Blues gamble on Christian Benitez's fragile knee

Jul 11 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

CHRISTIAN Benitez’s signing represents a bigger gamble than originally thought.

The Ecuador striker’s knee problem caused sufficient concern to Blues that his transfer from Santos Laguna was redrafted.

He could still become the club’s record £7.75 million capture in time, but Blues have a ‘get out’ option in May.

“We are all satisfied with the deal,” said co-owner David Sullivan. “It had to be renegotiated and we are still taking a huge gamble.

“It’s always a gamble when you sign a foreign player, especially from South America, who has never played over here before. But this is now a particularly big one.”

Sullivan continued: “We didn’t want to let the fans down. I think they fancy him and they got excited by the transfer.

“He could do what Mauro Zarate did for us, he’s that same type, and they loved him.”

Benitez had shoulder surgery in May but is on the mend from that procedure.

Medical tests last week when he flew over to sign showed up a hitherto unknown knee condition, believed to be structural.

Sullivan said: “At this moment, it is only his shoulder that would stop him playing tomorrow. Not any other part of his body. But there was something in the medical that cast doubt about his long-term ability to perform.

“Saying that, there are footballers with the same condition who have been playing in England for 10 years, despite the medical opinion suggesting it should only be a matter of time before they break down.

“It is a very unusual one, and Benitez himself has done everything he needed to do to keep the transfer alive as he is that determined to play for us in the Premier League,” he added.