Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez welcomed new signing Albert Riera to Anfield today - then admitted the player's former Premier League employers could be title contenders this season.
The Spanish winger spent six months on loan with Manchester City in his previous spell in English football and although it was an unmemorable stint for player and club, the prospects of both have flourished this week.
Riera, 26, has signed a four-year deal with the Reds - where the company of Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso and Jose Reina will surely do his international prospects no harm - while City have agreed a takeover with the mega-rich Abu Dhabi United Group.
And although Benitez believes his new signing from Espanyol may finally solve his long-standing problems on the left wing, he accepts that the grand designs of City's new investors could make his quest for title success even more difficult.
For Benitez, the stunning capture of Robinho for a British record transfer fee could have set in motion a chain of events that will blow the accepted 'big four' wide open.
'You cannot just win the title by spending money but Chelsea won for two years spending big, big money. Afterwards Manchester United won spending lots of money too,' Benitez said. 'If we are talking about spending money then maybe Manchester City will win the title this year.
'It is not just a question of money but if you have more money it is easier. If you don't have too much money, you must do the job as best you can.
'If we are talking now, maybe they (City) need time but if we talk in January maybe they will buy five players... then you never know.
'But it is not just a question of "I will invest more and I will win". You cannot guarantee anything.'
One consequence of the City takeover Benitez can see taking immediate effect is a hike in transfer fees involving English clubs.
A similar thing happened when Roman Abramovich took over at Chelsea as the billionaire flooded the market with cash - and early talk of a City bid in excess of £120million for Cristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to prevent history repeating itself this time.
'Prices could rise,' said Benitez, who is believed to have paid around £8million for Riera.
'That could be a problem. You cannot change these things but you try and get the players you want as cheap as possible, even when prices go higher.'
Reflecting on his own newest recruit, Benitez - who denied knowledge of a deadline day offer of £50million for Torres - predicted a bright Liverpool future.
'We were talking about wingers and he is winger with Premier League experience,' he said. 'That is a good thing because maybe he can settle down quickly.
'He was here (in England) three years ago but since then he has been capped by the national team and has the experience of playing in a UEFA Cup final.'
He added: 'He's the kind of player all managers like and the supporters will be very happy. He is good in the air, has a good delivery and a good left foot, he is also strong and he can be really good for us.'
Riera, who was also a reported target for Liverpool's Merseyside rivals Everton, insisted Anfield was the only place for him.
'I am very happy to be here, it was my first choice,' he confirmed. 'I only wanted to come here for a lot of reasons - the history of the club, the Champions League, the team-mates, the supporters.
'A lot of things make this the perfect club for me now.'
The Spanish winger spent six months on loan with Manchester City in his previous spell in English football and although it was an unmemorable stint for player and club, the prospects of both have flourished this week.
Riera, 26, has signed a four-year deal with the Reds - where the company of Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso and Jose Reina will surely do his international prospects no harm - while City have agreed a takeover with the mega-rich Abu Dhabi United Group.
And although Benitez believes his new signing from Espanyol may finally solve his long-standing problems on the left wing, he accepts that the grand designs of City's new investors could make his quest for title success even more difficult.
For Benitez, the stunning capture of Robinho for a British record transfer fee could have set in motion a chain of events that will blow the accepted 'big four' wide open.
'You cannot just win the title by spending money but Chelsea won for two years spending big, big money. Afterwards Manchester United won spending lots of money too,' Benitez said. 'If we are talking about spending money then maybe Manchester City will win the title this year.
'It is not just a question of money but if you have more money it is easier. If you don't have too much money, you must do the job as best you can.
'If we are talking now, maybe they (City) need time but if we talk in January maybe they will buy five players... then you never know.
'But it is not just a question of "I will invest more and I will win". You cannot guarantee anything.'
One consequence of the City takeover Benitez can see taking immediate effect is a hike in transfer fees involving English clubs.
A similar thing happened when Roman Abramovich took over at Chelsea as the billionaire flooded the market with cash - and early talk of a City bid in excess of £120million for Cristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to prevent history repeating itself this time.
'Prices could rise,' said Benitez, who is believed to have paid around £8million for Riera.
'That could be a problem. You cannot change these things but you try and get the players you want as cheap as possible, even when prices go higher.'
Reflecting on his own newest recruit, Benitez - who denied knowledge of a deadline day offer of £50million for Torres - predicted a bright Liverpool future.
'We were talking about wingers and he is winger with Premier League experience,' he said. 'That is a good thing because maybe he can settle down quickly.
'He was here (in England) three years ago but since then he has been capped by the national team and has the experience of playing in a UEFA Cup final.'
He added: 'He's the kind of player all managers like and the supporters will be very happy. He is good in the air, has a good delivery and a good left foot, he is also strong and he can be really good for us.'
Riera, who was also a reported target for Liverpool's Merseyside rivals Everton, insisted Anfield was the only place for him.
'I am very happy to be here, it was my first choice,' he confirmed. 'I only wanted to come here for a lot of reasons - the history of the club, the Champions League, the team-mates, the supporters.
'A lot of things make this the perfect club for me now.'
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