EXCLUSIVE: SMILES BETTER
RAFA BENITEZ last night assured Liverpool fans that they will not have to endure another summer of I speculation about Steven Gerrard by insisting that Anfield captain has no interest in joining Juventus.
The Italian giants, armed with £150m from an exclusive television deal agreed in December, have put Gerrard at the top of their wish list despite the fact that the England midfielder committed himself to Liverpool last summer by signing a new four-year contract worth £100,000-a-week.
There have even been suggestions in Turin that the runaway Serie A leaders opened talks with Liverpool about a £30million summer trans-v fer at a recent meeting of the G14 clubs.
But Benitez is adamant that Gerrard does not want to go anywhere - and will never be tempted to leave until he has achieved his greatest ambitions at Anfield.
Benitez told Sunday Mirror Sport: "
I have heard about this Juventus link and lean tell you 'no'. "No-one from Liverpool has spoken to Juventus - maybe they have spoken to one of our fans.
"
All I can say is that after all the speculation we had last season, Steve is now one of the ' most committed members of our squad.
"
Last season it unsettled him because he is a young man. This season he is more mature. There will always be talk about his future be-cause big clubs are always interested in him. But he seems more contented and relaxed now. "Will Steve want to play abroad sometime in the future? Maybe.
"But that will only happen when we've won the Premiership three times and won the Champions League again.
"
If that happens then maybe he would want a new challenge. But not until then."
Gerrard has been at his inspirational best this season.
He was sent off for recklessly picking up two yellow cards in the Merseyside derby two weeks ago and missed last Saturday's win at West Brom through suspension.
But he will return to Benitez's line-up for the visit of Bolton as the Liverpool boss looks to match the physical power at Sam Allardyce's disposal.
After missing the World Cup in 2002 to undergo surgery, Gerrard is desperte not to be missing when Sven Goran Eriksson's squad go to Germany in the summer.
But Benitez mantained that Gerrard's commitment to the Liverpool cause means he will not hesitate to keep putting himself in harm's way for his club.
Benitez added: "Steve knows how important it is to do the right things for the club and he seems very focused at this moment.
"What really impresses me is that, although the World Cup is coming close now, his thoughts are only with Liverpool.
"When the big international tournaments are approaching, like the World Cup or the European Championships, some players lose their focus on the club. They start preparing themselves for playing for their country.
"That makes them very selfish. But that is not the case with Steve."
Liverpool legend Sammy Lee returns to the Anfield dug-out as Bolton's coach tomorrow, revealing he never expected Gerard Houllier to be sacked.
Lee was one of the Frenchman's coaching staff when he was axed to make way for Rafael Benitez two years ago.
He said: "I was invited to stay and I fully appreciated that. No one expected Gerard to be sacked and I felt it was best I went with him.
"I've got nothing but the utmost respect for Rafael Benitez and the club."
sundaymirror