Selling Xabi Alonso was easily Rafa Benitez’s biggest mistake at Liverpool, but deciding to offload John Arne Riise was an error too.
The Norwegian is still regarded as our best left-back of the Premier League era, thanks to his blockbuster strikes and energy down the flank.
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Since he departed to Roma for peanuts, a host of players and tried and failed to replicate what Riise offered us, including Andrea Dossena, Emiliano Insua, Aly Cissokho and Alberto Monreo – to name but a few.
But Riise holds no grudges against his former boss and last night took to Twitter to congratulate Benitez on getting Newcastle back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
What a classy post…
Well done Rafa!!!! Bringing Newcastle back up. What a manager he is, apart from selling me ?? Can’t wait to see him in PL again ??
— John Arne Riise (@JARiiseOfficial) April 24, 2017