Dirk Kuyt has been recalling the moment that Rafael Benitez asked him if he wanted to join Liverpool.
The Dutch forward came to Anfield from Feyenoord in 2006, and as he revealed in an interview with The Athletic on Wednesday, he needed no persuading from the Spaniard despite being in the thick of World Cup preparations with his country at the time.
The 43-year-old reflected: “I remember the phone call I got from Rafa Benitez just before the 2006 World Cup. He said: ‘Sorry to bother you, I know you need to focus on the World Cup, I’ve just got one question: Do you want to come to Liverpool?’
“I said to him: ‘If you want, I’ll cycle there from Holland!’ Rafa said: ‘It might take a bit of time, but we will come and get you’. “
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Liverpool fans can be very glad that Benitez made the call to Kuyt 17 years ago, considering what the Dutchman brought to Anfield for the subsequent six seasons.
He netted 71 goals in 285 appearances for the Reds, with 14 strikes in his first year at the club, and he hit double figures in three Premier League campaigns (Transfermarkt).
He also had a happy habit of scoring decisive goals against our biggest rivals, with a memorable hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Manchester United in March 2011 and a late FA Cup winner against them the following year.
There was also his double against Everton in a comeback victory in 2007 and another derby winner in February 2010.
Kuyt mightn’t have had the grace of Fernando Torres or the bombast of Steven Gerrard, but he spared no effort when wearing the iconic Liverpool shirt, a quality which ensured that he’ll always be fondly remembered by Kopites.
Oh, and we presume he got to Merseyside by air in the summer of 2006 rather than having to cycle!
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