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XABI ALONSO has told Rafa Benitez he wants to quit Anfield and sign for Real Madrid – but Liverpool will not grant his wish unless the Spanish giants come up with a fee in the region of £35m.

Alonso has stopped short of putting in an official written transfer request but he has made it clear to Benitez that his future lies in La Liga rather than the Premier League.

The 27-year-old is due to join up with his Liverpool team mates on Sunday after being given extended leave following his involvement in the Confederations Cup in South Africa but Alonso and his agent Inaki Ibanez are hopeful that a deal can be thrashed out with Real before then.

But with Real reluctant to spend more than £27m for the Spanish international and Benitez adamant that he will not allow Alonso to leave for that kind of figure, a compromise is some way off.

Alonso could try to force the issue by handing in an official transfer request but the midfielder believes that he deserves to be able to have his future sorted out without taking such formal measures after giving five years of service to the Reds. Real’s public pursuit of Alonso is now becoming incessant with recently appointed manager Manuel Pellegrini becoming the latest leading Bernabeu official to speak of his club’s desire to snap up the Liverpool man.

Pellegrini said: “He’s an important player as he has shown with the Spanish team.

“It’s no mystery that Real Madrid are interested in his services, but it will not be easy.”

Benitez is fully aware that Alonso’s desire to leave Liverpool will make it increasingly difficult to hold on to the former Real Sociedad man despite the fact that he still has three years of his Anfield contract remaining.

But the Reds boss is adamant that he will not let Alonso go on the cheap, no matter how much pressure Real put Liverpool under.

Benitez knows there are precious few midfielders around of Alonso’s quality and he is likely to have to re-shape his side if the Spanish international leaves - and that would inevitably be an expensive process.

So unless Real come up with the kind of money which would enable Benitez to go on a mini spending spree of his own, then the Liverpool manager will not budge.

Meanwhile, Nabil El Zhar has signed a new contract which will see him remain at Anfield until 2012.

The 22-year-old, who made 19 appearances for the Reds' first-team last season, follows Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Daniel Agger in committing his long-term future to the club.

The Moroccan international joined Liverpool from French club Saint Etienne in 2006.

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by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

THERE is a theory doing the rounds that Xabi Alonso would be fully justified to leave Liverpool this summer because Rafa Benitez was willing to sell him this time last year.

As long as there is a transfer market and the principle of freedom of movement is enshrined in the EU constitution players will be free to come and go as they please, contract permitting of course.

But if Alonso does intend to swop Anfield for the Bernabeu then he can’t really use the fact that his manager considered cashing in on him after a below par season as an excuse, no matter how bitterly upsetting that situation was.

Yes, Benitez’s admission that he was willing to listen to offers for the Spanish midfielder will have fractured their relationship to the point which Alonso is no longer willing to describe it as anything more than “professional”.

And yes, Alonso is well within his rights to feel a lingering sense of harsh treatment having committed himself to Liverpool by signing a new long term contract with the club just 12 months before his manager considered flogging him to Juventus.

But since then Alonso has gone on to recapture his very best form and has just enjoyed arguably his best season in a red shirt, rivalling the superlative Steven Gerrard for the title of Liverpool’s star man during the 2008/09 campaign.

He couldn’t have done that without the backing of his manager who picked him in the vast majority of Liverpool’s games and who trusted him to continue his role as conductor of the Anfield side’s orchestra. Alonso could hardly claim to have been made an outcast.

He didn’t though. The Spaniard battled for his job and fought so well that he ended up signing a new five year contract which ties him to Liverpool until 2013 despite what had gone on before.

Alonso could walk away. He could decide that the grass is greener at the Bernabeu and that he no longer wants to play for a manager who tried to sell him.

But then again, he could let bygones be bygones, remember that it was Benitez who gave him one of the finest platforms in European football to perform on and pledge his future to Liverpool once again.

He could also consider the fact that while Benitez may not have wanted him last summer neither did his current suitors Real Madrid who showed no inclination to sign him when it was clear to everyone that Alonso was available.

There is a school of thought which suggests that Liverpool cannot afford to keep an unhappy player, a theory which also applies to Javier Mascherano.

But maybe this is one occasion when international football will actually come to Benitez’s aid because whether Alonso and Mascherano are happy or not they are going to have to play well in the coming months to make it to the World Cup on top form.

At the very least, Alonso and Mascherano owe Liverpool another year and if the Reds manage to hang on to their central midfield duo it could be the most important bit of business they do this summer.

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05 Oct 2008 - 10:15:25

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has admitted to being hurt at being told that he could leave the club in the summer, as the Reds tried to snap up Aston Villa's Gareth Barry. The 26-year-old was expected to be sold to Italian powerhouses Juventus to fund the move for England international Barry, but that deal eventually failed to materialise. Alonso told the Daily Express: "I prefer not to think too much about how I was treated. It was a new situation for me, something I had never experienced before. "It is a fact that any player can be really happy where he is, but if the club don't want him, he has to accept it. There is not much you can do. "It is not always easy to detach yourself from things like that, but I accept it is part of football and the main thing is it was all resolved and I am now playing regularly. "I was really pleased that I was able to continue my Liverpool career."

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Derby hope for Alonso

Liverpool midfielder targets Everton clash

By Graeme Bailey Last updated: 10th October 2007

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Alonso sights on return

Liverpool midfielder targets comeback from foot injury

By Mark Buckingham Last updated: 24th September 2007

Xabi Alonso aims to be back in the Liverpool team 'as soon as possible' as he recovers from a foot injury.

The Spanish midfielder has been ruled out for six weeks after breaking a metatarsal - an injury also suffered by team-mate Daniel Agger.

