A thread about a man named Xabi

[Brownie]

Not to them it wouldn't

 

I'm talking about us. We wouldn't have demanded as much as we are now had we signed Barry.

 

It's very much a case of happy to sell because x player is coming in, but x player went elsewhere so now we don't want to sell.

[Guest Ulysses Everett McGill]

I'm talking about us. We wouldn't have demanded as much as we are now had we signed Barry.

 

It's very much a case of happy to sell because x player is coming in, but x player went elsewhere so now we don't want to sell.

 

PM'd Ian

[Code]

Apparently Xabi was none too pleased - to say the least - about Rafa's press conference on Thursday and the demand to "show loyalty", and took time out from his wedding preparations to phone him yesterday to once again demand his release. He won't hand in a formal request, however, as "that's not his style". That's courtesy of my journalist contact in Spain (not Ballague!!)

 

Who can blame him?

 

Do Rafa think everyone else bar himself is an idiot just like Houllier did?

[Code]

 

So much for him trying to force him out though, eh?

 

Some people might suggest Rafa`s comments about loyalty was just another trick to help achieve exactly that.

 

And off course in Rafa`s mind there are nothing wrong getting as much money back as possible in the process.

[Spy Bee]

Who can blame him?

 

Do Rafa think everyone else bar himself is an idiot just like Houllier did?

You're right, Rafa should just let him go for say £5m. He should also pay up the remainder of his contract.

 

If Xabi wants to go he hands in a transfer request. That's how it works.

[Red Phoenix]

I can't even see us getting 30mil for him now if that's right about him being really pissed off. Real will know he wants out and Rafa will just have to let it happen. You can't have him back over here like that.

 

(of course this post only means anything at all IF that's true.)

[BatChainPuller]

I'm talking about us. We wouldn't have demanded as much as we are now had we signed Barry.

 

It's very much a case of happy to sell because x player is coming in, but x player went elsewhere so now we don't want to sell.

 

[Antynwa]

Tell you what Xabi, if you want to go to Madrid that bad. I'll drive you there, and you will shut the fuck up and listen to every last damn word I have to say about what I think of you and this move.

[sir roger]

Breaking news on SSN , D'agostino in talks with Real Madrid , so hopefully they are giving up on Xabi.

[SpeedyG]

Marca have reported pretty much what RF relayed. He basically wants us to pay him a loyalty bonus to leave! Get real Xabi, if you want out, put in the request.

 

Xabi Alonso pide a Benítez que le deje irse al Madrid - MARCA.com

 

Xabi Alonso has gone from being located "far"-Jorge Valdano-dixit of the orbit of Real Madrid, Liverpool after the requested 47 million euros for his transfer, hang out again near the new white galaxy. Yesterday, as both Miguel Pardeza Emilio Butragueño left the door open to signing the midfielder in Toulouse for the next course. But, perhaps most important, was the player that has stepped forward and positioned itself clearly to his club.

 

Rafa Benitez publicly reproached both Javier Mascherano and Xabi their lack of commitment to the reds

 

According to La Sexta, the Benitez Xabi called yesterday to ask him permission to leave Liverpool and signed for Real Madrid. The international midfielder's call comes just a day after the Benitez publicly reproach both Javier Mascherano and Xabi lack of commitment to the reds.

 

This information merely confirms what has been published by Marks, in the sense that the player pressure "privately" to facilitate his departure for Liverpool's Anfield club. Said and done. Xabi Alonso has not used the media to make noise, but Benitez had a personal phone-in that does not maintain a smooth relationship, especially to treat a person who depends on question of his career.

 

Xabi made this call from Donosti, which now passes through the altar. But in Madrid there was also movement in that regard. Miguel Pardeza, and sports director Jorge Valdano right hand, acknowledged the difficulties with the signing of the international, but wanted to convey a positive message: "Real Madrid should not rule out any options until it finally breaks."

 

"It is true that there is an insurmountable economic barrier continued the ex-football player of Real Madrid and Zaragoza, but we are still waiting to this situation could change at any time. Meanwhile, survey the market and alternative values, but not many of that profile, "he added.

