Guillem Balague feels Liverpool might have priced Xabi Alonso out of a move to Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants have been splashing the cash this summer with high-profile names such as Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema arriving at the Bernabeu in big money moves.
Liverpool's Spanish central midfielder Alonso is thought to be the next name on the shopping list of Real president Florentino Perez, but the Reds' reported price tag is thought to be a stumbling block in the move.
Alonso: rumoured Real target
Sky Sports' Spanish expert Guillem Balague has close contacts within both camps and says although Liverpool would like a decision to be made quickly, the two clubs are currently far away from concluding a deal.
"Real will be spending more," Balague told Sky Sports News.
"The problem is that Florentino Perez would like at least four or five of his players to be sold before buying anybody else.
Liverpool maybe want to sell, but they want about 35million euros. Perez said there's no chance that amount of money will be spent on Xabi Alonso.
Guillem Balague
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"At the other end you've got Liverpool, who maybe want to sell, but they want about 35million euros. Perez said there's no chance that amount of money will be spent on Xabi Alonso.
"Everybody at Liverpool would like everything to be sorted by Sunday when Alonso joins up with the squad - so at the moment both parties are at such a big distance.
"It seems at the moment that it's not going to happen, but you never know."
Clause
A further stumbling block appears to be a sell-on clause that the Reds agreed with Alonso's previous club Real Sociedad when they signed the Spaniard in the summer of 2004.
It is believed that Liverpool would need to make a payment to Sociedad if Alonso is sold before July 18, but Balague insists the Reds are nevertheless keen to settle the matter quickly.
"That is part of what's happening," Balague said of the sell-on clause.
"What's more important is the fact that Real Madrid felt they were insulted by the figure quoted for Xabi Alonso.
"On the other hand, Rafael Benitez logically wants everything sorted by the time Alonso joins up with the squad.
"Those are the dates, but any club can sign up until the end of August. The manager would like it sorted soon - and that's also what Xabi Alonso would like as well."
Ruud move?
While Alonso could be on his way to Spain, Real striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu with Blackburn and Lyon thought to be in the hunt for the Dutchman.
However, Balague is convinced that Van Nistelrooy, who is back in training after a long term injury, is part of coach Manuel Pellegrini's plans for the forthcoming campaign.
"I think he will stay," Balague said.
"Pellegrini spoke very highly of what they've got as strikers and he mentioned Van Nistelrooy in the same breath as Gonzalo Higuain, Raul and Benzema.
"That means that those will be the four strikers, Ruud included. I think the intention is to keep him for now."
Comments (173)
Nihil Morjaria (Manchester United fan) says...
Prina Patel you've stated every player who doesn't play in Alonso's position. Alonso would bring to Real what they dont have : a proper composed passer. They have Guti but he's fallen out of favour. Real dont have player who can properly dictate the way a game is going. If Real rate Ronaldo at 80m, then if they arent prepared to pay 35m for him that means they think Alonso's less than half the player Ronaldo is. They need to get their priorities sorted out. Also, Rob San, Man Utd were prepared to pay 35m, but were asked for 45m, and Real have spent almost 200m so they pretty much have inflated the transfer market. Them paying 56m + 80m for Kaka and Ronaldo in quick succesion blew all valuations out of proportion. Alonso is a Liverpool player, if Real dont agree with the price they should look elsewhere, not moan publicly or get friends like Guillem Balague to influence fans opionions with a load of rubbish. Alonso's their player, they can ask whatever they want for him. If any other club did this or spent as much as Real have then Platini wouldve criticised them. Good luck Liverpool keeping two of your midfield trio from the lure of ridiculous Spanish taxes.
Posted 08:26 31st July 2009
John Nesbitt (Sunderland fan) says...
alonso is a very good player but price is far to much can understand liverpool not wanting to let him go because i think he is there best player on par with gerrard but this new tax that the government are asking for is just starting to show that the foreign players are starting to go elsewhere in europe,about time too sick of all the diving and cheating from european players.
Posted 04:11 31st July 2009
Ryan Mcafee (Liverpool fan) says...
