Xabi Alonso,
voted Man of the Match in Spain’s 3-2 victory over
South Africa in the
Confederations
Cup third-place playoff encounter, is
set to meet with Liverpool manager,
Rafa Benitez to clear up his
future once and for all.
The midfielder, who scored the winning goal in extra-time
against Bafana Bafana, is still being hotly tracked by Real Madrid and certain quarters of
the Spanish press are convinced that he wants to join Florentino
Perez’s revolution.
According to AS, Alonso spoke to Benitez on the
telephone last week, asking the gaffer to allow him to move to the
Santiago Bernabeu, but only to be told, “I will not sell you to
Madrid for less than €40 million.”
It is now believed that Xabi, who will touch down back in Spain
with La Seleccion later on Monday, will seek a meeting with Benitez
some time this week to clarify his future.
Speaking to reporters after the South Africa game, he said “I
myself do not know what my future is. I do not know if I will play
in Madrid or not.”
Many around the Anfield camp feel that it’s only a matter of
time before the 27-year-old makes his exit, especially after he
reportedly bid farewell to certain staff members of the club. The
Spanish paper, meanwhile, is speculating that Madrid and Liverpool
could reach am agreement of around €35 million for the transfer
fee.
If Los Blancos do wish to sign Xabi, they will have to move
quickly as arch rivals, Barcelona have their eyes set on his
team-mate, Javier Mascherano, and it is believed that Benitez will
only let one or the other leave Merseyside.
<!--h3>Kooi Soon Leong</h3-->