Dirk Kuyt is now a Liverpool player, having finally signed his four-year deal with the club. Manager Rafael Benítez has been tracking him for some time now – and was delighted with his latest recruit.
Speaking on Liverpool FC’s official website, Rafa said: “He’ll score a lot of goals for us. I am really happy. We were looking at Dirk for a long time and I’m pleased we have signed him because he will be a good player for us. He’s a player with good game intelligence. He knows what to do with the ball and without the ball and he’s also a very good worker.”
Rafa expects even more out of the Dutch international now that he’s improved the squad in other areas too: “His movement is good, his finishing is fantastic and I know he will score a lot of goals for us because we now have more possibilities in the wide areas and also between the lines.”
Rafa also had a message for those players who have left the club this close-season, including those who are out on loan deals: “I would like to say thank you to all of them. We have sold some players and others have left on loan but they have all given a lot of good things to the club over recent years and I’d like to wish them good luck with their new clubs. It was important for us to strengthen this season and I’m really pleased with the backing we’ve had from the board.”
Rafa concluded: “We’ve signed players who haven’t been really expensive but who are of good quality and who we know will do a good job for us.”
Kuyt has been handed the number 18 shirt and could even be included tomorrow against Sheffield United.