The incredible Xabi Alonso thread 2009.

[Vlads Quiff]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Jack D Rips link=topic=33578.msg902328#msg902328 date=1247039973]

"Liverpool have adopted a position that is making it very difficult for us and right now we can see ourselves distancing ourselves from the player.


[/quote]

As I said earlier, we seem to be very unreasonable not making it easy for Real

regards

 

[Ryan]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Obviously the club are playing hardball over the whole thing with the 40m valuation, but surely there's a fee that rafa would be happy to accept.

Would he take 25m? Or could we squeeze 30m out of them?

Let's be honest - we're not gonna get 40m for him.

 

[SaRed]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=the count link=topic=33578.msg901938#msg901938 date=1246978423]
Real put off by Alonso price

Real Madrid remain interested in Xabi Alonso but are not prepared to meet Liverpool's valuation of the talented midfielder.

Santiago Bernabeu director general Jorge Valdano sees the Spain international as a unique talent, but admitted they may be forced to consider alternatives.

Real have launched an astonishing summer spending spree, bringing Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol to the club in a second wave of 'galactico' signings.

Returning president Florentino Perez is the man behind the enormous investment, with further new faces expected to arrive over the summer.

And while Valdano admits Alonso remains one of their targets, Madrid want the price to be right, despite Liverpool insisting that the midfielder is not for sale.

"Xabi Alonso is a priority if he fits into our budget, and this doesn't seem the case. We are very far from the figures that Liverpool have set out," Valdano was quoted as telling Spanish radio station Onda Madrid.

Private details
Valdano added on Cadena Ser: "Liverpool have taken up a difficult stance over Xabi Alonso. I don't like to talk about the private details of negotiations.

"We are studying many alternatives. We want someone who can channel the play and there aren't many like that in the world."

With plenty of time before the transfer window closes and with several key signings already wrapped up, Valdano insists the Spanish giants have no great urgency to complete their summer shopping.

"After the great players who have arrived, we aren't in a hurry," he said.

"(We want) two signings, maximum three. That's the number with which the team will be able to cover all eventualities.

"With the arrival of Benzema, we are not going to sign (Valencia striker David) Villa. We are happy to have got the Frenchman. He is 21, powerful, and is enthusiastic and eager."


http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_5419004,00.html

[/quote]

If they realise this then there shouldn't be a problem paying what we value him at.

 

[Akakabooto]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

I don't think they are even thinking of anyone else but are just trying to negotiate the price down.

They are hoping either we bend over and lower the asking price or Xabi demands a move thus making it near impossible for us to keep him.

 

[Judge Jules]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

From what Valdano said, it looks as though they're giving up on that hope, which is good news.

 

[keniget]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33578.msg902338#msg902338 date=1247040969]
Obviously the club are playing hardball over the whole thing with the 40m valuation, but surely there's a fee that rafa would be happy to accept.

Would he take 25m? Or could we squeeze 30m out of them?

Let's be honest - we're not gonna get 40m for him.
[/quote]

In this market, we'd struggle to replace him with 25M and have much change left over. It's just not worth it.

If they see Alonso as part of the supporting cast and aren't willing to pay over the odds like they are for their galacticos, that's their problem. We know better.

 

[Squiggles]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

I'm not convinced they've moved on for good.

The logical next step for them is asking Alonso to hand in a transfer request.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=33578.msg902346#msg902346 date=1247041418]
I'm not convinced they've moved on for good.

The logical next step for them is asking Alonso to hand in a transfer request.
[/quote]

Exactly so.

regards

 

[Judge Jules]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Except that Rafa's previously allowed for that by saying he'll still want £50 mill.for Xabi even then.  They've also got to be asking themselves why Xabi hasn't done that already, particularly given the moolah they'd pay him if he did sign for them.

 

[Squiggles]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

I fear we're entering the second phase of 'negotiations' where it could get could dirtier.

Up until now there's been no need to Alonso to sour his relationship with the Liverpool fans, and now maybe that time.

Hopefully Madrid will sign someone else pronto and end all this, but Xabi is the star in his position so it'll be more difficult than they think.

 

[Oncy]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Bet we keep him and he plays like a cunt or does his cunting acl.

