I could have left Liverpool for Man City - now I don't want people to think I am finished
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Former Liverpool and Everton manager Rafa Benitez has opened up on his decision to reject a move to Manchester City on the past - and explained why he is determined to return to the Premier League with a new job.
Benitez enjoyed a spell in charge of both the Reds and the Blues in his prestigious career in management.
The Spaniard won three major trophies with Liverpool including the Champions League in 2005 across a six-year spell at Anfield.
Benitez also spent six months in charge of Everton which also happens to be his most recent job in English football.
It was during his time as Liverpool boss that Benitez says he was offered the opportunity to manage Man City, while Real Madrid also expressed an interest.
Benitez would eventually go on to manage Madrid in a six-month spell years after his Anfield exit, and explained why he decided to stay with the Reds despite interest from other clubs.
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“I see the period of [Tom] Hicks and [George] Gillett as one where we were trying to defend what we had built in the years before, and it was difficult for everyone outside to see what was really going on,” Benitez said in an interview with The Telegraph.
“I could have left [Liverpool].
Manchester City and Real Madrid came for me, but I gave my word to sign a new deal with Liverpool and kept to that.”
Benitez's last role saw him as manager of Celta Vigo in Spain, which he enjoyed for eight months before his exit in March last year.
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