Rafa Benitez rejected several big club offers to stay with Liverpool, it has been revealed. The Times says Benitez has secured written assurances that add to his power at the club. He has been promised overall control of football matters, including, significantly, overseeing the youth academy, which has been outside his remit.

These concessions from the board were instrumental in his rejection of overtures from suitors such as Atlético Madrid, an Italian club and an unofficial approach from a third party claiming to represent a Premier League club, thought to be Chelsea or Manchester City.

Contrary to popular belief, Benitez did not receive nor encourage an approach from Real Madrid, who are expected to try to entice Carlo Ancelotti from AC Milan to replace Juande Ramos in the summer.