Former Liverpool star Maxi Rodriguez has admitted he had to "lie" to convince Rafa Benitez to sign him in 2010.
The ex-Atletico Madrid forward completed a move to Anfield - after telling the then-Liverpool boss he could speak English.
Desperate to make the move to the Premier League the Argentinian, who is still playing at the age of 39 for Newell's Old Boys, has now confessed to duping Benitez.
Rodriguez explained: “Rafa told me that it was very important for everyone to speak English in the dressing room.
“He asked me if I knew how to speak the language and I said 'yes, of course, stay calm.'
“Of course, I didn't want the negotiations to fail so I told a little lie.
“When I arrived in England, there was a press conference and Rafa told me he would speak first and then I would continue.
“That was when I grabbed him and said 'look Rafa, I need to confess something to you. I don't know English. The only thing I know is how to say hello.
“Rafa said 'you're a son of a b****.'
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"But we were both laughing and afterwards I learned how to speak English.
“I was very good at Atletico. I was the captain and I knew the city very well.
"But English football drove me crazy and I wanted to play there."
The Argentine made 73 appearances for the Reds and scored 17 times during his two-and-a-half year spell.
