their bid and willing to double Terry's weekly wage of £135,000 to make him the highest paid player in world football. They feel that his head has been turned. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to seek a marquee signing. Terry has stated that it is vital they close such a deal.

City did not put forward last week's bid for Terry without first sounding out people close to him, and they continue to read encouragement into his refusal thus far to kill the story with a public statement. Chelsea, meanwhile, say that there is no need for such a move, given Terry's allegiance in the past.

Ancelotti, the former Milan manager, spoke to Terry on the telephone last month, after he had agreed to move to Stamford Bridge. Apparently, the Italian got Terry's number from David Beckham, who played for him at Milan. Then, as yesterday, Ancelotti spoke to Terry about football matters as he maintains that financial matters are not his domain.

The Italian has remarked that leading players such as Kaka, who turned down City in January and has since moved from Milan to Real Madrid, need to be playing at Champions League-qualified clubs. City cannot yet offer that, or even a place in the new Europa League.

They were reminded of this yesterday by Daniel Sturridge, the striker who ran down his contract at Eastlands and completed a transfer to Chelsea. City are entitled to compensation for the 19-year-old and the fee is to be determined by tribunal, with City demanding £10m and Chelsea prepared to offer somewhat less. A compromise of £5m is expected. "My main motivation was to play in the Champions League," said Sturridge.

"I am very ambitious, I want to push myself to the highest level and play with some of the best players in the world. I am only motivated by doing things in the game, by winning trophies and becoming a great player in football history. Chelsea have been winning trophies for years. The likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka will push me on to become a better player.

"I was at Manchester City since I was 13 and it would have been difficult for anybody to leave a club that they have loved for so long. I wish Manchester City all the best for the future and I hope that they become a big club."

Interview with Gina Bianchini from Ning