Xabi Alonso (28 Viewers)
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Alonso could still go - Benitez
Rafael Benitez says he could yet sell Xabi Alonso despite the player being a big hit with the Liverpool faithful.
The Liverpool boss has one eye on the continued pursuit of Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry, and the Spanish playmaker may have to go with the big price that is currently around the England player's neck.
Barry’s name was not chanted with love by the Anfield crowd during the 1-0 friendly win against Lazio on Friday, and Benitez remains unmoved.
"We knew Alonso was a very good player and as a result he had a good price [on his head]. We had offers, but they were not enough so we decided he needed to stay with us,” Benitez said.
"It could be that he does stay with us. For me it is not a problem if he stays or not. He can stay, we always have felt he is a good player.
"We are only talking about a very, very good price. He is a good player, if he is not going to bring a good price then it is very simple, easy to understand.
"I heard the crowd, obviously. We know now, as we knew before, that he could stay with us."
Benitez has not received the financial backing from the club’s American owners for the £18 million fee needed to recruit Barry and the former Valencia boss is frustrated.
"It is not positive that we may not have the players we want here before the Champions League game [Standard Liege],” added Benitez.
“But the transfer window closes at the end of August, we will try to do our best to bring in the players to improve us by then.”
http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/08/09/Premier-Alonso-could-still-go---Benitez-/
What u think guys ?!
i still hopping that he could sign for us...
Rafael Benitez says he could yet sell Xabi Alonso despite the player being a big hit with the Liverpool faithful.
The Liverpool boss has one eye on the continued pursuit of Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry, and the Spanish playmaker may have to go with the big price that is currently around the England player's neck.
Barry’s name was not chanted with love by the Anfield crowd during the 1-0 friendly win against Lazio on Friday, and Benitez remains unmoved.
"We knew Alonso was a very good player and as a result he had a good price [on his head]. We had offers, but they were not enough so we decided he needed to stay with us,” Benitez said.
"It could be that he does stay with us. For me it is not a problem if he stays or not. He can stay, we always have felt he is a good player.
"We are only talking about a very, very good price. He is a good player, if he is not going to bring a good price then it is very simple, easy to understand.
"I heard the crowd, obviously. We know now, as we knew before, that he could stay with us."
Benitez has not received the financial backing from the club’s American owners for the £18 million fee needed to recruit Barry and the former Valencia boss is frustrated.
"It is not positive that we may not have the players we want here before the Champions League game [Standard Liege],” added Benitez.
“But the transfer window closes at the end of August, we will try to do our best to bring in the players to improve us by then.”
http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/08/09/Premier-Alonso-could-still-go---Benitez-/
What u think guys ?!
i still hopping that he could sign for us...
if that interview is true, then benitez really wasn't clever there. It's so obvious that they desperately are trying to sell him. Otherwise he wouldn't say things like 'for good price'... You either want to hold a player or you don't. If you want to keep a player, you just say it loud and clear, and not something like 'well, he's very very good, and we would eventually hold him, but... you know... for a good price...' It's so obvious to me that they can't get their 20 millions for him.
Actually, the whole barry-saga (in combination with the alonso-thing) was quite laughable if you ask me. Official statements, that players are to leave, then they suddenly don't... I don't know, but i think both pool and villa didn't make the best impressions in these negotiations.
Actually, the whole barry-saga (in combination with the alonso-thing) was quite laughable if you ask me. Official statements, that players are to leave, then they suddenly don't... I don't know, but i think both pool and villa didn't make the best impressions in these negotiations.
I dont think Liverpool are desperate to sell him.That might have been the case a month back when the Barry rumours were bigger.If they were desperate to sell him,they woudl be offering him to other teams for cut price deals,and they arent doing that.Its pretty simple.Meet his price,and you can have him.But he's not going for a lower price.A club doesnt do this with a player they desperatley want to sell.I believe Benitez is being honest here.Alonso staying or leaving is a win-win for Liverpool.
well to me, it looks different. Barry would cost liverpool 20 millions, and, surprise surprise, Liverpool won't go lower than 20 millions for xabi. To me, it's obvious that they're trying to replace xabi. You are indeed right that it's a win-win situation, but still, i don't think they acted very clever here. I mean look at the crap villa has produced; they announced his sale, and then said he was not going to be sold. In my opinion, they had the agreement with pool (maybe verbally), but then, as our xabi-deal collapsed, they couldn't afford barry.
I mean, think about the players; on the one hand, barry, who now is hated by his own fans, and despite that having to keep playing for a club he doesn't want to play anymore. Similar situation with xabi; fact is: he hasn't played lately, because there were people in front of him. And although every liverpool fan includes him in his starting XI, we all can't deny that benitez didn't play him after his injury...
It's also interesting to see that there are no possible buyers for xabi coming up. I'd have expected the usual suspects to come and get him, after we turned the offer down, but except from fener, i think no one was really interested, and that's why, in my opinion, benitez is trying to save the remaining dignity out of that affair. They recognized that they won't get their 20 millions, hence the words of benitez.
I mean, think about the players; on the one hand, barry, who now is hated by his own fans, and despite that having to keep playing for a club he doesn't want to play anymore. Similar situation with xabi; fact is: he hasn't played lately, because there were people in front of him. And although every liverpool fan includes him in his starting XI, we all can't deny that benitez didn't play him after his injury...
It's also interesting to see that there are no possible buyers for xabi coming up. I'd have expected the usual suspects to come and get him, after we turned the offer down, but except from fener, i think no one was really interested, and that's why, in my opinion, benitez is trying to save the remaining dignity out of that affair. They recognized that they won't get their 20 millions, hence the words of benitez.
I'm not saying that benitez is stupid, but that interview was just the wrong thing to do in my opinion. I mean they can do with him what they want, i don't care, but why didn't he just say that he was happy to hold him with them or something. He'd just have needed to pull one of those standard-answers and no one would have doubted anything. Plus, he'd have made it clear that he won't go away for cheap. With the words he said (always considering that he may as well have said something different with just the media reporting bullshit), he pretty much gave away that they are looking for a buyer...
I don't know, and it could very well be that there is some kind of idea behind it, but to me, this answer definitely didn't look too professional and well thought.
I don't know, and it could very well be that there is some kind of idea behind it, but to me, this answer definitely didn't look too professional and well thought.
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