[lfc-news] Bernabeu block on striker transfer - Post

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Liverpool Daily Post, 22 Oct 2004
Bernabeu block on striker transfer
By David Prior Daily Post Staff

REAL MADRID last night stepped up their bid to keep Liverpool target
Fernando Morientes at the Bernabeu by declaring that the striker was "not
for sale".

The Spanish giants placed a statement on their official website in an
attempt to dampen speculation linking the frustrated front-man with a move
in the January transfer window.

"Certain press speculation suggests the possibility of Fernando Morientes
leaving Real Madrid," the statement read.

"The club would like to say that the player is not for sale."

Morientes (left) has already made his disenchantment with life at Madrid
clear, however, having fallen to fourth-choice striker behind Raul, Ronaldo
and Michael Owen.

The player's agent, Gines Carvajal, was at Anfield on Tuesday night for
Liverpool's Champions League draw with Deportivo La Coruna.

Morientes himself told a French newspaper this week his preferred
destination would be Monaco, the club he was loaned out to last season.

Despite Real's statement, Liverpool will continue to monitor the situation
in Madrid.

Meanwhile, Rafael Benitez has assured Florent Sinama-Pongolle of first-team
football - if he maintains the level he showed during his cameo appearance
against Deportivo on Tuesday night.

The French youngster, who has barely figured this season, claimed he had
demanded a transfer request earlier this week, saying: "I am not playing
and have asked to leave. All I want to do is play."

His outburst drew immediate dividends, with Benitez throwing him on as an
83rd-minute replacement for Luis Garcia in an attempt to break down the
resolute Deportivo defence.

The brief appearance impressed Benitez, who has now challenged
Sinama-Pongolle to produce that level more often.

"If he plays at the same level he did against Deportivo then he will get a
chance," said the manager,, who is confident injured duo Steven Gerrard and
Antonio Nunez will both be available in three weeks' time.

"He played very well in the 10 minutes at the end of the game. When you
change a player during the game you want to see something different and
Sinama-Pongolle played very well. He is quick and can dribble and does
different things."

One player whose place is not in doubt is Jamie Carragher, accorrding to
defensive colleague Sami Hyypia.

Carragher has excelled in a centre-back pairing with the Finn so far this
season, and Hyypia is clear about his contribution to the team.

"I rate Carra very highly," said Hyypia. "In all the five years I have been
here he has been very consistent in his game and is one of the first names
on the team sheet.

"I think our partnership is going pretty well so far. Carra has been so
consistent this season and he has played very well. It has been great to
play with him because he is a bit different style of defender to me.

"He is very aggressive and he goes for every loose ball with 120% so it has
been very good to play with him."


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