Liverpool's new defender Mauricio Pellegrino says the way he has been treated by Valencia has made it easier for him to cut his ties with the Spanish giants after winning two championship medals at the Mestalla.
Pellegrino was today unveiled at Anfield just 24 hours before his new club face Watford in the Carling Cup semi-finals. The 33-year-old has been told he will not be playing against the Hornets - but to prepare himself for a baptism of fire against Manchester United on Saturday.
The Argentinian's displeasure with Valencia and their new boss Claudio Ranieri was clear. He said: "Valencia is now a thing of the past, I will now be judged by the future here at Liverpool. "At Valencia I was not playing regularly and not even training with the first team. That has made leaving more easy for me."
But he added: "I leave behind a lot of memories in a club that has given me so much and where I have enjoyed many wonderful moments. Valencia will always remain a part of me.
"I decided to leave because Benitez wanted me and knew my worth, in spite of being 33 and now I am ready to do my best to repay his trust. My only regret is that Ranieri had not told me before the start of the season that he wasn't counting on me.
"In the last six months I have worked really hard to have a good opportunity and the doors have opened at Liverpool. My view now on the future is that a footballer is not what he gave but what he can give.
"I am prepared and ready to give my best. At Liverpool I will show my professionalism just as I have done at Valencia. It is very easy to talk about what you are going to do, but I believe it is more important to produce deeds and not just words."
Manager Benitez added: "We decided to sign Pellegrino because he is a good player but also because we were using our two central defenders Carragher and Hyypia all the time and they cannot keep playing in every game. What we now have is three centre-backs and that will improve the competition for places."
