Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was hoping that one of his favourite players, Xabi Alonso, would also be one of his easier transfer acquisitions this summer, but the player’s current bosses at Liverpool appear to have other ideas.
The deep-lying playmaker was on the verge of leaving Anfield this time last year as his manager, Rafael Benitez, had hoped to cash in on his departure to fund a move for Gareth Barry.
And Perez was confident that a repeat scenario this year would allow Los Blancos to sneak in and prise Xabi away for a reasonable figure. But an unexpected turn of events earlier in the week has ruined any chance of a smooth-sailing transaction, with Barry deciding to join Manchester City instead.
According to Spanish paper AS, Benitez will now try to balloon Alonso’s price in an attempt to ensure he has enough money to find the right replacement. It is reported that Madrid will have to start bidding at at least €40 million (₤34.4m), but it is also believed that Rafa first wants the midfielder to publicly admit that he wishes to leave the Merseysiders in search of a new adventure.
Perez has been tracking Alonso since he was still at Real Sociedad, but he lost out on the Basque's signature after he decided to join Liverpool in 2004 for ₤10.5m.
The deep-lying playmaker was on the verge of leaving Anfield this time last year as his manager, Rafael Benitez, had hoped to cash in on his departure to fund a move for Gareth Barry.
And Perez was confident that a repeat scenario this year would allow Los Blancos to sneak in and prise Xabi away for a reasonable figure. But an unexpected turn of events earlier in the week has ruined any chance of a smooth-sailing transaction, with Barry deciding to join Manchester City instead.
According to Spanish paper AS, Benitez will now try to balloon Alonso’s price in an attempt to ensure he has enough money to find the right replacement. It is reported that Madrid will have to start bidding at at least €40 million (₤34.4m), but it is also believed that Rafa first wants the midfielder to publicly admit that he wishes to leave the Merseysiders in search of a new adventure.
Perez has been tracking Alonso since he was still at Real Sociedad, but he lost out on the Basque's signature after he decided to join Liverpool in 2004 for ₤10.5m.
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