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After being touted as the man to replace Xabi Alonso, Liverpool’s £18 million singing Alberto Aquilani has returned to Italy. The midfielder has joined Juventus on a season-long loan after enduring a difficult year in which he started only nine Premier League games. An ankle injury delayed his anticipated PL debut to October. Niggling injuries, his substantial price-tag and reputation all combined to be too much for the former Roma man. But as a takeover of Liverpool seems increasingly unlikely and doubts persist over Javier Mascherano’s future and Lucas Leiva’s quality, was there not room for Aquilani this season? Roy Hodgson could not guarantee Aquilani regular first-team football but with his aptitude for improving players, could he not have restored his fortunes?
The 26-year old joined Liverpool from his boyhood club Roma last summer where he made 102 performances, scoring nine goals. He prospered after returning from a loan spell at Trieste and working with Fabio Capello. ‘The King of Rome,’ Francesco Totti had this to say about the ‘Little Prince:’ “Alberto is an incredibly talented player, with great technique and an excellent understanding of the game. He is elegant and smart.” These desirable characteristics saw Aquilani become an increasingly important component in the Roma team, scoring long range efforts and displaying his creative passing.
These qualities were not lost on the former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez who claimed that the player would have been more expensive if he had not be recuperating from an ankle injury. After failing to live up to expectations, is this a classic case of an Italian being unable to acclimatise to the physical demands of the English game? Earlier this year, Benitez appeared to lose patience with his pricey signing. “Some players maybe can manage with the pain, but some cannot.” The Spaniard hinted that the player’s persistent ankle problems were partially physiological. This could explain why Aquilani never flourished in the role that was ear-marked for him. Replacing Alonso was always going to be an uphill struggle and would require confidence, passion and determination to settle into an all-round central midfield role.
By moving forward to support a lone striker in the hole, fans started to see what the initial fuss was about. Freed from defensive responsibilities he was able to concentrate on his imaginative, passing game supporting the attack through neat, incisive touches. Astoundingly the Italian set up a goal every 136 minutes last season which was the best assist rate across Europe’s top five leagues. Furthermore he scored with an accurate half-volleyed finish in Liverpool’s Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid. Yet he only played 26 times last season and these were mostly substitute appearances.
Notwithstanding his precocious talent Aquilani is viewed by many as another name in Benitez’s long list of failed signings. This is arguably an unfair portrayal of a player whose position was unclear and found his playing opportunities circumscribed. Although used in pre-season Roy Hodgson sanctioned his return to Serie A. “It gives him the football he needs and protects the value of the player. We’re doing it with a view to bringing him back.” Aquilani’s Anfield career may not be finished but with Mascherano unsettled and further signings doubtful, could the club have not used his talents this season? It is a sensible and pragmatic move by Hodgson but his team’s deficiencies were ruthlessly exposed by Manchester City on Monday. The evidence suggests that Liverpool need all the help they can get from their squad this season.
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