 

[flufferama]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

He's getting married on Saturday so might have other stuff to think about for the next week or so.

 

[Sunny]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=33578.msg902361#msg902361 date=1247043185]
Bet we keep him and he plays like a cunt or does his cunting acl.
[/quote]

I don't think he'd play like a cunt if he stayed.

 

[LITTLE REDZ]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=33578.msg902361#msg902361 date=1247043185]
Bet we keep him and he plays like a cunt or does his cunting acl.
[/quote]

come on mate Alonso and cunt in the same sentence thats harsh

 

[Vlads Quiff]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=33578.msg902361#msg902361 date=1247043185]
Bet we keep him and he plays like a cunt or does his cunting acl.
[/quote]

I agree with Sunny, he is better than that.

Unless the relationship is that bad, and I can't think it is that bad given Benitez apparent desire to keep him


regards

 

[Squiggles]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

As Keni said earlier, it's not in his interest to 'play like a cunt'

If he wants to leave he'll have to keep up this form to attract the top clubs, rather than the likes of Juventus.

He'll also be deeply aware it's a WC year, and competition for places in that Spanish side is fierce.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

I still can't get my head round the idea that just less than twelve months ago, he was practically being pushed out of the door to Juve for £15m, had they come up with it, and now we are digging our heals in for his to stay and looking for three times that just to think about letting him go. I know he had a good season and all that, but it seems bizarre even for this transfer window

regards

 

[peekay]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=33578.msg902346#msg902346 date=1247041418]
I'm not convinced they've moved on for good.

The logical next step for them is asking Alonso to hand in a transfer request.
[/quote]

But that does not change anything does it. If we dig in our heels. If Alonso hands in a transfer request then he looses his loyalty payments, if we accept the bid. Even if Alonso hands in a transfer request, we can reject Madrid's bids until they meet our valuation.

 

[cochyn]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=33578.msg902371#msg902371 date=1247043948]
I still can't get my head round the idea that just less than twelve months ago, he was practically being pushed out of the door to Juve for £15m, had they come up with it, and now we are digging our heals in for his to stay and looking for three times that just to think about letting him go. I know he had a good season and all that, but it seems bizarre even for this transfer window

regards
[/quote]

That seems a contradiction in terms VQ, this window has seen some real bizarre transfers and transfer rumours!!!

12months ago he was struggling to perform in our team and was on the fringes of the international team. A year late the change is marked!

 

[Oncy]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=33578.msg902368#msg902368 date=1247043676]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=33578.msg902361#msg902361 date=1247043185]
Bet we keep him and he plays like a cunt or does his cunting acl.
[/quote]

I agree with Sunny, he is better than that.

Unless the relationship is that bad, and I can't think it is that bad given Benitez apparent desire to keep him


regards
[/quote]I think youre all missunderstanding me. I dont mean deliberately. I just mean it would be just our luck to fight the fuckers off and then he turns shite..............*whispers*...Again

 

[Avmenon]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=33578.msg902371#msg902371 date=1247043948]
I still can't get my head round the idea that just less than twelve months ago, he was practically being pushed out of the door to Juve for £15m, had they come up with it, and now we are digging our heals in for his to stay and looking for three times that just to think about letting him go. I know he had a good season and all that, but it seems bizarre even for this transfer window

regards
[/quote]

I think it's precisely because the window IS so bizarre,tho.

The 80 million for Gayface set this off.

Everything went mental after that.

We paid nearly as much for Johnson as we did for Drossena, Agger and Skrtel put together

 

[LadyRed]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Spionkop69 link=topic=33578.msg902091#msg902091 date=1246997076]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg902082#msg902082 date=1246996471]
[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=33578.msg901986#msg901986 date=1246982983]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg901951#msg901951 date=1246979060]
This is really is the Barry Saga all over again; with us on the other end.
[/quote]

You've argued yourself into a self-masochistic tizzy over this. Why are you so obsessed with this 'karma' idea? The Barry offer was a run-of-the-mill transfer bid. He said he wanted to move on to play in the Champions League, we bid, we were rebuffed (with O'Neill desperately trying to claim that one remark wrongly reported by LFCTV was a huge tapping up affair). It wasn't part of some megalomaniacal galactico project, with regular attempts to bypass the club and unsettle the player and endless planted stories in the press. Unless you think every transfer is 'karma' I'd drop the allusion.
[/quote]

Eh, pipe down, I'm not 'obsessed' or 'illusioned' with the idea of karma, it was actually a throw away comment, that I don't even really believe.

