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• Injury-plagued defender refuses pay-as-you-play deal
• ‘He has given us fantastic service’ Benítez says

Fábio Aurélio has turned down the offer of a pay-as-you-play deal with Liverpool and will leave the club next week.

The Brazilian’s full-back’s career at Anfield has been littered with injuries and his final year was indicative of that. He missed the start of the campaign after sustaining a knee problem while playing football with his children. A thigh problem at the end of February prematurely ended his season.

Because of Aurélio’s fitness record, Liverpool offered the 30-year-old a flexible deal based on the matches he played, but he wanted the security of a more permanent arrangement and has chosen to end his four-year stay in Merseyside.

“Fábio’s contract is nearly finished and he is going to leave us,” Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, said. “We had been trying to work something out with regards an extension but it was a pity that we couldn’t.

“He has given us absolutely fantastic service. The one problem we had with Fábio was that he suffered too many injuries and it was such a pity because he has great quality. You are talking about an amazing person who gave 100% all the time. We wish him all the best.”

Aurélio’s absence placed additional pressure on the 21-year-old left-back Emiliano Insúa, as there were times when Benítez wanted to rest the Argentina international but had no back-up. Insúa played 44 matches before he too succumbed to injury late in the season.

LiverpoolTransfer windowguardian.co.uk

• ‘I couldn’t imagine playing for another club’
• Spain goalkeeper ready to resume contract talks

The goalkeeper José Reina insists he “couldn’t imagine playing for another club” as Liverpool prepare for new contract talks with the Spain international.

The Anfield club have already held preliminary discussions with Reina and his agent over a new deal, with his current contract still having more than two years to run.

More talks are expected soon, with the player saying: “I would like to stay here a long, long time, I am certain about that.

“I couldn’t imagine playing for another club and pulling on another shirt. The club know how I feel about this, so hopefully there will be some developments soon. I am ready to talk.”

Liverpool, who have also opened talks with their Argentinian midfielder Javier Mascherano over a new deal to ward off Barcelona’s interest, now intend to make sure Reina is not tempted to return to his homeland.

Reina says: “I realise just how lucky I am to represent this club. I couldn’t be happier here. My family is well settled down and my children especially feel like Liverpool is home.

“On the football side, I am 27 and have many games behind me. Mentally, I feel ready to take on anything because my experiences – especially at Liverpool – have made me a much stronger person and professional. Right now, I am in one of the best moments of my career.”

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