Gerrard: Benitez was a genius signing Alonso but an idiot for selling him

Steven Gerrard has branded Rafa Benitez both a genius and dunce for buying then selling Xabi Alonso.

Former Liverpool skipper Gerrard believes Spaniard Alonso is the best central midfielder he ever played alongside and could not believe Anfield boss Benitez offloaded him when he did.

Gerrard’s biography is being serialized in the Daily Mail and the ex-England star revealed: “Rafa Benitez, who had been so clever to buy him in the first place, was equally stupid to sell him to Real Madrid five years later.

“It was a disastrous decision to sell Alonso, and especially for just £30million — which looks a snip now when you reflect on all he has achieved subsequently, both at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich and with Spain, winning the Euros and the World Cup.

“I blame Rafa entirely for the loss of Alonso. He could still have been playing for Liverpool six or seven years after he left in 2009.”

Gerrard was also full of praise for Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez for the way they improved his game but had nothing but contempt for 2002 signing El Hadji Diouf.

He added: “Gerard Houllier, a very good manager and a usually wise judge of character, bought Diouf for £10m from.

[GERRARD - I DON'T TALK TO BENITEZ ANY MORE AS WE DIDN'T REALLY LIKE EACH OTHER]

[GERRARD - JOSE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ANFIELD AND ENGLAND LEGEND]

[GERRARD: I HAVE NEVER SWAPPED SHIRTS WITH A MAN UTD PLAYER AS I HATE THE CLUB]

“We had finished runners-up to Manchester United the season before and a combination of Diouf, Salif Diao and Bruno Cheyrou was supposed to drive us to the title. It was probably the biggest waste of £18m in Liverpool’s history.

“We finished the season in fifth place and Diouf had sealed his place at the top of the list of Liverpool signings I liked least.

“A few people have since asked me if I saw any comparison between Diouf and Mario Balotelli - and I’ve always said no. I’ve got respect for Balotelli; I’ve got none for Diouf.”