Liverpool’s new £18million midfielder Alberto Aquilani has dismissed suggestions he is a direct replacement for Xabi Alonso, who left Anfield for Real Madrid this summer.
The Italian international made the switch from Roma once Alonso’s £30million move to the Bernabeu was confirmed.
Yet to make his debut for the club due to an ankle injury, Aquilani has told FourFourTwo magazine that Reds fans shouldn’t be expecting the same type of player Alonso was, from him.
In the October issue of the magazine, Aquilani says, “Alonso is for sure one of the best midfielders in the world, and so I am more than honoured to be compared to him.
“We are not the same kind of player: I think I’m more attacking than him but he has a terrific long pass and a unique vision for the game. I guess we could even have played in the same team.”
Aquilani continued to describe the sort of football he likes to play, which appears much more attacking than Alonso, in a role similar to what captain Steven Gerrard currently does for Liverpool.
He added, “I’m a midfielder who can attack but also plays deep. My favourite position is behind the strikers because I like building the game, making the final pass.
“I don’t score many goals and this is what I want to improve. I consider myself a team player and I always give everything on the pitch.”
Aquilani is expected to come into action for the Reds by early October. Yesterday manager Rafa Benitez said he was impressed with Aquilani’s progress in his recovery from injury.
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