Despite the contract being signed and personal terms worth thousands of pounds agreed it seems that even the millions of Rafael Benitez’s LFC cannot beat the UK immigration system.

Due to a decision from the Department for Work and Pensions, super signing, Argentine midfielder Sebastian Leto has been denied a work permit to play in England next season.

The player who was targeted to star alongside midfield supremo Steven Gerrard and aid Liverpool FC in their quest for European and domestic football glory joined the Reds from Lanus for a fee of around £2m in 2007.

The 21-year old talent was granted an Italian passport last summer but it was later revoked, resulting in him needing a work permit to play for the KOP this season in the premiership.

Speaking at a press conference Liverpool manager Benitez said “You have managers talking about how good he is, so I think the system needs to change…He has a long contract, and I think he can impress and next year will be a different situation.”

With the UK Premiership football tournament only days away from a fresh season, the issue surrounding foreign players and visa applications is one which has become more vividly discussed in the public domain.