5 Feb 2013

Rejected: Exciting Barca star explains why he snubbed LFC move. Big loss...?

A few days before the January transfer window closed, panish newspaper Marca, claimed that Liverpool were interested in signing Barcelona winger Isaac Cuenca on loan. The youngster ultimately chose to join Dutch giants Ajax instead, and in an interview yesterday, the Spaniard explained his decision.

According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Liverpool coach Brendan Rodgers made a great effort to sign Cuenca:

"As it turns out, Ajax was not the only club who wanted Isaac Cuenca.

"Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers traveled to Barcelona to try and convince Cuenca to join Liverpool, but he decided on Ajax instead".


Speaking to reporters yesterday, Cuenca - who underwent a therapeutic arthroscopy on May 31 last yeat to correct an injury to his right knee - explained:

"I am very happy to be here. I could have gone to many other clubs, but Ajax's 4-3-3 style of play is similar to Barcelona. The presence of the former Barcelona players Frank de Boer and Marc Overmars played a major role. They knew me well and wanted me.”

Liverpool also play 433, and I'm sure Rodgers tried to persuade Cuenca that the Reds style of play would suit him, but it's hardly surprising that the winger chose Ajax, a team with a long history of trying to play the beautiful game the right way.

Prior to his injury, Cuenca impressed former boss Pep Guardiola, awho lavished praise on the attacker after Barcelona's 3-1 Champions League victory over AC Milan in April 2012:

"He's a kind of player we don't have, he always plays well. I put him in the team and he done his work perfectly, absolutely perfectly. Let's see if he ever loses possession one day. I don't know if anyone else in Europe can do what Cuenca done in the game against Milan"

Given his injury history, signing Cuenca would've been a major risk for LFC. Additionally, I don't see the sense in bringing someone to the club just for five months unless it's an established, experienced player who will hit the ground running and contribute from day one.



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15 comments:

  1. I don`t see any point in loans, unless we have a agreed a fee at the end of it, otherwise ur just getting them fit for another team, when we could be using that space for a youngster.

    The only exception to this is if the player you are signing is 100% fit, very experienced and in top form, so that they might help you get top four. Like say signing RVP for five months. Thing is, those sort of players are very rarely about on loan, as the selling club has no need to loan them, unless they have had a falling out.

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  2. BR must have rated him very highly as he went personally to talk him into joining us. 

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  3. I agree with this sentiment.

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  4. He would need an entire season just to come to terms with the PL's physicality. That would be a more suitable reason.

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  5.  if he wanted him so much ..it means he doesn't rate what we have that much...strange when you consider hes bought courtino borini and allen....we have other areas which are woefully understrength

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  6. And he's right too. He is a fantastic player. I agree the loan deal would have been a bad idea and I don't think we should be a training ground for Barcelona players but if he could have got an option to buy in the same deal, it would have made more sense. Alas, he's joined Ajax and we'll see what happens in the summer.

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  7. why would rodgers want him when we have just signed coutinho

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  8. looks like Buck is getting ready to offload Downer, Shelvey and Spearing in the summer. I know your response will be Allen. But I'm going to give him time until the end of the season

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  9. the summer will be the end of the season and why would he get rid of downing if he carries on improving and yes your right i would get rid of allen unless he dramatically improves

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  10. I'd say he was convinced that he could triple his contract in 2 or 3 years with Ajax and then securing a move to a big club. He could do the same with Liverpool maybe also, but Ajax will be playing Champions League for those years.

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  11. Plain and simply Ajax was a better move for his footballing progression the bit i have seen of him i would be happy to see him at Anfield full time,  he is going to be brilliant.

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  12. Loan deals can make sense, yes the player may go back to their parent club, but what if it's the difference between qualifying for Champion's League and not qualifying? That's a lot of revenue right there.

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  13. Why get rid of players when we are in need of depth. Spearing yes, get rid. Downing and Shelvey on the other hand, both are versatile players, Downing has improved his form dramatically and is playing with confidence, taking players on, whether it's cutting inside or going to the byline, his crosses are actually finding people now. And Shelvey looks a threat when he plays, has a fierce shot on him and the only reason he hasn't featured as much lately is the improved form of Henderson.

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  14. How is this bs? Rodgers did go to Barca to try to sign this guy on loan, he did choose Ajax instead, mostly because of the Barca connection there.

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