ALONSO OUT!!! Im absolutely disgusted by Xabi's lack of commitment and professionalism surrounding this whole saga. When Alonso was told he was surplus to requirements at Real Sociedad, back in 2005, where was Real Madrid? Like 95% of most footballers today he is a sell out! I cannot wait to see the back of Xabi Alonso. I hope Javier Mascherano can learn a lesson from this as he would be a big loss to the team but no player is irreplaceable. Good riddance Xabi, you will not be missed!! I hope Real Madrid's bench is good enough for you!!
Posted 21:49 30th July 2009
Sean N (Liverpool fan) says...
No player is bigger than Liverpool Football Club, Xabi Alonso included! If he wants to take a step backwards by going to Real Madrid then let him go. People go on about how good he was last year but there was ten others on the pitch with him. Let's not forget that. His average player rating on sky sports is 6.6, (Average, no majors faults- nothing overly impressive). Liverpool fans deserve better and they deserve players who want to play for the club.
Posted 17:56 30th July 2009
Mike Cody (Liverpool fan) says...
To be honest I am gutted Alonso looks set to leave, unlike the majority of UTD Fans who said they wouldn¿t miss/need Ronaldo when he jumped ship to real. Losing our best player from last season is a nightmare. What concerns me are the players we have been linked with to replace Alonso. We are Liverpool Football Club, one of the most successful clubs in football history and being linked with players like Aqua who?, Lee Cattermole & Jermaine Jenas.....??? If we want to win the League & Champions League we need players as good as Alonso.... David Villa, David Silva, Wesley Sneijder etc etc. I agree we quite a few other comments about other players we have bought who are not up to play for Liverpool like Dossena, Deggen, and Vorinin¿. If we don¿t buy well this time Rafa we have NO CHANCE of winning anything!!! All the best Xabi & good luck, I have a feeling you will need it at Madrid
Posted 17:25 30th July 2009
Femi O says...
I think it is a sad day for us Liverpool fans when it has come to this. I am not sure if Xabi is doing this just to spite Benitez for what happened last year with the Gareth Barry issue or just because he wants new challenges. I personally did not think the manager should have contemplated bringing Barry in and selling Alonso at the time. Well like all divorces, we just have to pick ourselves up and get-on with it. I am disappointed that Alonso is doing this when we are now in with a realistic chance of our first premiership crown in years. I hope LFC and the Manager still to their guns about their valuation. Anything less than £30million is probably no enough since we then have to go looking for quality replacements.
Posted 13:16 30th July 2009
Ben Whitelaw (Leeds United fan) says...
The sale of Alonso, the Gerrard fiasco and the overwhelming expectations after last seasons second place could mean that Rafa has a hard time this season. Xabi will be missed that's for sure, Lucas isn't quite ready to fill the Spaniard's boots. Check out my blog www.popeandswift.co.uk for a sideways and often humorous look at all things sporting
Posted 12:51 30th July 2009
Sean Mcguinness (Liverpool fan) says...
Rafa is the best manager in the world. He has done wonders at Liverpool and its all abut to come to fruition. Our squad is so strong. We were the best team in the league last year and this year our experience will enable us to take top spot. Our goalkeeper is world class, we have excellent centre backs, decent full backs, world class midfield, decent wingers, world class strike force. An Alonso replacement will be hard to find. Perhaps Rafa should do a part exchange with one of Madrids many midifelders. Or maybe we should get a new striker and bring Stevie G back into the middle.
Posted 12:10 30th July 2009
Angus Wagner (Liverpool fan) says...
So Xabi puts in the long awaited transfer request.Thank the lord he has been a man about it and done the deed.I never ever wanted him to leave but no player is bigger then the LIVERPOOL FC.Thank you Xabi for memories and if you want to come back the door will always be open i hope, incase you make the mistake of your life.Please do us all a favour and give the diver ( a.k.a Ronaldo ) a few hard challenges in your training sessions ... ha ha, Liverpool fans mount up this season is going to be one hell of a ride.Talk is of Roma's pin up boy Aquilani and Daniel de rossi but what about Juan Riquleme himself.Lets not forget that Raffa wanted to sign him before Xabi Alonso set foot on Merseyside.He is an outstanding player and would thrive playing alongside his Argie team mate Mascherano.Please Raffa do us all a favour and SIGN SIGN SIGN the BOCA.
