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Robbie Keane has joined Liverpool from Tottenham for £19 million on a four-year deal after passing a medical at Melwood – but the selling club remain unhappy with the manner the transfer was conducted.
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The deal could rise to £20.3m in total, but Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy claimed the sale was “enforced” and the result of “behind the scenes” work.
“I was incredibly disappointed when I first heard, not only that Liverpool had been working behind the scenes to bring Robbie to Anfield, but that Robbie himself wanted to go and he submitted a transfer request,” Levy said.
“I have already made my opinion clear on the nature of this transaction. I don’t regard it as a transfer deal – that is something which happens between two clubs when they both agree to trade.”
Spurs withdrew their official complaint to the Premier League after Liverpool acknowledged their public interest in Keane was inappropriate, however, and it is understood the Merseyside club made a donation to one of Tottenham’s preferred charities.
The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland striker had been linked with the Reds since the beginning of July and replaces Peter Crouch, who was sold to Portsmouth for £11m earlier in the pre-season.
“I would like to place on record my thanks to the board, players and fans of Tottenham for the past six years, which were the best and most enjoyable of my career to date,” Keane said.
“I will never forget them. I would specifically like to thank chairman Daniel Levy for understanding, that, as a fan, joining Liverpool is a lifelong dream of mine and one I couldn’t let pass me by.
“I hope one day the Spurs fans, who have been brilliant to me, can understand this too.
“I have only good things to say about my time at Tottenham and expect them to go from strength to strength under Juande Ramos and Daniel Levy.”
Keane spent six years at Spurs, scoring over 100 goals for the North London club since joining from Leeds in 2002.
The Ireland captain – who holds his country’s record for international goals – started his professional career at Wolves before spending a season at Coventry and six months at Internazionale.
Keane is the fifth signing this summer for Rafa Benitez, joining David Ngog, Diego Cavalieri, Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena at Anfield.
Liverpool have also declared their interest in Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry, although their reluctance to meet Villa’s £18m asking-price has seen the move stall.
