Tuesday’s Papers: Adios, Alonso

By Max Munton On · 8 Comments · In LFC News

It’s been inevitable all summer but now it looks as if last summer’s transfer saga (Rafa’s move for Gareth Barry) has come back to bite us in this summer’s transfer saga. This morning’s papers agree that Xabi Alonso‘s move to Real Madrid could be completed by the end of the week.

It is thought that the Reds would accept no lower than £35million for the Spanish international midfielder, but may have to accept a lower offer after Alonso confirmed his desire to leave Merseyside after five years at Anfield.

Says Ian Herbert and Pete Jenson of The Independent:

Alonso is understood to have telephoned his manager Rafael Benitez to inform him he wants to leave Liverpool and join Real, a move which makes his position at Anfield look untenable, and the Spaniards seem to have followed that up by making a reduced £20m offer for the player, £3m less than their previous offer and a signal that they will go no higher for a player who clearly wants to leave.

Gary Jacob of The Times however is under the impression that Liverpool will still receive close to the fee they wanted.

The proposed transfer would be worth about £32million, with Liverpool likely to use the money to sign an attacking replacement.

Whatever the case, it looks as if Alonso’s days with the Reds are over and he will be sorely missed after an outstanding 2009/10 campaign.

The Daily Mail reports:

Xabi Alonso has been told he must make an official transfer request to show everyone how keen he is to leave Liverpool and join Real Madrid.

It’s been no secret that Alonso was disgruntled at Benitez’s moves to replace him with former Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry last summer, aiming to offload Alonso to Juventus.

And after such a fantastic season in Liverpool’s midfield, who would argue against Alonso turning round to Rafa with two fingers stuck firmly in the air?

Sid Lowe reports from Madrid in this morning’s Guardian:

Although Benítez tried to force Alonso out last summer as he pursued Gareth Barry, he missed out on the former Aston Villa player when he joined Manchester City last month. That has left Liverpool with few alternatives in central midfield and Benítez publicly says that Alonso is not for sale. Privately he is understood to be willing to sell ‘“ but only for £30m or more.

Benítez also does not want to appear to be responsible for Alonso’s departure after fans reacted angrily to his proposed sale last season. Liverpool supporters made a public display of support for the Spaniard and chanted anti-Barry songs. Alonso then finished the season as the fans’ player of the year.

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  • GB

    Liverpool do not need players that do not want to play for the club! Alonso has had once decent season, cash in and bring in a decent young midfielder. Personally i would like to see Lucas go, not usre what Benitez sees in Lucas?
    Really hope Masch stays, to me he is far more needed than Alonso. Masch does not give his apponents a minute, he plays his socks off!!! a great defensive midfielder.
    i suppose the big question is, who do we rplace Alonso with??

  • GB

    Liverpool do not need players that do not want to play for the club! Alonso has had once decent season, cash in and bring in a decent young midfielder. Personally i would like to see Lucas go, not usre what Benitez sees in Lucas?
    Really hope Masch stays, to me he is far more needed than Alonso. Masch does not give his apponents a minute, he plays his socks off!!! a great defensive midfielder.
    i suppose the big question is, who do we rplace Alonso with??

  • Sam Wanjere

    I highly suspect that the media has enjoyed reporting (or misreporting this story). In truth, I don’t see what Rafa can do to prevent Alonso’s departure. As a gaffer he’s already stated that Xabi is useful to the team’s future – which IS public knowledge. Who really knows why Alonso almost left Anfield interchanging with Barry? We ought to wait and see. In fact, I’d rather not have a player who’s mind is not with the team, ala Cristiano Ronaldo.

    If Alonso’s leaving let it be. If he doesn’t agree with RB that he owes the club anything, so be it. He’s an adult and knows what he wants from life. Liverpool will always be bigger than any one individual.

    Our team also needs the money that can be raised from such a move. It might help us buy the extra forward and defensive cover we need. There might be a deficiency in our passing, but it’s not a crisis in my books. While debatable, I still prefer strong locker room leaders who love playing for our shirt and respect our tradition.

    While wishing Alonso the best in his endeavours, I also support the continued rebuilding that constitutes the Rafalution.

  • Sam Wanjere

    I highly suspect that the media has enjoyed reporting (or misreporting this story). In truth, I don’t see what Rafa can do to prevent Alonso’s departure. As a gaffer he’s already stated that Xabi is useful to the team’s future – which IS public knowledge. Who really knows why Alonso almost left Anfield interchanging with Barry? We ought to wait and see. In fact, I’d rather not have a player who’s mind is not with the team, ala Cristiano Ronaldo.

    If Alonso’s leaving let it be. If he doesn’t agree with RB that he owes the club anything, so be it. He’s an adult and knows what he wants from life. Liverpool will always be bigger than any one individual.

    Our team also needs the money that can be raised from such a move. It might help us buy the extra forward and defensive cover we need. There might be a deficiency in our passing, but it’s not a crisis in my books. While debatable, I still prefer strong locker room leaders who love playing for our shirt and respect our tradition.

    While wishing Alonso the best in his endeavours, I also support the continued rebuilding that constitutes the Rafalution.

  • lfc4life

    Yeah if he dont wanna play for us let him go. Maybe 10m + van der vaart. Or just like 30m n then we can buy huddlestone, he is a well good passer like alonso.

  • lfc4life

    Yeah if he dont wanna play for us let him go. Maybe 10m + van der vaart. Or just like 30m n then we can buy huddlestone, he is a well good passer like alonso.

  • mfulwood

    All total crap in my mind. There are no comments to support any of these articles. Other than that the only person who knows what Alonso is thinking is himself and his agent any other writings without his words are utter rubish. I think that if we were to sell him it would be a terrible loss because if we did who would replace him? Barry was the first choice but now he is out of the picture and any of the other players in Alonso’s calibre are untouchable from the big clubs. Would be too big of a loss.

  • mfulwood

    All total crap in my mind. There are no comments to support any of these articles. Other than that the only person who knows what Alonso is thinking is himself and his agent any other writings without his words are utter rubish. I think that if we were to sell him it would be a terrible loss because if we did who would replace him? Barry was the first choice but now he is out of the picture and any of the other players in Alonso’s calibre are untouchable from the big clubs. Would be too big of a loss.