Saturday, March 20, 2010

Liverpool set to offload Riera next week


Liverpool are expected to ship out arrogant winger Albert Riera to Russia in the next week following an attack on Spanish radio which accused the club of being a "sinking ship".

On the eve of his side's Europa League clash with Lille the 27-year-old launched a stinging attack on the Reds during an interview with Radio Marca which resulted in his banishment from Melwood by manager Rafael Benitez, at whom he had also taken aim, until Monday.

Following the onslaught, Riera had been tipped to make a summer exit but Anfield chiefs are planning to rid themselves of the cocksure former Manchester City midfielder with CSKA Moscow offering them the possibility of a quick sale.

A thinly-veiled attempt at a retraction in a follow-up interview has done little to curry favour with Benitez, who paid RCD Espanyol £8million for the player in 2008 and is set to move to Moscow with his wife Yulia understood to be keen on a return to her homeland.

Riera attacked Benitez for effectively killing his World Cup dream and was eager to secure a move to either another English club, Italy or La Liga - where Spain coach Vicente del Bosque could monitor his progress extensively ahead of this summer's finals in South Africa.

The outspoken onslaught he fired at his current employers, however, has left him with very few options and Champions League quarter-finalists CSKA are expected to win the race for his signature ahead of city rivals Spartak Moscow, who have also expressed an interest.

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