However, I do think the point about us and Barry last summer is one worth making. People are upset with Madrid and their bully-boy tactics, but Madrid have done nothing that we ourselves were not guilty of doing last year.
[/quote]

We used bully boy tactics to try and get Barry? What you mean like make official approaches through the club?

Comparing us to Real in this does make you look slightly naive here Anita. No that you should or will be bothered.
[/quote]

I'm not bothered, obviously.

But please, explain to me how Madrids conduct is any different to ours?

In both cases, the player in question has not been for sale, the buying club still persists to talk about wanting to buy that player, the selling club names an above the odds price, buying club goes back with an offer that's considerably lower. Repeat cycle several times over the summer.

 

[rage]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

alonso is and always has been a professional.

madrid are now getting desperate. i do not for one minute think that alonso will get involved.

 

[jimmy]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=33578.msg902371#msg902371 date=1247043948]
I still can't get my head round the idea that just less than twelve months ago, he was practically being pushed out of the door to Juve for £15m, had they come up with it, and now we are digging our heals in for his to stay and looking for three times that just to think about letting him go. I know he had a good season and all that, but it seems bizarre even for this transfer window

regards
[/quote]

I think it has to do with Mascherano. Rafa cannot afford losing both Alonso and Mascherano, and if he lets Xabi go for a lower/"more-reasonable" price, he may have a "weaker hand" trying to price out Mascherano.

 

[Squiggles]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=peekay link=topic=33578.msg902375#msg902375 date=1247044252]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=33578.msg902346#msg902346 date=1247041418]
I'm not convinced they've moved on for good.

The logical next step for them is asking Alonso to hand in a transfer request.
[/quote]

But that does not change anything does it. If we dig in our heels. If Alonso hands in a transfer request then he looses his loyalty payments, if we accept the bid. Even if Alonso hands in a transfer request, we can reject Madrid's bids until they meet our valuation.
[/quote]

True, but their aim is to weaken our position at the negotiating table and sour his relationship with the fans, so much that he has to force through the transfer himself. If we stand firm, as you say, we'll be able to keep him, but it may not be without consequence.

For instance - Xabi was being whored around Europe last season for a cut-price fee, 12 months later he hands in a transfer request which we instantly dismiss. You could understand him being very pissed off towards our club. There's only so much a player can tolerate, and it could well be the final straw as far as he's concerned.  

 

[Avmenon]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg902380#msg902380 date=1247044627]
[quote author=Spionkop69 link=topic=33578.msg902091#msg902091 date=1246997076]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg902082#msg902082 date=1246996471]
[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=33578.msg901986#msg901986 date=1246982983]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg901951#msg901951 date=1246979060]
This is really is the Barry Saga all over again; with us on the other end.
[/quote]

You've argued yourself into a self-masochistic tizzy over this. Why are you so obsessed with this 'karma' idea? The Barry offer was a run-of-the-mill transfer bid. He said he wanted to move on to play in the Champions League, we bid, we were rebuffed (with O'Neill desperately trying to claim that one remark wrongly reported by LFCTV was a huge tapping up affair). It wasn't part of some megalomaniacal galactico project, with regular attempts to bypass the club and unsettle the player and endless planted stories in the press. Unless you think every transfer is 'karma' I'd drop the allusion.
[/quote]

Eh, pipe down, I'm not 'obsessed' or 'illusioned' with the idea of karma, it was actually a throw away comment, that I don't even really believe.

However, I do think the point about us and Barry last summer is one worth making. People are upset with Madrid and their bully-boy tactics, but Madrid have done nothing that we ourselves were not guilty of doing last year.
[/quote]

We used bully boy tactics to try and get Barry? What you mean like make official approaches through the club?

Comparing us to Real in this does make you look slightly naive here Anita. No that you should or will be bothered.
[/quote]

I'm not bothered, obviously.

