Liverpool's Latin Americans

In the summer of 2007 Rafa again cast his eyes towards Buenos Aires, signing Sebastian Leto from Lanus for £1.8m. The 21 year old experienced an unhappy time at Anfield only appearing 4 times. He made his debut for the Reds in a Champions League qualifier against Toulouse. He played in the league cup against Reading and Cardiff and in the group stages of the Champions League against French side Marseille. 

Leto didn’t see any more competitive action in his Anfield career and with Liverpool struggling to secure a work permit he was sent out on a two year loan in the summer of 2008 to Olympiacos. Fellow Athens club Panathinaikos secured a permanent deal for Leto in 2009 paying £3m for his services. This was one of those rare times that Liverpool actually made a small profit from a player who had made little effect on the team. It was also a move that worked out well for the player too who went on to win the Greek League and Cup with both Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. Again, Reds fans were left pondering over what the scouts had seen in the young winger, who let's just say was not up to scratch.

Someone who enjoyed a little more success at Liverpool was Emiliano Insua, a diminutive left back who signed on loan in June 2007 from Boca Juniors. It took him a few seasons before he established himself as a regular starter. In his first three seasons at the club he only managed 18 games in all competitions. 

His most successful season at Liverpool came in 2009/10 were he made an impressive 44 appearances in all competitions. Injuries again were a disruptive factor for Insua. Nevertheless, being relatively young it was hoped he would be around the club for longer than was hoped. However, the clubs' hierarchy had other ideas as he was made available for sale in the summer of 2010. It looked like he was heading to Fiorentina but that move collapsed and he ended up signing for Galatarasay on a season long loan.

He returned to Anfield in 2011 but Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon eventually signed him on a permanent deal. It became apparent that his game time was going to be limited, as Liverpool had signed another left back in Jose Enrique from Newcastle United. 

He made a significant contribution to Sporting’s Europa League run as the Portuguese side reached the semi-finals and that very season he secured a lucrative move to Atletico Madrid. However, he was only a bit part player at Atletico and was loaned out to Rayo Vallecano during the 2013/2014 season. He returned to Madrid but his contract was cancelled by mutual consent in May 2015. He is currently playing his football for German side VFB Stuttgart. Still at the tender age of 26, let's hope he is able to establish himself in the Bundesliga. 

Insua scored just one goal for Liverpool in his 62 appearances with the club, against Arsenal in the League Cup in November 2009. His LFC career can be counted as a qualified success and in retrospect he was probably dispensed of a season or so too early.

Diego Cavalieri followed in the footsteps of countrymen Aurelio and Lucas when he put pen to paper for the Reds in the summer of 2008. The Brazilian stopper cost £3.5m from Palmeiras but his role was always going to be as a bit part player. Pepe Reina who was at his peak wasn’t rotated for any league games and Cavalieri’s opportunities were restricted to Cup games. He debuted against Crewe in the league cup and also played in the final game of the Champions’ League group stages against Fiorentina in 2008/09. 

His last appearance for the Reds was against FK Rabotnicki in the Europa League qualifying rounds. Again he experienced more success in his own homeland winning a championship with Fluminese in 2012 and gaining 2 Brazilian caps. All in all Cavalieri only made 10 appearances for Liverpool.

Rafa Benitez’s last South American signing was Maxi Rodriguez. Maxi had already found the net at Anfield whist playing for Atletico Madrid during the 08/09 Champions League campaign, but it wasn't until January 2010 before he sealed a permanent move to Liverpool. His first outing in English football was as a 78th minute substitute at Stoke and his first goal for the Reds came at Turf Moor in April 2010. His best goal scoring season for Liverpool came in 2010/11, reaching double figures with 10 goals in all competitions.

Furthermore, Maxi relieved the pressure on the beleaguered Roy Hodgson when he scored a late winner at Bolton in October 2010. After Hodgson’s dismissal, early 2011, he starred for caretaker boss Kenny Dalglish, banging in two hat-tricks against Birmingham at Anfield, and also against Fulham at Craven Cottage. 

His part in Liverpool’s surge in form ensured Dalglish was given the job permanently at the start of 2011/12 season. This proved to be the peak of his Liverpool career and although he contributed with a few important goals notably one at Chelsea in a league cup tie, he found himself on the bench more often than not.

Nevertheless, Maxi was a popular figure among the Liverpool faithful, having a great song which until today is still belted out on many away days. 73 appearances and 17 goals wasn’t a bad return, but again it was a case of what might have been. If he had arrived at Anfield earlier in his career who knows what he could have achieved!