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John Arne Riise has confessed he will never be friends with former Liverpool team-mate Craig Bellamy and finds it 'strange' when he publicly discusses the notorious incident where he attacked him with a golf club.

The shocking event took place in February 2007, while the pair were training in the Algarve with Rafa Benitez's side, preparing to face Barcelona, the reigning European champions at the time, in the Champions League round-of-16.

Following a disagreement earlier in the evening, Bellamy infamously stormed into Riise's hotel room and assaulted him with a golf club.

If you search for 'Craig Bellamy' on Google, 'Craig Bellamy golf club' is the second most suggested term, followed by 'Craig Bellamy John Arne Riise'.

Both have been repeatedly questioned about the incident over the years, with Bellamy sharing his account of the events on The Overlap as recently as last October.

While Riise has extended forgiveness to Bellamy, acknowledging the incident was out of character for the Welshman despite his reputation for being outspoken, he concedes that a friendship between them is off the cards, with Riise preferring to keep Bellamy out of his life.

Watch all the Premier League and Champions League drama unfold on TNT Sports

At the same time, Riise has expressed his bemusement at Bellamy's recounting of the event, highlighting that the former Liverpool forward was intoxicated at the time and implying that his version may not be entirely accurate.

"I don't think what happened with Craig Bellamy should have happened between two teammates," Riise reflected in an interview with BoyleSports.

You do things you normally wouldn't and regret.

"It's certainly something I will never forget although obviously I can forgive, which I did after it happened because I knew Bellamy and that's not who he is.

He apologised and he knew and said lately it shouldn't have happened, and he's put his hands up, so I accept that."

"We're not friends and we won't be friends, he's not a person I want to have in my life because of what happened.