Benitez warns Liverpool he will quit if they fail to spend

Rafael Benitez will walk out of Liverpool in the summer unless he gets the financial backing he was promised when he agreed a new long term contract.

That was the stark ultimatum effectively issued by the Spanish coach last night, as he confirmed that he has been the subject of a big money approach from Juventus.

The Anfield boss spoke pointedly yesterday as he refused to rule out a move to the Italian giants, instead preferring to talk of his "pride" at such a "big club" being interested in his services.

Benitez has been the subject of 'interest' from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and indeed Juventus in the past, but each time he ultimately insisted that he would stay because of the support and loyalty of the Liverpool fans.

This time though, even when directly asked if he would say the loyalty of the fans could make him stay, he refused to offer such a guarantee, and instead insisted that he needs to see some concrete evidence that new investment will arrive in the summer to give him the spending power he needs.

 "Yes, I think it is important that we have concrete evidence of new investment happening. I think that is important for all the fans and for all the people here to see these things happen," he said.

 "I think so. For everyone here. Everyone wants to see the team and the club progress and I think we are going in the right direction but we have to move forward. 

"Sometimes this means signing players who are good and are available in the market. Sometimes it is changing things and the key at the end we know is the stadium and the new investors."

While Benitez stopped short of saying he will leave, it is clear he was venting his frustrations yesterday, and offering a clear message to Liverpool's owners.

Juventus have appointed interim manager Alberto Zaccheroni until the summer, making it abundantly obvious in the process they want Benitez as their next permanent manager, by leaking it to the media in Italy.

They have already held talks with the Spaniard's agent, and even discussed with him which of his coaching staff at Anfield he will want to bring with him to Turin. Benitez has also indicated that if he moves he is prepared to have an Italian as his assistant at the club.

Unusually, the Reds boss was not afraid to admit the contact yesterday, even though it amounts to an illegal approach. When questioned on Juventus's interest, he said bluntly: "I know they (Juventus) were interested, that is part of the game now in football."  He also said he was happy at Liverpool, but revealed his pride at an approach from the Italian club. “As a manager you have to be proud that a top side is monitoring you but now we have finished the speculation; that is positive so now we can focus on Bolton," he said.

Benitez was also questioned on whether he would now be able to attract new players to the club, given the doubt over his long term future at Anfield.

Liverpool are chasing two strikers on big-money Bosman deals in the summer, Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh, and Croatian international Milan Jovanovic. But the manager insisted that it is the internationally renowned name of the club, and not his own position that would persuade players to come to Merseyside.

"There are some names in the press of players who are available in the market and we have to continue monitoring them and try to bring those players here because I would like to improve the squad as much as I can," he said.

“They know that I have four years of contract and if they want to come they will come because it is Liverpool, a club with fantastic fans, a fantastic team and a really good team with fantastic team mates."

Benitez again made the point that he has been "forced" to balance the budget at Anfield since the summer, and again made pointed comment about the work he has had to do under what he describes as trying circumstances.

The Spaniard often speaks in code, and he raised what seemed a message to the Americans by pointing to the need for new investment quickly.

“We are working very hard in the conditions that we have at this moment. We have some money that we did not have before because we sold some players and this gave us some money," he said.

"I think we have a new investor or maybe more people coming this year, the possibility of a new stadium is a big boost for everyone here so all these things are on the agenda. We have to trust and have the belief that they will happen."

Liverpool believe they will have their new investment by the summer, and also believe that building work on a new stadium will begin by the end of the year, putting into place a process that will generate new revenue streams and allow them to invest heavily in the transfer market.

MD Christian Purslow still wants Benitez to lead what he hopes will be a new beginning for the club, but if the Spaniard does quit, then the club will have alternative options, which could include experienced European campaigners like Jose Mourinho or Guus Hiddink.