Speaking tonight on Liverpoolfc.com, new signing, striker Christian Benteke spoke of his joy at becoming a Liverpool player, and cited manager Brendan Rodgers as a key decider when looking to move clubs.
When asked why he thinks Liverpool is the correct club for him, Benteke said: “I think it was the right club for me because I had a good chat with the manager and I wanted to be part of his project.
“I know Liverpool is a big story. They’ve won [many] league titles and the Champions League five times and of course the UEFA Cup and a lot of trophies. I know it’s a big club.”
Signing for a fee of £32.5m, the Belgian international comes in with a high price tag, and high expectation, but the player himself believes he can get ever better: “Yeah of course. I want to be the best and I want to reach the best of myself.
“I came here to win trophies. I came here to reach some great goals with the team.”
Whilst discussing what motivates him as a player, Benteke spoke of being able to achieve something tangible, which should be music to the ears of Liverpool fans across the globe.
“It’s about winning trophies. It’s about doing something in [my] career I can maybe explain to my son or my kids what I did.”
The former Aston Villa and FC Genk goalscorer is to become one of the highest paid players at the club, but Benteke had a message for all supporters as he put pen-to-paper on his contract with his new club:
“I’m very happy to be part of the Liverpool family now and I will do everything to make them happy and work hard. There’s a lot of feelings. I want first to meet my new teammates and I want to work with the manager and his staff for them and my teammates.”
Liverpool’s new forward is yet to choose a number for his club, something that could change once current number 9 Rickie Lambert departs for pastures new as is widely expected.
The player is not the only Belgium forward to sign for the club in recent years, with Simon Mignolet and Origi being signed from what is looking a formidable national team for years to come. Benteke, upon being asked whether he has spoken to either player, said: “Not yet but I will just wait to see them and hopefully they are going to help me!”
The forward is not going to be meeting up with his new teammates on their current tour, but is expected to join them when they HJK Helsinki on August 1.
