Liverpool FC Forum

by **Sabre** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:30 am

Not that Marca is to be trusted like the Holy Bible, but it says the latter, it's a deadline to apparently close the deal around a sum of 30M.

The headline says:

Liverpool to Madrid: You've got 48H.

Below the purple 48h, you read, "This is the deadline to close the deal: the price, 30M . The white club takes the new offer with calmness. Benitez has already Aquilani's "yes" to replace the man from Tolosa (the village of Alonso).

Over the headline: We hunted down Alonso in the Barajas airport (they then explain in the inner pages that Alonso is on his way to San Sebastian for 3 days on holidays, not that he was going to Madrid).

-----

Note that the news on Arbeloa on top of it: "My stuff is almost done", and the agreement would be around 3M pounds.

by **Redman in wales** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:49 am

and one from the british press...

Liverpool's valuation of Xabi Alonso unrealistic, say Real Madrid

Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has made it clear he will not lower his asking price for the Spain international despite more than two months of machinations from Madrid in an attempt to unsettle Alonso.

Though Madrid are yet to lodge a formal offer, they are believed to have informed Liverpool they are unwilling to pay any more than £24 million for Alonso. Sources in Spain suggest Perez had hoped the player would agitate for a move to weaken Liverpool's bargaining position, but aside from admitting he is "flattered" by Real's interest, Alonso's refusal to do so has left the deal at a standstill, clearly frustrating his would-be employer.

"We made huge attempts at the start to sign players who had won the Balon d'Or or the World Footballer of the Year award," said Perez, who started his second spell at the helm of the Spanish side in June. "But the arrivals of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo have confused some people who obviously thought that, because we said we wanted more Spanish players, they could ask for fees which don't correspond to reality.

"A year ago, certain players we have asked about would have cost less than half the price we are being quoted now. There is nothing that justifies these prices. If necessary, we will find the Spanish players we would like for the squad in our youth system."

Manuel Pellegrini, the Real Madrid manager, remains keen on signing Alonso. Before Real can sign any more players, though, Perez admits the club must trim a squad bloated by his impact signings.

"We brought in a lot of players, our prime objectives, at the start and now we have the absurd number of 29 players in our squad, when we can only register 25 for the league," he said. "It has been more difficult than we expected encouraging players to look at other options. At this point, for a player to arrive, at least one would have to leave.

"There is a financial element to that, but it is mainly a technical one. We cannot have so many players who would not have chance to play. It has to be one in, one out for us at the moment."

Liverpool's hopes of staving off Barcelona's interest in Javier Mascherano were boosted yesterday when Txiki Begiristain, the European champions' technical director, admitted they were in talks with Juventus over the signing of the Denmark international midfielder Christian Poulsen.

telegraph

by **NANNY RED** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:02 am

Sabes i think hes in Madrid mate

by **tubby** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:07 am

30Mil Euros is not enough why is Rafa accepting?

by **Sabre** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:21 am

For me that article of the telegraph tell things as it is, we are simply watching machinations to unsettle Alonso from Real Madrid.

I hope Rafa stays firm. Why should they pay the double of what yesteryear was asked? because we need him, and they need him even more. I hope Rafa stays solid a bit more, we'll see if Real Madrid keep dissapointing in their preseason game if they get even more nervous (the press is already nervous because the team doesn't seem to be clicking).

Come on Rafa, stay firm, they're more nervous than we are, we have the grip of the situation!

by **Redman in wales** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:28 am

bavlondon wrote:30Mil Euros is not enough why is Rafa accepting?

completely agree with you there bav.

maybe he hasn't handed in a transfer request incase madrid pull out, but has told rafa privately he really wants to go. ??

30m euros is around £26Mil which is double what we were being offered last season. IMO last season, with Barry in the offing, Rafa would have accepted £16-17M for Xabi.

If he were to have a dodgy season again (though I think that's unlikely) - we'd prob not see that figure (£26M) again.

Maybe these things are weighing on rafas mind. who knows.

I dont want to see him go, and would much rather hold onto him, or at least hold out to what he's worth in the current market (£30M+)

by **Redman in wales** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:34 am

Sabre wrote:Why should they pay the double of what yesteryear was asked?

Its a good question Sabs, and your point, "because we need him, and they need him even more. " - is very true.

I'd also mention that strikers are plentiful, there's loads of players that can stick the ball in the back of the net. There are plently of wingers around who can get down the flanks and whip in a ball... etc etc

But there's not many quite like our Xabi who can dictate the play so effortlessly, spray passes around, link defence and attack and send 30yard inch-perfect balls whenever there's a break on. THATS why he's worth more. :nod

by **Bammo** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:35 am

any chance it's 30m euros plus add ons?

sabre? please....?

:laugh:

by **ConnO'var** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:40 am

Sabre wrote:Not that Marca is to be trusted like the Holy Bible, but it says the latter, it's a deadline to apparently close the deal around a sum of 30M.

