After sealing his big-money move to Crystal Palace on Saturday, Christian Benteke said he is looking to put his Liverpool nightmare behind him.
The Belgian joined Alan Pardew’s side in a deal worth an initial £27 million, with a further £5 million in add-ons, marking the end of a miserable spell on Merseyside.
A positive move for all parties, Benteke’s switch to Selhurst Park saw Liverpool recoup the majority of the fee they paid Aston Villa for his services last summer.
For Benteke, it provides a chance to restore his reputation, and speaking on his transfer, the striker insisted he “can be a success.”
“I’m very happy to commit my future to Crystal Palace and I’m looking forward to meeting the manager, the players and the staff,” he explained.
“I feel really happy that the deal has been done and now I can look forward because it’s been going on for a long time, but now I think everything is going to be OK.
“I’ve met the manager a few times before I signed and that’s why I wanted to come here.
“I was really happy to hear about his project and that is why I am excited to come here.
“I did my own research too and there are some great wingers here and because of that I think I can be a success here.”
Benteke’s assertion that the likes of Jason Puncheon and fellow new arrival Andros Townsend will aid his output in south London is a salient one, with their delivery from the flanks complementing his strengths in attack.
This was not the case with Liverpool, under either Brendan Rodgers or Jurgen Klopp, and this is something Benteke addressed, saying he “needed some trust.”
“A lot of things happened at Liverpool,” he continued.
“When I arrived it was with Brendan Rodgers as manager but then he was sacked and Jurgen [Klopp] came in and had his own plan, but that’s part of football.
“I could have done better but I think I also needed some trust from the manager and the staff.”
Joining Palace is a solid progression for Benteke, who can now look to return to the form that earned him a move to Anfield.
Though once again hampered by a significant price tag, Benteke should prove to be a success with the Eagles.
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