Bellamy - The work starts here
Liverpool new boy Craig Bellamy acknowledges he will have to work extremely hard to be a hit at his beloved Anfield.
The Wales striker was unveiled by the club today following his £6m (€9m) transfer from Blackburn, and was clearly delighted to have signed for the team he supported growing up.
“The hard work starts now, we already have a strong squad and to not only break in and be a hit here I have to work extremely hard,” said Bellamy, who turned 27 yesterday.
“I feel very fortunate playing for a club I supported as a boy. It is a special honour and I hope I can make the most of the opportunity.
“(Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez spoke to (Blackburn boss) Mark Hughes and the fee was agreed. We had a good chat but he (Benitez) knew my feelings before that anyway. He knew the inevitable was going to happen and that was it.”
Meanwhile the club also belatedly unveiled Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez, who was signed last summer but had to be loaned to Spanish side Real Sociedad last season because of work permit difficulties.
Gonzalez told the joint press conference televised by Sky Sports News: “I’m very happy after a long year waiting that finally everything is sorted and I can finally sign for Liverpool.
“It was difficult – I had to wait, go to Spain, and fortunately I had a very good season at Sociedad. My next step was Liverpool, so at Sociedad I was always thinking about that.”
Asked whether he felt he could become a regular for the Reds, the 22-year-old added: “That depends on me. I have to do my job and Rafa will make the final decision.
“Liverpool people know about my pace, I’m fit and I also score a few times.
“I think I can give a lot to Liverpool, but I don’t describe myself a lot, I leave that to other people.”
