Levy livid at Benitez claim
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has hit back at claims by Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez that the Londoners are "desperate to sell" their England striker Jermain Defoe.
Benitez’s comments were made during Liverpool’s pre-match press conference and angered Levy into making a rapid response to his claims.
Furious Levy called on Benitez to withdraw his comments, claiming they did his reputation no credit.
Levy said: “I find today’s comments by Rafael Benitez beyond belief. Not only are they completely untrue, but it is unprecedented that any manager should comment in this way on another team’s player. It could in fact be interpreted as a direct and blatant attempt to unsettle Jermain.
“There is absolutely no basis, let alone any element of truth whatsoever, in Benitez’s claim today that we are looking to sell Jermain. We have not had a single conversation on this point with Liverpool or any other club so I fail to see how he can make this statement.”
Levy also followed coach Martin Jol by insisting they were not interested in signing Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse or Louis Saha from Manchester United.
Levy added: “Additionally, for the avoidance of all doubt, we have previously said – and I repeat – we have absolutely no intention of making an offer for Cisse or Saha.
“On all these issues, I resent having to put the record straight when it should never have been put into question.
“I should expect that Mr Benitez on reflection, withdraws his wholly inappropriate, unprofessional and inaccurate comments. They do him no credit.”
