Liverpool FC Forum

[Sabre]

I don't believe it is just a family issue as Xabi was quoted as saying that it was possible that he could stay in England (presumably Arsenal/Man city? ) and that all options were open. I would have expected if it was family reasons he would have dismissed out of hand any transfer with English clubs and maybe even Italian clubs depending on the problem.

When/where did he say that??? I haven't been keeping too close an eye on all the reports.

If you heard the interview in Spanish language you'd clarify that when he talked about remaining in England he was talking about remaining at Liverpool. He also said it wouldn't be a dissapointment whatsoever to remain at this club, and he requested the journos not to insist on the possibility of going to Madrid.

Xabi didn't talk as warmly about the club as other times (but he mentioned again this is a special club), but he didn't under  any circunstance comment about the possibility of playing for another English club.

Then of course the next day you had the english papers report of that interview, and you know they translate with a slight change here, put a quote here, then make an introduction to another quote inviting to think he was considering to play for another english club,  You know that kind of journalism. And then of course you have the interpretations of the readers out of these reports, which allow you to think whatever you want (as you'll probably see in these boards).

But the truth is that Xabi didn't even comment about playing for another English club and when he was asked about coming back to Spain or remaining in England, the context was Real Madrid / Liverpool. Not other clubs.


Nice to read you again.

[account deleted by request]

I interpret that to mean he could stay in the Premier League with us, or there's the possibility of a move to Madrid. Wouldn't really make sense to move to another English club, I think that's quite unlikely. Good news that he says he wouldn't have any regrets staying. Seems to imply he wouldn't be too miffed after all which strengthens our position all round.

Don't forget those quotes were made at the time when it was rumoured that both Arsenal and Man city were interested in him. I think the stay in the prem part was interpreted at the time as "with another English club".

Obviously as Alonso's price has risen the likes of Arsenal and Juventus have disappeared from the scene, and Citeh have seemingly lost interest as well.

Again the part about having no problems staying with Liverpool seems more like covering all options at the time rather than any sort of indicator of his hopes or intentions.

[Fauxy]

Benitez is an hypocrite and a cynic, 

You must be really cheeky to demand loyalty from one player who you despised the last year putting him onto the market for 16 millions.

And now Rafa ask for loyalty and gratitude? There is no point losing sleep over it now.

If I were Xabi just would tell Benitez he can go to fuc.k off and stick his hypocrisy in his fat as.s.

Mate if you have a player that is underperforming and generally off form which Alonso was, then you have every right to put him up for sale.

Alonso should have accepted that he wasnt playing well and accepted that this would lead to Rafa trying to sell him, he has only himself to blame.

The fact that he didnt invite any liverpool players to his wedding shows that he is a person that is quite happy to avoid problems and has too big an ego to just realise that before last season he wasnt playing well and was lucky not to get sold.

Rafa does not ' demand ' loyalty, he expects it. And he never ' despised ' Alonso, he just did his job and tried to get rid of what seemed like dead wood.

[Reg]

Its official, he wants out.........

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpo....4140207

[Sabre]

Benitez is an hypocrite and a cynic, 

You must be really cheeky to demand loyalty from one player who you despised the last year putting him onto the market for 16 millions.

Before you call the Liverpool manager an hypocrite and cynic, based on the 16M statement, I think it's fair to ask whether that's true or was just a sum mentioned by the Daily Star or the Mirror.

Because official sources of Real Madrid have acknowledged that the price asked by Benitez was surrounding the 23M. Which makes sense because It would be hard to understand Juventus were able to pay 14 and not 16.

And now Rafa ask for loyalty and gratitude? There is no point losing sleep over it now.

If I were Xabi just would tell Benitez he can go to fuc.k off and stick his hypocrisy in his fat as.s.

Which is nice, but the contract that Alonso signed was with the club, not with Rafa. Let's not forget that.

The truth is that contracts are for something and regardless how little Xabi likes Rafa, Rafa and Purslow do well to protect the club's interest. And Rafa is right when he says Xabi owes much to Liverpool.

