After a summer that has seen the Welsh attacker linked away from Anfeild almost continuously, the confirmation comes as something of a formality. Formality or not, inevitability or not, today Craig Bellamy is officially a Cardiff City player, with the striker heading back to Wales to wind down his career at his hometown club.
Having scored 18 goals in only 79 games for Liverpool, his popularity amongst fans may outpace his actual contributions, but his combative nature and an ability to pop up with timely goals always made him a player that supporters would take to. His short time at the club—and that he may be approaching the end of his career—also doesn't change the fact that his departure, following similar departures by veteran attackers Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez, leaves Liverpool with almost no proven and quality depth for Brendan Rodgers' front three.
We may in the end miss him as much for his willingness to go toe-to-toe with Clint Dempsey or celebrate a goal by swinging an imaginary golf club as for any of his more traditional contributions on the pitch, but in any case we wish him the best of luck at Cardiff. Liverpool will miss him both for his goals and because he's Craig Bellamy.