The headline says:

Liverpool to Madrid: You've got 48H.

Below the purple 48h, you read, "This is the deadline to close the deal: the price, 30M . The white club takes the new offer with calmness. Benitez has already Aquilani's "yes" to replace the man from Tolosa (the village of Alonso).

Over the headline: We hunted down Alonso in the Barajas airport (they then explain in the inner pages that Alonso is on his way to San Sebastian for 3 days on holidays, not that he was going to Madrid).

-----

Note that the news on Arbeloa on top of it: "My stuff is almost done", and the agreement would be around 3M pounds.

Thanks sabre....

I really abhor the way these guys conduct business. I hope Rafa tells them to take a running jump.

Tell Xabi that he's integral to our plans and that Real Madrid can't really want him all that much if they're willing to pay stupid cash for the over-rated/hyped piece of trash who can only perform against small teams but unwilling to stump the cash to match our valuation for a truly class midfielder who is Spanish.

We'll find another way to get the players we need and not wait on their dirty money.

Stay Xabi.... We need you more than Real Madrid..... and you know how the fans feel about you. If you must go..... thanks for everything.

by **stmichael** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:14 am

Still makes me laugh that Real say they "won't pay over the odds". :laugh:

by **Sabre** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:25 am

stmichael wrote:Still makes me laugh that Real say they "won't pay over the odds".

We'll see, the good thing is that Rafa knows that shower of cúnts well.

Their press is getting nervous with all this Alonso affaire and Florentino had to hear "Sign up Xabi" the other day in the Bernabeu. After two preseason games some journos are getting nervous and have started writting things like "If you can't bring Alonso because of Rafa, then bring Alonso AND Rafa"

On the other hand I agree much of what has been said in the latest posts, and some bits that I don't agree I find interesting for thought, like the point of Big Al about the risk of Alonso to get a nasty injury. There's no doubt that the risk exists, and he's been close to that from the very beginning (Essien's tackle and all).

The only bit I disagree is in the "generousity" of Conn saying thanks to Xabi if he goes. I'll have mixed feelings, because, yes, his contribution has been good, but Alonso wanted to stay here last summer despite being recent the incident about his son and the transfer, and he stayed because it suited him well. Now leaving us when Manchester United has lost Ronaldo and we are really close to win it would be like a treason to me, which I think I couldn't forgive. If he goes that way don't ask me how's he doing in La Liga, because I won't watch his matches. :no

by **we all dream...** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:16 am

Sabre wrote:Their press is getting nervous with all this Alonso affaire and Florentino had to hear "Sign up Xabi" the other day in the Bernabeu. After two preseason games some journos are getting nervous and have started writting things like "If you can't bring Alonso because of Rafa, then bring Alonso AND Rafa"

This to me sounds like we are certainly going to end up selling him. The media will be all over Perez to finalise the deal, all fans are influenced by the media meaning more chants like the above which will put even more pressue on him.

Rafa will obviously be fully aware of this and will hopefully make the most of it.

I want 35million Euros.. or no sale.

The latter worries me though, surely he will go next summer if he doesn't go this. When this goes through it'll be for a lot less. The only way that will have been good busines is if Xabi helps us to the title. Part of me still thinks £30 million could give us a better platform to win the league. Why? I don't know. I just think Rafa could pull something out of the bag with Silva and a.n other half decent...

I just wish it was sorted (as long as it's for the right price) :grinning:

by **JoeTerp** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:21 pm

Sabre wrote:Not that Marca is to be trusted like the Holy Bible, but it says the latter, it's a deadline to apparently close the deal around a sum of 30M.

The headline says:

Liverpool to Madrid: You've got 48H.

Below the purple 48h, you read, "This is the deadline to close the deal: the price, 30M . The white club takes the new offer with calmness. Benitez has already Aquilani's "yes" to replace the man from Tolosa (the village of Alonso).

Over the headline: We hunted down Alonso in the Barajas airport (they then explain in the inner pages that Alonso is on his way to San Sebastian for 3 days on holidays, not that he was going to Madrid).

-----

Note that the news on Arbeloa on top of it: "My stuff is almost done", and the agreement would be around 3M pounds.

but what does it say about Rubio ?

has he given up on Minnesota?

by **Reg** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:29 pm

Sabre wrote:After two preseason games some journos are getting nervous and have started writting things like "If you can't bring Alonso because of Rafa, then bring Alonso AND Rafa"

THAT will always be the biggest fear..... we consider that players are expendable but what if they offer Rafa 20 million euros to walk the talk?

by **JoeTerp** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:44 pm

Reg wrote:
Sabre wrote:After two preseason games some journos are getting nervous and have started writting things like "If you can't bring Alonso because of Rafa, then bring Alonso AND Rafa"

THAT will always be the biggest fear..... we consider that players are expendable but what if they offer Rafa 20 million euros to walk the talk?

don't think Real would give a manager that much control, and I don't think Rafa would want to manage without much control.

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