Eastlands is the stage for Saturday’s huge Manchester derby and Gavin Beech previews the big match.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez rejected an approach from Juventus in January and has not been contacted by the Italian club since, according to his agent.

“I have not received any interest (recently) from Juventus for Rafa Benitez,” Manuel Garcia Quilon said.

“I have received interest from Italian clubs for players but not for a coach. Juve approached us back in January but we told them that the coach would not be leaving Liverpool this season.”

Juve sacked Ciro Ferrara in January and appointed Alberto Zaccheroni as caretaker boss, but his contract ends at the end of the season and is unlikely to be renewed after he failed to improve the club’s fortunes.

Benitez has been widely tipped as the favourite to take over at Juventus but when pressed about the Liverpool manager’s future, Quilon added: “Those are internal matters.”

Benitez is under contract with Liverpool until June 2014 and may be tempted to bide his time following the announcement from the club’s owners on Friday that they intend to sell.

Quilon admitted in an interview with Spanish newspaper AS that the club’s financial situation could determine Benitez’s future.

“The intention of Benitez is to fulfil the contract that he has with Liverpool until 2014 but it’s true that the club is subject to fluctuations in their financial situation,” Quilon said. “They could influence the future of the club and therefore Benitez as well.”

Eastlands is the stage for Saturday’s huge Manchester derby and Gavin Beech previews the big match.

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