Fact - Parry had been trying to get Owen to sign a new contract throughout the previous 12 months, was blagged off by Owen with plenty of excuses every single time - that was before Rafa even turned up at Anfield!! Real Madrid wanted him a year later on a free contract, Rafa called their bluff got £8million and Nunez.
First time was all on Gerrard - he wanted to leave in Summer of 2004 for Chelsea to win the Premier League, he wasn't sure we were in a position to challenge etc. His dad, agent and missus spoke to him that night and changed his mind (again f**k all to do with Rafa - obviously not being from Merseyside Mick you weren't aware of the gangster sh*te that was pushed by the press as a reason why Gerrard chose to stay with Liverpool - threats etc and of course all bullshit.
Second time was the infamous sorting of his contract (Parry wanting to get away on holiday) Gerrard wanting his contract sorting etc - again Chelsea come calling. The club assures Gerrard that we still want him, Gerrard signs new contract.
That simple really!
Mate on Owen, as I said above I don't think Benitez had any choice. As it happens I'd have sold him myself as well, and I'd have taken 8 million quid for him too.
On Gerrard. I don't think Rafa was forcing him out of the door at all, but I don't think he was exactly breaking his neck to keep him either (much like we saw many years later under a different manager with Luis under FSG). I think the manager was probably stepping back and seeing which way it panned out, but naturally he'd have been giving it some thought as to how he would spend the proceeds should it have come to pass. Imploring players to stay would have been about as far away from a Benitez trait as I could imagine, and my suspicion is that's what Gerrard secretly wanted but was never likely to get. From there he took that as "he doesn't really want me".
I did hear the gangster stories down here but naturally have nothing to base belief or disbelief on (I've no doubt that you guys from the city would know if it was true or not though, so now I know it's bollocks once and for all). Your version appears sensible and believable in terms of Gerrard changing his mind, but I DO think the manager was prepared to let him go if the money was right and the player saw fit. I suppose nearly all managers would take the same line, "if you want to go, then go". We've heard Jürgen say the same thing recently about Lallana/Henderson and I'm sure he'll say the same with Sturridge too.
Shabs, you're just being silly mate so I'll leave it there.
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