Xabi Alonso has admitted his “relief” that Real Madrid and Liverpool are in negotiations over his future as the long-running saga over the Spanish international’s possible £30 million move to the Bernabeu draws closer to a conclusion.
Christian Purslow, the Liverpool managing director, met Jose Angel Sanchez, his Real Madrid counterpart, before the Premier League side’s 3-0 defeat to Espanyol in Barcelona last night to discuss the move after Real requested face-to-face talks.
“It is a relief Madrid and Liverpool are speaking seriously,” said the player. “I decided a long time ago to keep on the fringes of everything that’s happened, and I’ve made that clear to everyone.
"I am a professional and I am just waiting to see if they come to an agreement. I hope, though, that it is resolved soon, for better or worse.”
The two parties remain at stalemate at present, with Liverpool refusing to budge on their asking price of £30 million, plus £3 million dependent on Real’s success in the first two years of Alonso’s contract, while the Spanish side have previously been unwilling to pay more than a total of £26 million. No bid was lodged as a result of yesterday’s meeting.
Sanchez, though, is believed to have intimated to Purslow that Real will increase their offer to break the deadlock.
A new bid, worth a total of around £30 million, is likely to be lodged this week, and it is believed Liverpool are prepared to accept the compromise figure.
Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president, has come under increasing pressure from Manuel Pellegrini, his manager, and Jorge Valdano, his technical director, to seal a transfer for a player seen as vital in giving Real’s side some much-needed balance, although Perez is unhappy at being forced into a corner.
His briefings to the Spanish media have increasingly caricatured Benitez as being unrealistic in his valuation of the Basque midfielder as Real’s frustration has grown.
Benitez is determined to receive enough money from the sale of a player he would like to keep to enable him to make two signings to replace Alonso.
He remains keen to sign David Silva, the Valencia winger, while the Liverpool manager has also inquired about Alberto Aquilani of Roma and could move for Javi Martinez of Athletic Bilbao.
Christian Purslow, the Liverpool managing director, met Jose Angel Sanchez, his Real Madrid counterpart, before the Premier League side’s 3-0 defeat to Espanyol in Barcelona last night to discuss the move after Real requested face-to-face talks.
“It is a relief Madrid and Liverpool are speaking seriously,” said the player. “I decided a long time ago to keep on the fringes of everything that’s happened, and I’ve made that clear to everyone.
"I am a professional and I am just waiting to see if they come to an agreement. I hope, though, that it is resolved soon, for better or worse.”
The two parties remain at stalemate at present, with Liverpool refusing to budge on their asking price of £30 million, plus £3 million dependent on Real’s success in the first two years of Alonso’s contract, while the Spanish side have previously been unwilling to pay more than a total of £26 million. No bid was lodged as a result of yesterday’s meeting.
Sanchez, though, is believed to have intimated to Purslow that Real will increase their offer to break the deadlock.
A new bid, worth a total of around £30 million, is likely to be lodged this week, and it is believed Liverpool are prepared to accept the compromise figure.
Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president, has come under increasing pressure from Manuel Pellegrini, his manager, and Jorge Valdano, his technical director, to seal a transfer for a player seen as vital in giving Real’s side some much-needed balance, although Perez is unhappy at being forced into a corner.
His briefings to the Spanish media have increasingly caricatured Benitez as being unrealistic in his valuation of the Basque midfielder as Real’s frustration has grown.
Benitez is determined to receive enough money from the sale of a player he would like to keep to enable him to make two signings to replace Alonso.
He remains keen to sign David Silva, the Valencia winger, while the Liverpool manager has also inquired about Alberto Aquilani of Roma and could move for Javi Martinez of Athletic Bilbao.
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