Rafa Benitez angered over Sebastian Leto's work permit snub as Gareth Barry deal draws near
LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has been given the green light to finally seal the Gareth Barry transfer - but the Spaniard is fuming about Sebastian Leto's enforced Anfield exit.
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill conceded that Aston Villa's self-imposed deadline for Liverpool to sign Barry which passed last week is no longer relevant given that the player remains unsettled at the Midlands club as he pursues a move to Liverpool.
Although Benitez refused to talk about Barry following his side's impressive 4-0 victory over Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday, he will now be able to push ahead with the protracted move this week.
However, the imminent victory in one transfer battle for Benitez has been tempered by the Department of Works' decision to not grant Sebastian Leto a work permit to play in the UK next season and the Argentinian winger is now expected to be loaned out to Greek club Olympiakos.
The 21-year-old was able to come to Anfield last summer from Buenos Aires club Lanus even though he was not a full international as he possessed an Italian passport but the legality of this document is now in doubt after Italian police probed the validity of thousands of citizenship decisions.
Benitez personally attended Friday's work permit tribunal in Sheffield on Leto's behalf, where he came face to face with O'Neill.
The Ulsterman was present to see his new American recruit Brad Guzan - who will contest the number one jersey with former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel - approval to play in the Premier League next season.
But while Villa were given permission for their signing to play, it was decided that Leto did not meet the necessary requirements to be given a work permit.
Benitez has been left enraged by the decision by political bureaucrats, some of whom, he claims, think they have a greater knowledge and understanding of football than experienced managers like himself.
He said: "I'm really disappointed. I feel that the system clearly needs to change.
"I cannot understand how an Argentinian player who has been in the squad for the Olympic games and has different coaches and managers talking about how good he is, who has been playing in the Champions League and playing for a club like Liverpool (cannot get a work permit).
"Some people say that they know more than the managers and that (what Leto has done) is not good enough but it is a surprise.
"You cannot understand why.
"It's crazy. Eight or 10 managers in different countries like Spain, Italy and Greece are asking about the player, they want the player but some people sit down on a chair and in front of a table and say it's not good enough."
Benitez added: "We know that we need to find a solution and we need to find a good team for him and hopefully in the future if he's playing in the Champions League maybe someone will say 'oh, we made a mistake'.
"At the end of the day, they are playing with the future of the player and I don't think it's fair.
"I was talking with them (the committee). We showed them some DVDs and a lot of information about how good a player he is for different managers but they said the same (not granting him a work permit).
"They were nice people but maybe some of them think that they know more than the managers."
Meanwhile, Benitez insists that despite having to raise the funds to complete the Barry transfer, he does not want to sell Xabi Alonso, who was on the mark at Ibrox from the penalty spot and declared that it would take a large fee to persuade the Anfield club to part with the Spanish international midfielder.
He said: "It's simple regarding Xabi. He's a very good player and he's playing for us and I'm really pleased about this.
"I don't think it will be easy. The value of Alonso in the market will be high and we're really pleased with him and don't want him to go if it's not a very, very good price."
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