Xabi Alonso hopes to have played his way into the plans of Luis Aragonés, the Spain coach, for the European Championship quarter-final against Italy in Vienna on Sunday, but the midfield player remains in the dark about his future at club level, with Liverpool attempting to negotiate his sale to Juventus.
Alonso's agent, Iñaki Ibáñez, has held talks with Juventus over the past fortnight, but the player, who signed a five-year contract with Liverpool last summer, suggested yesterday that he would be happy to stay at Anfield. The situation is complicated, however, by Liverpool's financial position, which means that Rafael Benítez, having already offloaded John Arne Riise to AS Roma, is under pressure to sell Alonso to finance his bid to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa.
“At the moment, I'm a Liverpool player and I am just focusing on the Euros,” Alonso said. “You will have to ask Liverpool what is happening. I have four more years of my contract and my plans are to start next season with Liverpool unless there is a change. I can't really say any more. It's between the two clubs.”
Alonso was happier to discuss the challenge that Spain face against Italy. Having sat out the first two games in the tournament, the midfield player pressed his claims with an outstanding performance in the 2-1 win over Greece on Thursday, winning the man-of-the-match award, but, whether or not he starts, he knows that his team face a difficult task against Italy, who make a habit of reaching top form during the knockout stages.
“It's going to be tough,” Alonso said. “It isn't the first time that Italy have struggled to get through the group. In 1982, they did the same in the World Cup in Spain and from then they were spectacular in the knockout stages.”
Alonso's agent, Iñaki Ibáñez, has held talks with Juventus over the past fortnight, but the player, who signed a five-year contract with Liverpool last summer, suggested yesterday that he would be happy to stay at Anfield. The situation is complicated, however, by Liverpool's financial position, which means that Rafael Benítez, having already offloaded John Arne Riise to AS Roma, is under pressure to sell Alonso to finance his bid to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa.
“At the moment, I'm a Liverpool player and I am just focusing on the Euros,” Alonso said. “You will have to ask Liverpool what is happening. I have four more years of my contract and my plans are to start next season with Liverpool unless there is a change. I can't really say any more. It's between the two clubs.”
Alonso was happier to discuss the challenge that Spain face against Italy. Having sat out the first two games in the tournament, the midfield player pressed his claims with an outstanding performance in the 2-1 win over Greece on Thursday, winning the man-of-the-match award, but, whether or not he starts, he knows that his team face a difficult task against Italy, who make a habit of reaching top form during the knockout stages.
“It's going to be tough,” Alonso said. “It isn't the first time that Italy have struggled to get through the group. In 1982, they did the same in the World Cup in Spain and from then they were spectacular in the knockout stages.”
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