Posted 11:34 30th July 2009
Gareth Smedley (Liverpool fan) says...
Xabi Alonso is a brilliant player. I would love to see him stay the three years left on his contract. If it wasnt for Bentez almost publicly declaring he wasnt required this time last season, this blog would never have happened. Now we have seen what kind of person Gareth Barry is as well. All the talk last season of him wanting Champions league football. Then he moves to a club with no European football. Real Madrid are a massive club in Alonsos own country. The temptation will always come calling when that happens. Liverpool needs Alonso more than Alonso needs Liverpool. He has given loyal and faithful service to the club. Can the same be said of Liverpool to Alonso? I love Liverpool fc, have done since i knew what a football was, but what are the reasons for a player tp stay? the boards in turmoil every other week, and we can only buy if we sell. The new ground is at a standstill, and we are heavily in debt. The best players in the world are going to Madrid (bar Torres) And they have money to burn Whatever Xabo Alonsos decision is, I wish him the best, and if he does go, thanks for the halfway line goals
Posted 08:25 30th July 2009
Andrew Broady (Liverpool fan) says...
I agree with most things said about the Alonso situation and think what Adam Stonier (above) said was bang on the money. The problem with Alonso was not last season but the season before because even though his passing ability is second to none his defensive qualities were poor and the amount of costly free kicks he gave away in the wrong half of the pitch came to Liverpool's undoing in major games.. One other point which i agree on and have said this for the last 15yrs is when it comes to selling players Liverpool must be the worst team in Europe for losing out on cash for major players.. I could start a list but it would be never-ending also Benitez moaning about fergie spending more cash is stupid as we have spent just as much and if we were marketed as good as utd are then maybe we could compete more in the transfer window.. no matter were you are you can get utd merchindise, yet trying to get Liverpool kits etc etc is like trying to find gold dust sometimes.. the club on a whole need to fix up from directors to players and we need another top forward 100% but as usual were dragging our feet in the transfer market.. I thought Rafa was holding out on signing a new contract unless he had total control over transfers, well he has signed his contract so whats he waiting for? always supported Liverpool since 7yrs old now 31 and my fam all support utd so please please please fix up sharp!!!!!!!!
Posted 23:51 29th July 2009
Matt Patterson (Liverpool fan) says...
If Alonso does go for say £30-£35 Million plus a part exchange player, considering the amount of midfields Madrid have, i would kind of be tempted to say yes to that deal, but of course it would be a major loss to liverpool, he was one of our best players last season, There is rumours of us being linked with a Italian attack/centre mid who plays for Roma, ive heard he is a good player, but would he be as good as Alonso? who knows, but i would have to say if Alonso goes Mash wont go anywhere, Benitez has set the 48 hour deadline for a reason, to bring in the replacement if Alonso goes, but then in Alonso's situation would you go to Madrid and play behind Sniejder Van der Vaart? sit on the bench, i dont think it would be the right move for him, But money talks as we can see with City's purchases, i just hope that if he goes we have got the right amount for him, and that we have a sufficent replacement on hand to come in, As for the United fans laughing at the situation, Hey you guys let go, your work horse (Tevez), your key player (Ronaldo), and have brought in Valencia and 2 unknown guys from the continent, Valencia in no disrespect is not world class, not to mention bringing in Ex-Kopite Owen, who will probably spend more time in the medical room than in on the pitch, like Haargreeves, Liverpool we will be stronger this season than last, to point out, yous are also weaker than last season.
Posted 21:10 29th July 2009
James M'benga (Liverpool fan) says...
Why everyone is going on about the price tag on Alonso, what about the price tage on Ronaldo is that for real. Come on liverpool has made alonso a better player and we deserve something when its time to go.
