Forsaken by Fernando

The Reds eventually settled for £8m plus reserve team winger Antonio Nunez, but the former Valencia man was keen on Morientes before the hitman told him he had promised to remain at the Bernabau.

Benitez said: "I also wanted to include Fernando Morientes in the Owen deal to compensate for the fact that Real were only paying £8m for him, but he didn't come to Liverpool because he had promised (coach Jose Antonio) Camacho that he would stay."