AS THEY prepare to leave for Italy former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and his wife Montse have offered a final donation to the Merseyside care home they have supported since arriving in the city.

The couple left a “generous” but unspecified amount to the Hoylake Cottage Day Care Appeal. It is a parting gift from the couple as Montse gives up her voluntary role of chair of Hoylake Cottage’s social events committee.

She has helped to galvanise support for a £1.5m appeal for a new day care centre for older people.

Now, Montse is house hunting and checking out schools in Milan, as Rafael prepares to take up his new job in charge at Inter Milan FC.

Montse Benitez said: “I was very close to my granny who had dementia for 10 years until she died.

“She had a nurse at home, but not everyone is so lucky which is why I wanted to help Hoylake Cottage.

“I will keep in touch with all the progress and hopefully once the new centre is built, I will come back to join in the celebrations.”

Hoylake Cottage Chair of Trustees Tony Twemlow said: “The gift from Montse and Rafa is extremely generous and we are all more grateful than we can say for their tremendous kindness.

“Their donation will go a long way to helping us to build a centre which will provide relief to older people and those who care for them at home.