by ElNino9 » Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:55 pm
Xabi Alonso Confident About Real Madrid Move - Report
The saga may soon be over with Real Madrid making a fresh bid...
17 Jul 2009 13:42:09
Xabi Alonso is remaining quietly confident that he will start the new season as a Real Madrid player as the Spanish club sought to increase their bid for him, according to a report.
The Liverpool playmaker has been at the centre of a tug-of-war between the two clubs since the end of the previous campaign while he has had to watch and wait.
Reds' manager Rafa Benitez has changed from stating that Alonso is not for sale to slapping a €35 million price tag on him, which Madrid at first baulked at.
While Los Merengues forked out €180 million on their first four purchases of the summer, any more would have to be supplemented by sales and that saw their bid for the former Real Sociedad creator stall.
Now though, The Mirror believes that Madrid are set to return this weekend with a bid that should secure his services and see him not have to join Liverpool's training camp in Austria.
In Spain, AS state that Alonso thinks that a deal can be done, but is opting to stay out of the way as he continues with his extended holiday after playing in the Confederations Cup.
Lucas Brown, Goal.com