Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is clearly a big fan of Barcelona starlet Cristian Tello, but despite his best efforts over the last year, the Reds boss could not convince the youngster to come to Anfield. Well, with Tello recently signing a new contract, the possibility of attracting the exciting winger to Liverpool is seemingly no longer an option.
The Tello-to-Liverpool rumours have always been unverified press speculation, but now, the 22-year old has confirmed that the Reds were genuinely interested. He told reporters over the weekend:
"I knew that Liverpool were interested in me, but I never planned to leave. I always wanted to stay at Barca.
"The coach has confidence in me, I am content there and ready to play a lot of minutes".
Tello signed a new contract in August, increasing his buyout clause to a whopping €25m, but despite the new deal, it seems doubtful that he will get a 'lot of minutes' on the pitch, especially with Messi and Neymar ahead of him (!)
Indeed, this season, Tello has made just two sub-appearances so far for Barca, spending a grand total of 38 minutes on the pitch, and unless something drastic changes, this is likely to be the pattern for the whole season.
Tello was allegedly reduced to tears recently by Lionel Messi after the Argentinean targeted him for some dressing room harassment. According to Yahoo Sports:
"Messi's favourite victim at the moment is said to be Cristian Tello, to whom Messi has apparently delivered such gems as "What are you doing? You're new here, and you're nobody!" and "Pass me the ball, you're here to play for me."
"Tello was allegedly left in tears after these exchanges, a situation which the report claims was made even worse by the fact that the other players in the changing room blanked him even when he broke into the first team"
Who knows whether this is true or not, but if it is, then Tello seemingly faces a long, hard road to acceptance at the Nou Camp.
Despite the failure to sign Tello, Liverpool still managed to bring in a Barcelona player this summer. Luis Alberto arrived for €8m from Barca B (via Sevilla), though it's probable that he was Rodgers' back-up option for Tello.
If Tello had signed for Liverpool, would he be a squad player (like Alberto), or would he be more of a first-teamer?
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
The Tello-to-Liverpool rumours have always been unverified press speculation, but now, the 22-year old has confirmed that the Reds were genuinely interested. He told reporters over the weekend:
"I knew that Liverpool were interested in me, but I never planned to leave. I always wanted to stay at Barca.
"The coach has confidence in me, I am content there and ready to play a lot of minutes".
Tello signed a new contract in August, increasing his buyout clause to a whopping €25m, but despite the new deal, it seems doubtful that he will get a 'lot of minutes' on the pitch, especially with Messi and Neymar ahead of him (!)
Indeed, this season, Tello has made just two sub-appearances so far for Barca, spending a grand total of 38 minutes on the pitch, and unless something drastic changes, this is likely to be the pattern for the whole season.
Tello was allegedly reduced to tears recently by Lionel Messi after the Argentinean targeted him for some dressing room harassment. According to Yahoo Sports:
"Messi's favourite victim at the moment is said to be Cristian Tello, to whom Messi has apparently delivered such gems as "What are you doing? You're new here, and you're nobody!" and "Pass me the ball, you're here to play for me."
"Tello was allegedly left in tears after these exchanges, a situation which the report claims was made even worse by the fact that the other players in the changing room blanked him even when he broke into the first team"
Who knows whether this is true or not, but if it is, then Tello seemingly faces a long, hard road to acceptance at the Nou Camp.
Despite the failure to sign Tello, Liverpool still managed to bring in a Barcelona player this summer. Luis Alberto arrived for €8m from Barca B (via Sevilla), though it's probable that he was Rodgers' back-up option for Tello.
If Tello had signed for Liverpool, would he be a squad player (like Alberto), or would he be more of a first-teamer?
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
Or even the Camp Nou..........
ReplyDeleteChanging the subject, but did anyone see the #19 Stiliyan Petrov game this afternoon??
I must admit I had a lump in my throat when he did his lap of honour at the end. It must be bad enough when you retire, let alone having to give up playing because of illness or injury.
Oh, and John Terry nearly scored from his own half...... !!!!
Benabeu????
ReplyDeleteBarcelona play in the Camp Nou
ReplyDeleteRodgers is not going to give up on him trust me. That's why he has Moses (on loan). Just cushion the blow until next summer where I'm sure Brendan will go back for him. Perfect left winger in my opinion.
ReplyDeletehard road to acceptance at the the Bernabeau ! thats Real Madrid . just a small difference . I wonder why I come on to this site .
ReplyDeleteAlberto came from seville to Liverpool, he was on loan at Barca B last year from Seville. Barca play at Camp Nou.
ReplyDeleteWhere has my comment gone?
ReplyDeleteWasn't Luis Alberto £6.8m which is €8m
ReplyDeleteI REALL hope BR manages to get Tello eventually...
ReplyDeleteI know it's locker room banter but how up his own arse does Messi seem? IMO Messi seems like a right nob. I know a lot of footballers are up their own arses but WOW! I have no idea why Tello would want to stay there if he ended up crying? I've heard Messi is a bit of a nob before from an Argentinean lad who I met in a hostel in London. He said that he was from the same neighborhood as Messi and he even said that "Messi is a stupid little boy... but he's the best at what he does" Clearly the guy didn't like him.
ReplyDeleteWould CRISTIAN TELLO be a first-teamer for us? Let me think, him or MOSES on the left wing.That's a tough choice:-)
ReplyDeleteTello would be starting right now for LFC IMO.
ReplyDeleteFeel bad for the kid if he's copping that stuff from Messi, I highly doubt anyone would ever do anything o help him out either.
Some things have been reported in the past that show Messi to be quite the unsavory character.
How could you believe all that Messi crap? Would Tello be still smiling on the training ground and on the bench if that was true? He'd take the first flight out of Barca had that happened, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteIt may have just been isolated incidents. doesnt mean he has to be miserable all the time
ReplyDeleteI believe we will sign him in January!!!
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest Tello for first team but he must have tough competition in order to edge it up.
ReplyDeleteThat's assuming this is actually true. And even if it is, it is out of context. Anyway, Messi's good guy image started crumbling when he evaded taxes for millions. Imagine that, one of the most strugglinge economies in Europe, 25% of the population unemployed and rich football players who profit from the money spent by the poor masses, evade taxes. How disgusting is that?
ReplyDeleteHe's gonna regret that decision, as he sits on the bench all season. That's IF he even makes the bench!
ReplyDeleteYNWA
Agreed. Coz I don't see him getting the playing time he wants at Barca! And we haven't got an option to buy on Moses. Which, by the way, is a real shame in my opinion because I think he is going to do REALLY well and Chelsea will be dying to get him back at the end of the season!
ReplyDeleteVery well said. Shame everyone doesn't think like that. The ones who earn the most can afford to find ways to squirm/wriggle out of paying their fair share. It's the rest of us ordinary folk on normal wages that end up getting hammered. At least WE pay up!
ReplyDeleteYNWA
If that is reported is true than that's quite sad. Messi seems to be a humble person but if this is true then I've lost respect for him.
ReplyDeleteTello is a good player. Better than all our dedicated wingers IMO.
Come to Livs!
Tello as the way mate.
ReplyDeleteYeah obviously assuming it was true. I guess we will never know. It's disgusting. Yet they do seem to get away with it quite lightly considering. "Even the rich don't go bankrupt like us" - Seline Kyle (Catwoman)
ReplyDeleteRemember when he slapped one of the coaches/scouts in the stands because he was apparantly critisising how the team was playing?
ReplyDeleteNot cool.
We could really solve Tello's problems by bringing Messi in!
ReplyDeleteBTW what's the deal with Sturridge? He should be good for next weekend?
Yea, sure/
ReplyDelete