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Robbie Keane: I don't owe Tottenham a thing
Simon Johnson and James Olley, Evening Standard29.07.08
Robbie Keane today claimed he owes Tottenham nothing after completing his dream £20.3million switch to Liverpool.
The transfer angered Spurs but they hope to soften the blow by signing David Bentley - with Blackburn today confirming they are in talks over a £13m deal for the England winger. Diego Milito and Andrei Arshavin are also targets for head coach Juande Ramos.
Keane, who has signed a four-year, £80,000-a-week contract at Anfield, is a life-long Reds fan and revealed the move was too good to turn down.
The 28-year-old said: "I do not think I let Spurs down. I gave them everything, since day one. The Spurs fans were always magnificent to me and I will always have a place in my heart for them.
"But this is a new chapter and one that I am looking forward to. I had six great years at Spurs. There are players leaving Tottenham, but there are also good players coming in. I can only focus on Robbie Keane and what is good for me."
Keane will now wear the No7 shirt at Liverpool made famous by Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan. He said: "To have that shirt is an honour. If I can have half as much success in it as Keegan and Dalglish did, I will be a happy man. To be sitting here today in a Liverpool tracksuit is a dream come true."
Although it is unlikely Ramos would have sanctioned the transfer without a contingency plan, the timing of the deal is far from ideal with the new season under three weeks away - particularly as Dimitar Berbatov continues to view his future away from White Hart Lane.
That is why Spurs are now stepping up their efforts to strengthen the squad with former Arsenal midfielder Bentley likely to be the next arrival.
Spurs hope to secure a £9m deal for Real Zaragoza striker Milito and are also confident they can win the race for Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Arshavin.
Miguel Veloso, from Sporting Lisbon, is another player Ramos wants to recruit in a hurry with the new season fast approaching.
Reader views (3)
Of course Keane thinks he owes Spurs nothing, just like Viera owed Arsenal nothing, Lampard owes nothing to Chelsea and Ronaldo nothing to United. All these players are interested in is the preposterous salaries they can earn at these clubs. If fans weren't prepared to fund them they might feel a little less secure and a little more loyal.
- Andy, London
Spurs did not 'get rid of their best players,' their best players got rid of Spurs.
Making a player honour their overpaid contracts is now 'slavery' and so the big four cement their positions in the Champions League by constantly cherry picking the best players from the rest of the League, thus ensuring no challenge to their positions in the top four will occur.
It is time for the other 'feeder' clubs to fight back. If a player is contracted to them, he should be made to stay, even if it means putting him on the bench for the season.
If the player asks for a move to another English club, then he should be forced to buy himself out of the contract and this in addition to the transfer fee agreed by tribunal. It should also be necessary for him to prove he paid the sum himself.
I am sick of watching the same four clubs in the Champions League who only get there by buying out the best players from their opponents and getting away with it.
And if Chelsea can not make a trading profit in three consecutive years, they should be kicked out of the Premier League. Buying their trophies by amassing the best players from all around the world because of one wealthy businessman's bankroll is not sport.
- Stephen Rothbart, Prague, Czech Republic
As a spurs fan I m gutted, it seems to me that its the same old story of one step forward with the recent signings then two steps back with the keano transfer! I will say another mid table finish again this season is a fair reality. As for Mr Levy just who is he trying to fool with the " Enforced Sale " argument?? .... Come on Keano had four years to run on a contract. We are trying to convey to the footballing world that we want to challenge the top four and that we are a big club? How can this be when all we do is sell our best to the big four! There is big problems at the lane and Levy & Co are the root of it.
- Michael, Peterborough England.
