Cisse wanted Wiltord for Liverpool
Wednesday, 8 September 2004 08:34Djibril Cisse has revealed how he tried to talk Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez into signing former Arsenal forward Sylvain Wiltord during the summer.
The £14million Anfield new boy was keen for his fellow French frontman to join him on Merseyside and put Benitez in touch with Wiltord - in a most direct manner.
"I thought Wiltord would be joining Liverpool and I even tried to push through his transfer", Cisse told the Daily Star.
"I walked into the manager's office, and told him to sign Sylvain. I gave him his mobile number, and they talked together on the phone. But a deal could not be done, and I am disappointed - I felt I had not done enough towards it. "
Wiltord left Arsenal on a free transfer at the end of last season, at the end of his four-year contract.
He was initially targeted by German champions Werder Bremen before joining
French side Lyon, who have won three successive Ligue 1 titles.
Cisse, who left Auxerre to pursue a career in the Premiership, was upset that the pair - both French internationals - headed in opposite directions across the channel.
"Wiltord is like a big brother to me, and he could have helped me settle in", Cisse added. "It would have been great for him to be over here."
Filed by Eilish Barry
