Robbie Keane fulfilled his boyhood ambition to join Liverpool last night as Tottenham Hotspur banked £20.3m for the Republic of Ireland striker but issued an acrimonious parting shot over the manner of his departure from White Hart Lane.
Keane will be unveiled as the second costliest player in Liverpool's history this morning having passed a medical yesterday and agreed personal terms on a four-year contract worth about £80,000 a week. It is believed both parties have the option of a fifth year on the contract.
The 28-year-old's capture represents a breakthrough for Rafael Benítez in his transfer plans this summer, having been so far thwarted in his efforts to prise Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, but Keane's transfer has not been without controversy either. Spurs' chairman, Daniel Levy, had submitted a complaint to the Premier League about Liverpool's conduct in the pursuit of the striker, in effect accusing Benítez of tapping-up the Dubliner but, despite dropping the complaint last night, he insisted Tottenham had been forced into the sale of their vice-captain.
"I was incredibly disappointed when I first heard, not only that Liverpool had been working behind the scenes to bring Robbie to Anfield but that Robbie himself wanted to go and he submitted a transfer request to this effect," said Levy. He added: "I have already made my opinion clear on the nature of this transaction. I don't regard it as a transfer deal - that is something which happens between two clubs when they both agree to trade - this is very much an enforced sale for which we have agreed a sum of £19m as compensation plus a potential further £1.3m in additional compensation."
Last night Keane said: "I would like to place on record my thanks to the board, players and fans of Tottenham for the past six years, which were the best and most enjoyable of my career to date.
"I will never forget them. I would specifically like to thank chairman Daniel Levy for understanding that, as a fan, joining Liverpool is a lifelong dream of mine and one I couldn't let pass me by. I hope one day the Spurs fans, who have been brilliant to me, can understand this too."
