© EuroFootball.com
Champions League winners can rejoice - team captain Steven Gerrard has extended his contract with the club for four years, temporarily silencing rumors of a possible transfer. Along with him, defenders J. Carragher, D. Traore, and goalkeeper D. Hamann also signed new contracts.
For 25-year-old Gerrard, this week was eventful - initially, he broke off contract negotiations with the club and asked to be sold, but he rejected a £32 million offer for the player from Liverpool and later managed to convince him to change his mind - the English national team defender decided to stay in Liverpool.
"I simply couldn't leave the club I love. After much consideration, I couldn't do it," commented Gerrard on his decision - "I never said I wanted to leave the club, but I felt cornered. I know it must have seemed like I wanted to leave, but at one point I felt like I had no choice. I admit I made mistakes, as did the club. Now everything is sorted out, so I'm doing what I wanted - staying at Liverpool."
"I learned a lot from the past few days, and most importantly - I learned that I am Liverpool, no one else, and that winning here means much more to me than doing the same somewhere else," added Gerrard.
Together with Gerrard, 27-year-old defender J. Carragher, one of the team leaders in defense, also extended his contract with Liverpool until 2009, whose previous contract still had two years left.
"I am very happy with this agreement. I am very proud to be a Liverpool player for the next four years," said Carragher.
"Jamie was outstanding this season, and undoubtedly is an important part of our plans," said Liverpool's general manager Rick Parry, also confirming that new contracts were signed by D. Hamann and D. Traore accordingly.
