Craig Bellamy: I was hounding Joe Allen to join Liverpool

Craig Bellamy has revealed he helped to convince Joe Allen to join Liverpool after the midfielder signed a long-term contract with the Reds last week.

Allen had been heavily linked with a move to Anfield following Brendan Rodgers’ appointment as Reds boss earlier in the summer.

The Team GB midfielder, who worked under Rodgers during his spell at Swansea, finally secured a move to Merseyside in a deal reported to be worth £15m on Friday.

And Bellamy believes Liverpool have signed an “immense” player in the 22-year-old.

“I spent the last three weeks hounding Joe Allen to go to Liverpool,” said Bellamy. “They have got an immense player.

“Joe, Brendan and Liverpool will all be great winners out of this. It has been a pleasure to spend the last few weeks with him.”

Bellamy sealed a move back to Cardiff City last week after a second stint at Anfield – and the 33-year-old striker admits it was a difficult decision to quit the club.

“The hardest thing for me was leaving Liverpool,” added Bellamy. “I am a Liverpool fan.

“I’m also a huge fan of Brendan and I think Liverpool will do great under him. But even that couldn’t tempt me. It just wasn’t going to happen for me.

“The supporters at Liverpool have been immense and the way they have been with me about this has been amazing. But my mind was made up. I am doing it for the right reasons.”

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