Birmingham City target Christian Benitez 'as good as Messi' says agent
Jun 2 2009 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail
Pacey Benitez recently underwent surgery on his right shoulder after suffering a similar injury to the one Arsenal’s Theo Walcott suffered last season.
However, the 5ft 6in exciting talent, who was close to joining Steve Bruce at Wigan in the January transfer window before breaking his leg in training, is expected to play some part in Ecuador’s forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Peru this Sunday and Argentina on June 10. Fixtures that McIntosh believes ‘the big boys’ will be watching to see Benitez’s capabilities.
Having caught the eye at the 2006 World Cup, Benitez has impressed in Mexico’s Primera División, scoring 31 goals in two seasons with Santos Laguna since arriving from his home-town club El Nacional Quito.
Should Blues succeed in landing Benitez, with a deal believed to be worth an initial £6.2million plus a further £3million in add-ons, then the transfer would eclipse the £6.25million deal agreed with Liverpool for Emile Heskey.
Because of Premier League relegation in 2005-06, and his subsequent sale to Wigan, Blues never ended up paying the full price for the Villa and England striker.
