Despite Aquilani’s lack of fitness and concerns over his recent injury record, Benitez does not accept he has taken a gamble in signing the 25-year-old Italy international.

“We couldn’t change the situation of Alonso,” he said. “He decided to go, we had to progress. You have to manage in the best way you can.

“If Aquilani was in a normal market he could cost £25-30m but because of the operation he was a bit cheaper. We have to wait but he is a player we are signing for five years not for five matches.

“He had a bad tackle and an operation and that’s normal he missed matches. It would be the same with Torres or Gerrard. I was talking with a lot of people in Italy and people are saying it is a fantastic signing.

“We knew he had an operation, but we wanted to change a little bit the games at home when the opposition is deep and it is not easy to give the final pass. Aquilani will be good there.

“The other players, we have to wait and see how they progress in the season.

“He is now under the control of our medical staff because he had been going to different people.”