Ince's dream move

Paul Ince completed his dream move to Liverpool yesterday and immediately took a sideswipe at his new club's arch-rivals - Manchester United.

Ince revealed that he would have snubbed his former club and stayed in Italy even if Liverpool had not offered him the chance to return to the Premier League, although he has maintained for months that he wanted to return for the benefit of his wife Clare and two children.

After completing his £4.2million move from Inter Milan, the 29-year-old midfielder acknowledged that United had not taken up the buy-back option but said he would have selected Anfield ahead of Old Trafford as his next sporting home anyway.

Ince, who has signed a four-year contract worth £4m, said: 'I knew when Liverpool showed initial interest in me that I wanted to come here. If I hadn't been able to sign for them I would have stayed with Inter.

'United had first refusal when I was leaving Italy. I'm not disappointed that they didn't take up that option. Why should I be? As far as I'm concerned, I was only coming back from Italy to join Liverpool - not Manchester United.

'I had six great years at Old Trafford and that's it. That's where it stopped. Hopefully, I'll have another six great years at Liverpool. I'm looking forward to it. It will be strange walking on to the pitch as a Liverpool player. Normally, when I walk out at Anfield, I get slaughtered.'

Liverpool manager Roy Evans recoils at the suggestion that Ince is merely a midfield hard man signed to toughen up a team blessed with an abundance of creative players.

Evans said: 'I don't like the hard man tag. There's more to Paul than that. He can get the ball but he can also play, pass and score goals. We've lacked goals from midfield and Paul's all-round ability will add to that.'

Evans admitted that he was concerned that Ince's dolce vita in Milan might have dulled his competitive instincts but he said: 'The moment I met Paul, I had no doubts about his desire. He still wants to win things.'

The arrival of Ince, allied to the fact that Liverpool are still searching for a new striker, will also see Evans prepare for a clearout over the next few weeks. Veteran skipper John Barnes, defender Phil Babb, winger Mark Kennedy and utility man Steve Harkness may all be deemed surplus to requirements.

Copyright - World Soccernet - 23 July 1997.