Maxi Rodriguez reveals he lied to Rafael Benitez to secure Liverpool move

Former Liverpool winger Maxi Rodriguez has admitted that he lied to Rafael Benitez in order to secure his 2010 move to Anfield.

Rodriguez joined the Reds on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid 10 years ago, going on to score 17 goals in 73 appearances during a two-and-a-half-year stay on Merseyside.

However, the Argentine has now revealed that he "told a little lie" about his language skills in order to seal the deal, with Benitez keen to bring English-speaking players to the club.

"Rafa told me that it was very important for everyone to speak English in the dressing room. He asked me if I knew how to speak the language and I said 'yes, of course, stay calm'," Rodriguez is quoted as saying by The Mirror.

"Of course, I didn't want the negotiations to fail so I told a little lie. When I arrived in England, there was a press conference and Rafa told me he would speak first and then I would continue.

"That was when I grabbed him and said 'look Rafa, I need to confess something to you. I don't know English. The only thing I know is how to say hello'. Rafa said 'you're a son of a b****.' But we were both laughing and afterwards I learned how to speak English.

"I was very good at Atletico. I was the captain and I knew the city very well. But English football drove me crazy and I wanted to play there."

Rodriguez, who celebrated his 39th birthday in January, is currently still playing in his native Argentina for Newell's Old Boys.