But please, explain to me how Madrids conduct is any different to ours?

In both cases, the player in question has not been for sale, the buying club still persists to talk about wanting to buy that player, the selling club names an above the odds price, buying club goes back with an offer that's considerably lower. Repeat cycle several times over the summer.
[/quote]

There are some similarities, but there are also seem to be some glaring differences, Neets.

Real have not made any firm offer which has been rejected by the club; all we hear about is how they're keen on x figure but Rafa is only agreeable to y figure.

I apologise if there has been one tho; I may have missed it in this million posts thread ;D

What is particularly galling is that Real didn't do any of this tapping up shit with Milan, Lyon or The Scum.

But we get it because we're seen as a soft touch.

Thats the main reason I'm disgusted with them, truth be told.

 

[6TimesaRed]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Spanish daily Marca says Real Madrid have turned to alternative targets after conceding defeat in their bid to land Xabi Alonso.

YAY IF TRUE!!!

 

[keniget]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

Well, they've obviously enquired with the club. There is little point in putting a bid in for 20M if you've been told 40M... or is there?

 

[TheBunnyman]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

[quote author=Avmenon link=topic=33578.msg902387#msg902387 date=1247045133]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg902380#msg902380 date=1247044627]
[quote author=Spionkop69 link=topic=33578.msg902091#msg902091 date=1246997076]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg902082#msg902082 date=1246996471]
[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=33578.msg901986#msg901986 date=1246982983]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=33578.msg901951#msg901951 date=1246979060]
This is really is the Barry Saga all over again; with us on the other end.
[/quote]

You've argued yourself into a self-masochistic tizzy over this. Why are you so obsessed with this 'karma' idea? The Barry offer was a run-of-the-mill transfer bid. He said he wanted to move on to play in the Champions League, we bid, we were rebuffed (with O'Neill desperately trying to claim that one remark wrongly reported by LFCTV was a huge tapping up affair). It wasn't part of some megalomaniacal galactico project, with regular attempts to bypass the club and unsettle the player and endless planted stories in the press. Unless you think every transfer is 'karma' I'd drop the allusion.
[/quote]

Eh, pipe down, I'm not 'obsessed' or 'illusioned' with the idea of karma, it was actually a throw away comment, that I don't even really believe.

However, I do think the point about us and Barry last summer is one worth making. People are upset with Madrid and their bully-boy tactics, but Madrid have done nothing that we ourselves were not guilty of doing last year.
[/quote]

We used bully boy tactics to try and get Barry? What you mean like make official approaches through the club?

Comparing us to Real in this does make you look slightly naive here Anita. No that you should or will be bothered.
[/quote]

I'm not bothered, obviously.

But please, explain to me how Madrids conduct is any different to ours?

In both cases, the player in question has not been for sale, the buying club still persists to talk about wanting to buy that player, the selling club names an above the odds price, buying club goes back with an offer that's considerably lower. Repeat cycle several times over the summer.
[/quote]

There are some similarities, but there are also seem to be some glaring differences, Neets.

Real have not made any firm offer which has been rejected by the club; all we hear about is how they're keen on x figure but Rafa is only agreeable to y figure.

I apologise if there has been one tho; I may have missed it in this million posts thread ;D

What is particularly galling is that Real didn't do any of this tapping up shit with Milan, Lyon or The Scum.

But we get it because we're seen as a soft touch.

Thats the main reason I'm disgusted with them, truth be told.
[/quote]

They did LOADS of tapping-up with Ronaldo. With Kaka and Benzema, I think they just regarded the fees demanded by those clubs as being reasonable. Tbh I was quite surprised how low Benzema's price was, considering the market. I presume Xabi's age and the unglamorous nature of his position mean they think he's worth less in marketing/sell-on terms.

None of which means we should lower our price or let him go at all.

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: Xabi Alonso will stay at Anfield, says Rafa Benitez

real madrid -
we're going now...
we're off...
don't try and stop us now...
we're almost at the door...
nothing you say will stop us...
nothing at all...
our foot is half out the door...
when we're gone we're not coming back...
never ever...
we're almost gone...