Posted 18:41 29th July 2009
John Unsworth (Manchester United fan) says...
£30 million for Alonso is too much but it looks like Liverpool obviously don't want to sell him and that's why his price is so high.i think that they should be going for other players really.i think that a really good defender would be a good buy for them and mainly centre back.although they have got Alibol they should get someone else as a good partner.Pepe isn't bad but i think even Kolo Toure would of been a good signing for them and not too expensive.i do think that they should of gotten Fernando Torres before he moved to Liverpool as for the price he moved at in today's market for a player of his calibire that would be a bargain.also they should of gone for Villa as apparently Valencia only just want a bit over £40 million and for a quality striker like him that would of maybe been a better buy than Benzema.
Posted 17:21 29th July 2009
Abdi Mohamud (Arsenal fan) says...
RAFA lets be honest is a joke when it comes to the tranfer market and buying players at the right prices. Alonso who he was trying to shift one year ago to make way for a lesser player in my opinion ie G BARRY, He was prepared last year to spend over 20 mill on BARRY who this year signed for man city for less than 15 more like 13 i think. Now he is talking about loyalty if i was Alonso i would go better weather and the prospect of putting balls through to ronaldon kaka and benzema why would you stay with a team who look like they will be further away from the prem league this year. Would love arsenal to sign alonson but mr big spender wenger wont be doing business at the prices quoted.
Posted 14:17 29th July 2009
Jay Mcquade (liverpool til the day i die) (Liverpool fan) says...
Sell, Sell,Sell thats all the talk about 2 outstanding player's (alonso & Mach) and 2 good other players Doss and arb, but nobody is talking about Class Players coming in. No one is talking about a class player to help take pressure of fernando, when either resting , hurt , or misfiring, Keane did not work, because he should have been more clinical infront of goal, if he had not wasted those few chances that he had , and been so nonchalant in front of Goal we maybe just maybe would be league champions and he would still be applying his football at liverpool, whether his good enough or not for liverpool is another and old question, but the real question is WHO IS GONNA HELP FERNANDO, BUY, BUY, BUY, and sod the recession if it brings success.
Posted 09:58 29th July 2009
Peter Holt (Manchester United fan) says...
You should sell alonso as it was not long ago when raffles wanted to dump him,now he talks about loyalty.Mascherano will also go and then your midfield is dead.Only Lucas ha ha. Gerrard will be on his own with torres and carragher,the rest is mediocre.They had their best chance last year. Something else to mourn about.
Posted 08:53 29th July 2009
Billy Worth (Liverpool fan) says...
I think it's disgusting how these clubs are getting away with unsettling Liverpool's players through the press. If it was Liverpool doing it to Real, we'd have UEFA knocking on our door telling us to shut the hell up. And with regards to Alonso - I agree, I don't care how 'hurt' and 'betrayed' he feels. He's a big boy, who earns more in a week than many earn in a lifetime. He's under contract, so he should shut his gob and play for the team that made him the player he is. And if Real Madrid don't want to pay the price Rafa has quoted, then they should bugger off and look elsewhere.
Posted 23:03 28th July 2009
David Shields (Liverpool fan) says...
I wish someone would shut this guy up over the Alonso deal. Why are Liverpool not complaining to UEFA about the actions of Real. They are clearly unsettling the player. He is under contract for 3 more years. If he was in his final year then that would make sense. Also, if Kaka is worth £54 and Ronaldo £80 then Alonso is certainly worth £35. Perez says the asking price is too high then later goes on to coment on how Alonso is a rare talent and that so few players are like him. I think Perez has answered his own question as to why we are asking for £35. Idiot!!!
Posted 22:41 28th July 2009
Prina Patel (Liverpool fan) says...
Alonso deserves to play for one of the greatest club in Europe. Why does Real Madrid keep trying to buy him, they have already got some big names like Benzima, Ronaldo, Kaka, Ramos and Ruud Van-nistaroy. They even have the world's 2nd best goalkeeper, What more can they possibally need ??? Alonso plz stay at Anfield
Posted 20:48 28th July 2009
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