Craig Bellamy believes Rafa Benitez held him back during his first spell at Liverpool - and has detailed how the pair got off on the wrong foot on their first day together.
The Welshman secured his dream move to Liverpool in the summer of 2006, joining from Blackburn in a £6million move.
But, despite helping the Reds reach the Champions League final where they lost to AC Milan, Bellamy lasted just one season at Anfield before being sold to West Ham.
And the now-retired striker has opened up on his differences with Benitez.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “The biggest problem I had with Rafa was the first day.
"We were sitting in his office, just about to sign, and he showed me a picture of me shouting at a player! It was a normal Craig Bellamy picture in a newspaper!
“He said: ‘I don’t want to see this.’ And I remember thinking: ‘Oh my, this is going to be trouble, this is going to be difficult for me.’
“But it was Liverpool Football Club. I knew he wasn’t the man for me, but because it was Liverpool I just had to sign.
“But it was a difficult time; training sessions for defensive players was brilliant, organisationally it was great, but for forward and creative players it was tough.
"He was trying to direct you into scenarios, but we didn’t know the scenarios. You have to allow creative players to be creative.
“As a coach now, I will say: ‘I will get you into the final third, but after that, do what you want.
"Try what you want. Make a mistake! As long as you win it back straight away if you lose it.’ Let creative players be creative.”
Bellamy made 74 appearances for the Reds during two separate spells.
He linked up with the Reds again for the 2011-12 season before finishing his career with a two-year spell at Cardiff.
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