Alonso feels Liverpool have been unlucky with injuries this season and is determined to make a swift return to Rafa Benitez's plans.

"We have had a few injuries this season," Alonso told Sky Sports News. "Stevie (Gerrard) had his toe, Carra his rib, and Daniel and me had metatarsals.

"It's always disappointing to be out of the team and not to be part of the training sessions and, of course, the games.

"That's part of football and I will try to be ready as soon as possible."

Priorities

Meanwhile, Alonso outlined Liverpool's desire to be involved in the title race after successive 0-0 draws in the Premier League against Portsmouth and Birmingham.

He added: "Hopefully, we won't miss those two points in the future.

"We have a lot of priorities. The Champions League is a massive competition. We love that competition and each game, it's going to be a really important game for us.

"Of course, the Premiership is something we really want to be challenging for."

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Xabi sad to see Pako go

Reds midfielder admits coach blow

By Peter O'Rourke Last updated: 23rd September 2007

Liverpool star Xabi Alonso has admitted he is disappointed to see Pako Ayesteran leave the club.

Ayesteran left the club earlier this month after a reported bust-up with Reds boss Rafa Benitez.

Alonso, who is currently out of action with a foot injury, concedes it is big blow to everybody at the club to lose the former assistant manager.

Difficult

"I spoke to Pako when we knew he was not going to continue because we were very close.

"It was difficult for all the players. We have been working so close to him for a long time.

"It is a change and it has not been easy. We will have to see how it goes.

"It will take a little bit of time to get used to the new situation because we were really close to him at all the training sessions.

"Time will tell how it goes for us. We can't look back, we have to carry on our early form."

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Alonso doubt for Reds

Spanish star pulls-up in training

By Graeme Bailey Last updated: 17th September 2007

Xabi Alonso is a major doubt for Liverpool's opening UEFA Champions League group stage clash with Porto.

The Spanish international suffered a blow to his foot at the weekend, which forced him off late in the clash with Portsmouth.

Now, having travelled with the rest of the Liverpool squad to Portugal - Alonso was forced to pull out of their opening training session after just a few minutes.

Liverpool are now assessing the injury, but it seems unlikely that he could start in the Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday.

Should Alonso fail to make the game, then boss Rafael Benitez is left with a straight forward decision of recalling Steven Gerrard to start alongside Javier Mascherano - with Mohamed Sissoko already sidelined.

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Xabi Alonso wants Liverpool to be quick out of the blocks

Jul 30 2007

by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

AMBITIOUS Xabi Alonso has set his sights on improving his goal-scoring record for Liverpool this season. Alonso was on the mark from the penalty spot in the Barclays Asia Trophy semi-final victory over South China last Tuesday. The 25-year-old, who signed a new five-year contract last month, has netted only 12 times in 134 appearances for Liverpool since arriving from Real Sociedad three years ago. But Alonso is keen to provide extra firepower to a Liverpool team that scored just 57 times in the league last season compared to the 84 of champions Manchester United. “I would love to score more goals, but sometimes you have to know how the manager wants you to play,” said Alonso. “Sometimes you need to be farther from the goal because you need to cover while a team-mate goes forward. Of course it’s a challenge and an ambition for me to score more goals, but it’s not easy. I don’t think I’m going to be a 10 or 12 goals man. In some positions it’s not that easy.” Alonso agrees with team-mates Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard that Liverpool must be on their mettle from the first whistle of the opening game against Aston Villa on Saturday week or risk another campaign of Premier League underachievement. “The challenge is to have a good start first of all,” he added. “If we start well it will give us a boost and we’ll have more confidence. We’ve got to try to prove to ourselves that we can be at the top from the beginning. We’ve got to start as well as possible. The last few seasons we’ve had a poor start and the gap has become so big that it was difficult to go for the title. We need to focus on the start of the season and not be thinking about the last game.” Alonso and the remainder of the Liverpool squad returned from their eight-day stay in Hong Kong yesterday morning. Benitez’s side conclude their pre-season preparations with two games at the Port of Rotterdam tournament.

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Xabi Alonso: Wide boys have quality

Jul 19 2007

Blue & Read

Liverpool Daily Post

XABI ALONSO believes the Anfield wide boys will give the side every chance of filling the obvious gap in the club’s trophy cabinet – a Premiership title – this season. Rafael Benitez’s men are chasing their first championship since 1990 and the Spanish midfielder feels the extra competition for places down the flanks could prove influential. “I think we have improved in terms of wingers with Yossi and Ryan, but also if you look at Jermaine – he is in very good shape and playing really well,” Alonso said. “I think maybe this will be an important part of our game this season, out wide. “Sometimes last year we had players out there who preferred to be in a different position, like Luis Garcia, who liked playing as a second striker. Also, we missed Harry Kewell to injury. If he is fit we are looking very promising in these positions.” Story continues ADVERTISEMENT Liverpool continue their build-up to the new season at a special training camp in Switzerland, with a match against Auxerre schedule for Friday, and Alonso believes the change of scenery from Melwood helps bring the best out of the players. “It's always good to get away like this because you usually just train in the same place every day,” he said. “But we are trying hard to get fit for the new season and Pako is always working us very hard – not just in pre-season.” Fowler takes time over eight offers ROBBIE Fowler has as many as eight offers to consider for his future employment - but is in no rush to agree anything. Although the former Liverpool striker has visited Sydney FC to hear their proposals, agent George Scott says: "To be honest, Robbie is enjoying the little bit of freedom he's got at the moment. He is not in a mood to be rushed. He is considering eight offers, but the phone is always ringing."

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