Premier League - Benitez: Alonso staying put

Eurosport - Fri, 17 Apr 13:18:00 2009

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has expressed his determination to hang on to midfielder Xabi Alonso.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Liverpool Xabi Alonso - 0

The Spaniard was linked with a move away from Anfield last summer, when a number of clubs were understood to be interested in securing his services.

Benitez insisted it would take a 'massive' offer for him to part with Alonso and was not tempted by a proposal from Juventus.

The 27-year-od has gone on to enjoy an excellent season, helping the Reds challenge for the Premier League title.

Press reports suggest Real Madrid and Barcelona could target Alonso when the transfer window reopens but Benitez has warned any potential suitors he will fight to keep hold of Alonso.

"We had an offer from Juventus and asked a big price as he is a big player. They couldn't meet it," Benitez said.

"In the end, Xabi has been having a very good season. He has been playing well in a lot of games and is a key player for us.

"We have a lot of confidence in him and he is a player we want to keep because he has the quality, and the game, that we need."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 14 - 33 of 33

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  1. post 33 where is benitez getting the money from it is­ for sure not from hicks and gillett, benitez will have­ to sell fringe players and he won`t get the money he­ paid £12million here £12 million there on @#$% players­ like lucas get real benitez has spent more money on­ dross players than anyone in the premiere league. this­ is the real world liverpool fans get in it. COYB

    From Fred, on Sat 18 Apr 4:14AM

  2. here`s a fact benetez was trying to sell alonso last­ year to finance other buys and the same will be this­ year fact not fiction

    From Fred, on Sat 18 Apr 4:08AM

  3. Robbie Keane was a mistake, just like selling Alonso­ would be! The first team is currently one of the best­ on it's day but we struggle when the second string­ come in and that's why Benitez wanted Barry and­ should have brought Glen Johnson in January! David­ Silva, Glen Johnson, Aaron lennon and a solid left back­ will improve the squad. Babel has improved but needs to­ play with more commitment and Agger is brilliant when­ fit, as is Aurelio when playing in Europe.­ Unfortunately players like Lucas, Arbeloa, Dossena,­ Riera and Cavalieri have a hell of a way to go before­ they start lokking and playing like Liverpool players.­
    Ferguson knows that Liverpool are serious contenders,­ it's a shame Benitez didn't believe this sooner­ but he will at the end of the season when we are­ Champions. And as for contempt for Allardyce and­ Blackburn - why the hell not, when there's young­ managers like Zola who know how to play football.

    From Chris M, on Sat 18 Apr 4:08AM

  4. mshah110
    1. Rafa didnt actually buy kewell, it was­ gerard houllier
    2. It wasnt rafa's descision to buy­ robbie keane
    3. Robbie Keane was sold back to tottenham­ for a sum of approximately £12m with potential add-ons­ of £7m
    4. Ryan Babel is 22 years old, and hasnt managed­ to break into the first team yet, but if i remember­ correctly, he scored the winning goal against man utd.­ in anfield

    I am talking about facts

    From Darragh, on Fri 17 Apr 11:47PM

  5. wasnt that this time last year when you were trying to­ punt him off to anyone that would pay over the odds for­ him. he should leave, he was shown no repect.

    benitez­ is the worst manager in the history of transfers

    From yip, on Fri 17 Apr 10:02PM

  6. We just need david villa near El Nino, we cant consider­ Babel or Kuyt as strikers and david ngog didnt prove he­ is to liverpool standard. And for sure, no need to sell­ alonso since we are not in need other than a striker­ and a replacement for yossi.

    From maher_ak_83, on Fri 17 Apr 9:31PM

  7. errrrrrr torres aint goin nowhere! an keep alonso!

    From smiley123, on Fri 17 Apr 9:08PM

  8. comment 25 - the answer to ur question is YES!!!

    lets­ start with Robbie keane...20m sold for 10m, harry­ kewell waste of time, ryan 'who' babel...
    and­ lets not even start with roy evans...purchases...
    ggmu

    From mshah110, on Fri 17 Apr 7:59PM

  9. Does anyone know how to fix SAT NAVS? cos mine is­ showing LIVERPOOL as still being in EUROPE??
    GGMU

    From mshah110, on Fri 17 Apr 7:46PM

  10. Good idea, I personally feel that liverpool do not need­ any big name transfer in this coming window. He should­ start Babel more often and Cavalieri. We are the best.­
    Anderson+Nani+Berbatov=£70 million. Can you imagine­ such a wasteful manager

    From Uzoigwe, on Fri 17 Apr 7:44PM

  11. Good idea, I personally feel that liverpool do not need­ any big name transfer in this coming window. He should­ start Babel more often and Cavalieri. We are the best.­
    Anderson+Nani+Berbatov=£70 million. Can you imagine­ such a wasteful manager

    From Uzoigwe, on Fri 17 Apr 7:41PM

  12. Thats the right move. Keep Alonso he's been­ marvellous. Build on the present squad - its the best.

    From CHANDRA S, on Fri 17 Apr 7:13PM

  13. SOME PEOPLE ON HERE HAVENT A CLUE..CLIPSYDUCK AND­ STEPHEN IM POINTIN THE FINGER AT YE CLOWNS

    From johnsack33, on Fri 17 Apr 7:09PM

  14. keep him and torres isnt going anywhere and neither is­ gerrard. c'mon liverpool win the league

    From smiley123, on Fri 17 Apr 7:05PM

  15. Winnin games is stoppage time isn't lucky a game is­ for 90 mins and thats a fact score in the first or the­ last doesn't matter some teams are tough to­ breakdown if they finally snap in the 90th thats not­ different if they fold in the first

    From leejthomson, on Fri 17 Apr 6:51PM

  16. Torres and Gerrard get the headlines, but Xabi has been­ a sensation this season after a poor season last time.­ He has been immense and we look a better team with him­ in the mix.

    Gareth Barry? No thanks.

    From Matthew, on Fri 17 Apr 6:44PM

  17. Alonso not the only one to get players sent off, look­ at Ronaldo and Drogba, at leats he doesn't go­ diving all over the place.
    Personally i think that­ Alonso staying would be great for Liverpool.

    From Eifion, on Fri 17 Apr 6:43PM

  18. Liverpool cant get rid of him, he is a quality player,­ it would be absolut stupidity if they did

    From kenny_friel, on Fri 17 Apr 6:35PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Morituri: I'd HARDLY call Liverpool a­ "hurricane of a team". You've won 9 of­ your games in stoppage time this season.....bloody­ lucky team.

    From crispyduck, on Fri 17 Apr 6:30PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I would let Alonso go. He is the most cynical player in­ the Premier League. So far this season he has managed­ to get 5 oppossition players sent off, which is­ probably why Liverpool have won so many games. It's­ easier playing 10 men. Referees please note: keep an­ eye on Alonso. I don't suppose many Liverpool fans­ will respond to these comments because I'm sure­ they all agree with­ me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Mastermind, on Fri 17 Apr 6:28PM
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