Yossi Benayoun previously stated that Rafa Benitez was the sole factor behind his Liverpool departure. The Israeli midfielder joined the Reds during the summer of 2007 whilst Benitez was manager at Anfield.
He allegedly reneged on a deal to remain at West Ham in order to secure the transfer, arriving alongside the likes of Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel. Benayoun swiftly established himself by netting 11 goals during his debut campaign for Liverpool, though 21 of his outings that term came from the bench.
However, his Merseyside stint concluded bitterly after merely three seasons with the club. The 45 year old, who hung up his boots in 2019, attributes this to Benitez's notoriously distant personality and coaching approach.
Benayoun subsequently moved to rivals Chelsea in 2010, giving an interview that same summer where he criticised Benitez and alleged the manager never showed him the respect he believed he warranted. Benitez had actually departed the club one month before Benayoun's own exit, but the Spaniard's handling of him meant he had already decided to leave Anfield.
"Everyone asks me why I left Liverpool," said Benayoun. "There is only one reason – Rafa Benítez. If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit.", reports the Liverpool Echo.
"When I scored, I still expected to be out of the team the next game. On two occasions early last season, against Fulham and Lyon, the fans booed when I was subbed. They thought I was playing well but Benítez told me he was surprised the fans booed because I was not good enough."
Benayoun then delivered a damning assessment of Benitez, claiming the manager had deliberately attempted to undermine his self-belief. He added: "He tried to destroy my confidence. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy."
Benayoun disclosed that whilst he had been deeply unhappy, he chose not to voice his concerns publicly out of loyalty to the club. He revealed that both players and staff at the club were aware of his feelings.
He continued: "I don't want to speak on behalf of other players at Liverpool, but people know what happened to Albert Riera and Xabi Alonso. It was the same for me. Benítez tried to break me like he broke Riera."
Liverpool's Spanish player Fernando Torres (R) celebrates with team-mate Israeli player Yossi Benayoun (C) after scoring the second goal of the match against Blackburn during their Premiership football match in Liverpool at Anfield Stadium, north west England, on April 11, 2009.
Yossi Benayoun and Fernando Torres (Image: CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)
The winger described how, prior to the final match of his last campaign, Benitez approached him during training and declared: "You will not be in the squad for this game. Thank you for your three years of service, now you can call your agent to do a deal with another club.
"That's when Chelsea made an offer," said Benayoun. "And the deal was done before Benítez left."
Benayoun concluded his stint at Liverpool having netted 29 times in 134 outings during what proved to be an exhilarating yet ultimately disappointing era in the Reds' history, during which they failed to secure silverware.
His transfer to Stamford Bridge didn't pan out as expected, leading to loan spells at Arsenal and West Ham before a permanent move to Queens Park Rangers in the middle of the 2013/14 season.
Two of Benayoun's previous clubs - West Ham and Liverpool - are set to clash in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. The Reds have been struggling both domestically and in Europe, slipping down to 12th place ahead of their journey to east London.