Riise denies Liverpool reports
442 Staff - Monday 02 November 2009, 17:24
Roma wide-man John Arne Riise has hit back at newspaper reports claiming the Norwegian had asked to return to former club Liverpool.
The 29-year-old made more than 200 league appearances for the Merseysiders from 2001-08 - netting 21 times - before leaving for the Eternal City.
However, the left-back - who can operate as an attacking midfielder - has struggled to establish himself as a regular in the Italian capital.
And as a result, speculation surfaced linking the Norway stalwart - who has 84 caps for his country - with a swift exit from the Stadio Olimpico, with the News of the World claiming that Riise had specifically requested a move back to Anfield.
However, the player has since angrily denied the reports.
“I never said I wanted to return to Liverpool and I never made those statements,” he said.
“I am settled here in Rome and I want to stay.”