Benitez sent scouts out
around the world looking for a new striker to replace Michael Owen who had gone
to Newcastle.
One of the scouts informs him of a young Iraqi striker who
he thinks will turn out to be a true superstar. The Liverpool manager flies to
Baghdad to watch him and is suitably impressed and arranges for him to come over
to Anfield.
Two weeks later Liverpool are 4-0 down to Man Utd with only
20 minutes left. The manager gives the young Iraqi striker the nod and on the
field he goes. The lad is a sensation, scores 5 in 20 minutes and wins the game
for Liverpool. The fans are delighted, the players and coaches are delighted and
the media love the new star.
When the lad comes off the pitch, he phones
his mum to tell her about his first day in English football. "Hello mum, guess
what?" he says. "I played for 20 minutes today, we were 4-0 down but I scored 5
and we won.
Everybody loves me, the fans, the media, they
all love me".
"Wonderful," says his mum. "Let me tell you about my
day. Your father got shot in the street, your sister and I were ambushed
and beaten and your brother has joined a gang of looters while you were having a
great time!"
With this news, the young lad is very upset. "What can I say
mum, except I'm so sorry".
"Sorry!" exclaims his mum. "It's your fault we
all moved to Liverpool in the first fucking
place!"
