jimmy
01-12-2008, 05:47 AM
Skrtel signs four-and-a-half-year deal at Liverpool FC
Jan 11 2008
Liverpool FC's new signing Martin Skrtel with manger Rafael Benitez during a photo call at Melwood _320
LIVERPOOL have signed Zenit St Petersburg defender Martin Skrtel on a four-and-a-half-year contract.
The centre half, 23, has 15 international caps for his country.
Skrtel will wear squad number 37 at Anfield.
"I think he is a player maybe not many people know about but he played against Everton for Zenit St Petersberg, and he is a centre half that knows the English style," boss Rafa Benitez said.
"He is aggressive, quick, is good in the air and I think he's a very good player for the future and also for the present.
"He is very competitive, but his mentality for me is very good. Watching him in some games his mentality is similar to Carra so I think it's very positive for the team.
"Our scouts first knew of him when he was playing for Slovakia and we have been monitoring him since the start of the season.
"We saw him play against Everton in the UEFA Cup match at Goodison and during the last few months we have been checking him closely.
"I don't think he will be ready for Middlesbrough because the Russian league season ended more than a month ago and the last competitive game Martin played was in the UEFA Cup in December.
"He has been training but I don't think that will be enough. He needs to get to know his team-mates and the league but I will look at him in training because he has a very good physical condition.
"He has quality and he can be a problem for them and a good problem for me if I need to decide who to play in the future.
"He has experience and enough quality for playing as soon as possible."
Jan 11 2008
Liverpool FC's new signing Martin Skrtel with manger Rafael Benitez during a photo call at Melwood _320
LIVERPOOL have signed Zenit St Petersburg defender Martin Skrtel on a four-and-a-half-year contract.
The centre half, 23, has 15 international caps for his country.
Skrtel will wear squad number 37 at Anfield.
"I think he is a player maybe not many people know about but he played against Everton for Zenit St Petersberg, and he is a centre half that knows the English style," boss Rafa Benitez said.
"He is aggressive, quick, is good in the air and I think he's a very good player for the future and also for the present.
"He is very competitive, but his mentality for me is very good. Watching him in some games his mentality is similar to Carra so I think it's very positive for the team.
"Our scouts first knew of him when he was playing for Slovakia and we have been monitoring him since the start of the season.
"We saw him play against Everton in the UEFA Cup match at Goodison and during the last few months we have been checking him closely.
"I don't think he will be ready for Middlesbrough because the Russian league season ended more than a month ago and the last competitive game Martin played was in the UEFA Cup in December.
"He has been training but I don't think that will be enough. He needs to get to know his team-mates and the league but I will look at him in training because he has a very good physical condition.
"He has quality and he can be a problem for them and a good problem for me if I need to decide who to play in the future.
"He has experience and enough quality for playing as soon as possible."