Former Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje has weighed in on the situation around an incident he admits was unacceptable, as he showed poor behaviour at a Hillsborough anniversary event in 2009, revealing then Reds boss Rafael Benitez had already tried to push him to Galatasaray.
Itandje was signed by Liverpool in the summer of 2007, but struggled to challenge Pepe Reina for a place in the first team under boss Benitez.
The Cameroonian was caught joking during a memorial service to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, where 96 Liverpool fans tragically lost their lives.
The club investigated the incident, where Itandje showed unacceptable behaviour and suspended him for 14 days.
Liverpool released Itandje in November 2010, but the former goalkeeper has revealed that Reds tried to offload him in his first year at the club to Galatasaray, a move he flatly refused to make.
Itandje went on to add that the Hillsborough incident in the second year made matters worse as he was then training with the reserves. However, the goalkeeper makes no bones about what he did was wrong.
“That [the Hillsborough anniversary] was in the second year”, Itandje told French magazine So Foot.
“The first year, Liverpool wanted to force me to go to Galatasaray; the idea was to pack a suitcase for me and send me there.
“Benitez had scheduled my departure, he had done a little trick with his friends there.
“But I did not like it, so I refused the deal.
“You must understand the background. Beware, it does not excuse the fact that my behaviour was not acceptable, I hear that completely.
“But it took on extra proportions."
And the goalkeeper insists that his situation at Liverpool got steadily worse, with the scenario tough for an experienced shot-stopper.
“Already I was training with the reserves.
“I was 25, 26 years old and I was training with 18-year-olds, someone who had played 200 Ligue 1 games."
Itandje made just seven appearances for Liverpool and was restricted to cup action.
He went on to have spells in both Greek and Turkish football before returning to France this year, with lower league outfit Versailles.
