The Man Utd legend told me to beat Liverpool and I should have listened
Liverpool signed a quick transfer deal in the summer of 2006
Craig Bellamy has admitted he made a mistake when he joined Liverpool in 2006 and should have listened to the advice Manchester United hero Mark Hughes gave him.
Bellamy, who grew up as a youth supporter at the club, was signed by the Reds after his Blackburn Rovers contract had a £6million release clause.
But Bellamy spent just one season at Anfield and was told by Rafa Benitez that extra demands were made when the club arrived home from Athens after losing the 2007 Champions League final to AC Milan. Prior to this decision, there was an infamous golf club scene between Bellamy and John Arne Riinen, for which the former expressed deep regret.
Blackburn boss Hughes did his best to block Bellamy’s move to Liverpool, advising him that it would be the wrong move because of the Red Sand#039; the style of play does not suit him. Ignoring this advice, he went straight ahead, regretting his decision.
“[I had] a Liverpool poster on my bedroom wall every year. That poster you get from Toys R Us? Yeah, it was there. The privilege of playing for them [Liverpool] was like, ‘I’ve got to do it.’ ‘, although I was very happy at Blackburn at the time,” explained the former Wales international on The Overlap. andquot;I spoke to Mark Hughes, who wasn’t too pleased with me – he said something very interesting; “I know who you are, I know how Liverpool play and I know this is not a good move for you.” He said I don’t enjoy it. I really didn’t – very stiff.”
Bellamy represented West Ham United and Manchester City before making a surprise return to Anfield in 2011 to play under Sir Kenny Dalglish.
It is believed that he only started to realize his potential towards the end of his career, which the retired winger believes is due to his unprofessional approach in his early years.
“I tried everything when I was young to screw it up [football] – I became a dad at 17 on £42 a week, and,” he said. andquot;I had to do something – if you ever felt pressure, it was pressure. Injuries then had their own pressure. I was a boy who could barely take care of himself – still can’t. I had no choice here, all apologies. I was ready to blame everyone. – My story has already been written – I didn’t play much in the youth team, so I blamed the coach. I thought I could go back to Cardiff and blame everyone else and be a good parker and be loved by my friends or start taking responsibility and give it my all and to do that I have to distance myself. from my friends So everyone else hated me, which was great. I started to become more alone, more focused, ate well and slept well, drank a lot of water and started living like a professional – and my performances got higher and higher.