[account deleted by request]

Its official, he wants out.........

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpo....4140207

No transfer request though Reg. Is this any different than we already knew mate?

[columbia]

Its official, he wants out.........

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpo....4140207

this is new information.

[akumaface]

This is professional football, Xabi had 2 sub par seasons prior to last year and that was enough for Rafa to put him on the market. But he performed admirably last year and thus Rafa wanted him to remain. This is all about performances. Nothing personal. But of course, people is a strange animal and things are much more complicated. If Xabi would look deeper and should see the truth behind all this. There is nothing wrong with that as this is a business. Now that Xabi wanted to leave, thus Rafa would want to get the value he perceived rather than at RM's term. Rafa is in fact doing his best to protect LFC. I'm completely behind Rafa even though Xabi is one of my favourite player.

[tubby]

Just to be clear if he does go do Real Sociedad get any money? I thought that deadline has passed?

[Reg]

Ok.... so who do we replace him with?  My list is looking very short indeed - no one.... cant think of anyone.

[LFC2007]

I don't believe it is just a family issue as Xabi was quoted as saying that it was possible that he could stay in England (presumably Arsenal/Man city? ) and that all options were open. I would have expected if it was family reasons he would have dismissed out of hand any transfer with English clubs and maybe even Italian clubs depending on the problem.

When/where did he say that??? I haven't been keeping too close an eye on all the reports.

If you heard the interview in Spanish language you'd clarify that when he talked about remaining in England he was talking about remaining at Liverpool. He also said it wouldn't be a dissapointment whatsoever to remain at this club, and he requested the journos not to insist on the possibility of going to Madrid.

Xabi didn't talk as warmly about the club as other times (but he mentioned again this is a special club), but he didn't under  any circunstance comment about the possibility of playing for another English club.

Then of course the next day you had the english papers report of that interview, and you know they translate with a slight change here, put a quote here, then make an introduction to another quote inviting to think he was considering to play for another english club,  You know that kind of journalism. And then of course you have the interpretations of the readers out of these reports, which allow you to think whatever you want (as you'll probably see in these boards).

But the truth is that Xabi didn't even comment about playing for another English club and when he was asked about coming back to Spain or remaining in England, the context was Real Madrid / Liverpool. Not other clubs.


Nice to read you again.

That's why I thought, mate. At the present moment it just doesn't seem very plausible that he'd be persuaded to play for another English club, for obvious reasons. The bit about missing things in Spain could indicate the family dimension, but of much greater significance is that he's prepared to stay. The news in the Echo today wouldn't exactly square with that (or his personality in general), so it'll be interesting to see the final outcome of it all.

[Sabre]

Just to be clear if he does go do Real Sociedad get any money? I thought that deadline has passed?

To be exactly precise, the 20% clause is expired, you are right.

The only money RS would receive would be surrounding 1M, but it has nothing to do with the 20% clause, but article 20 and 21 of this FIFA rules, you can read here:

http://es.fifa.com/mm/01/06/30/78/statusinhalt_en_122007.pdf

I'm not sure though Bav that these articles are observed always, anyway. I do know that when Alonso signed of Liverpool, part of the money went to Alonso's original youth club, Antiguoko.

The only amount of money RS can receive can be around that sum of 1M, never more.

P.S. Forget article 20, it's for players <23 years. I doubt that RS will receive a penny. I don't think article 21 is applied in real life.

[Fauxy]

Ok.... so who do we replace him with?  My list is looking very short indeed - no one.... cant think of anyone.

Martinez? Benayoun? They may not be able to pass like Alonso but they make up for it with other qualities.

[burjennio]

Wesley Sneijder would be more than an adaquate replacement, a wonderful passer of a football with superb delivery from set pieces, saying that he's more of an offensive player than Alonso so a slight adjustment would be required to fit him into the 4231 that has been so successful in the last 2 seasons

[GOAT]

It's not official he wants out is it, I havent seen any quotes from the player, looks like he could though