 Cisse is the top scorer in France's Ligue 1 this season |
Djibril Cisse said he had turned down two offers from Real Madrid because he was so keen to link up with under-fire Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier. A deal worth �14m is thought to already have been agreed for the 22-year-old.
Cisse told the Liverpool website: "I could have gone to Real Madrid. I had two offers from them. But Anfield is the better move for me."
"I hope with all my heart that he keeps his job because if he's not the manager it would be a serious blow."
Cisse added: "He's the one I spoke to, the one I negotiated with and the one I agreed the deal with.
"If he isn't going to be there then the challenge for me is going to be even tougher. I could have gone to Real Madrid. I had two offers from them. But Anfield is the better move for me."
Cisse would join a large French enclave on Merseyside, including Houllier, assistant Christian Damiano and a host of first-team squad players.
Cisse is the top scorer in the French Ligue 1 this season, having scored 18 goals in 29 games.
MMIX
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