 

For his part, Emilio Butragueño, although others from the organizational point of view of the field sports, made another statement that underpins the idea that, despite the firmness shown by Rafa Benitez on Thursday, the bridges between Madrid and Liverpool are still lying "Xabi is a special player. There have been difficulties, but the sport is doing. Maybe in the past attempts have not been reached where we wanted, but just wait. The club has made a great effort and now is no time for tinkering. "

[Torvald Utne]

But it was never about money....

[Red Phoenix]

The best thing about those translations has to be "the Benitez."

[ali]

Breaking news on SSN , D'agostino in talks with Real Madrid , so hopefully they are giving up on Xabi.

 

Madrid have already said yesterday they won't pay the price, 25m, for him. Sky are a bit behind the times.

[Royal Family]

We really are running the risk here either of (a) keeping a very unhappy player against his will or (b) leaving it so late in the day that it is too late to bring in a replacement. If we sell Xabi right at the end of the window for somehwere around 30m euros (which, i have to say, is a good price for a 27 year-old), every team in Europe will now demand the same in return, whether that is for D'Agostino, Inler, Cambiasso, Lee Cattermole or Joey Barton, because they know we are desperate. If we sell Xabi, it would be much better to have a replacement coming in and doing pre-season training. People might be commending Rafa for his 'hard line' but once a player makes it clear he wants to go - which Xabi has now done in no uncertain terms from my information - then you just have to get the deal done, and stop posturing or playing the hard man. Set a deadline now - no more than next weekend - and get it done. Make clear to Xabi that beyond the deadline, if Madrid fail to come up with a reasonable bid, he simply has to stay another year.

[sir roger]

Madrid have already said yesterday they won't pay the price, 25m, for him. Sky are a bit behind the times.

 

 

SSN said that the udinese chairman has been quoted saying that Real wouldn't pay the full release clause , 'but these things can sometimes be ironed out' ( or something to that effect ) , and that D'Agostino was due to see them yesterday but something came up & he will be meeting them early next week.

[Code]

But it was never about money....

 

Some people really cant see the forest because of all the trees.

[sir roger]

We really are running the risk here either of (a) keeping a very unhappy player against his will or (b) leaving it so late in the day that it is too late to bring in a replacement. If we sell Xabi for somehwere around 30m euros (which, i have to say, is a good price for a 27 yearold), every team in Europe will now demand the same in return, whether that is for D'Agostino, Inler, Cambiasso, Lee Cattermole or Joey Barton, because they know we are desperate. If we sell Xabi, it would be much better to have a replacement coming in and doing pre-season training. People might be commending Rafa for his 'hard line' but once a player makes it clear he wants to go - which Xabi has now done in no uncertain terms from my information - then you just have to get the deal done, and stop posturing or playing the hard man. Set a deadline now - no more than next weekend - and get it done. Make clear to Xabi that beyond the deadline, he has to stay another year.

 

Agree with you on the 'deadline' idea , but on the other hand Barry didn't do too badly in the same sort of situation & with a world Cup next summer , Xabi can't afford to sulk.

[hamstrung]

Some people really cant see the forest because of all the trees.

 

I've just realised who you me of. Particularly the way you break English.

 

Its Jurgen the German.

 

[YOUTUBE]wCQ4oBcuTBY[/YOUTUBE]

[rebel23]

We really are running the risk here either of (a) keeping a very unhappy player against his will or (b) leaving it so late in the day that it is too late to bring in a replacement. If we sell Xabi right at the end of the window for somehwere around 30m euros (which, i have to say, is a good price for a 27 year-old), every team in Europe will now demand the same in return, whether that is for D'Agostino, Inler, Cambiasso, Lee Cattermole or Joey Barton, because they know we are desperate. If we sell Xabi, it would be much better to have a replacement coming in and doing pre-season training. People might be commending Rafa for his 'hard line' but once a player makes it clear he wants to go - which Xabi has now done in no uncertain terms from my information - then you just have to get the deal done, and stop posturing or playing the hard man. Set a deadline now - no more than next weekend - and get it done. Make clear to Xabi that beyond the deadline, if Madrid fail to come up with a reasonable bid, he simply has to stay another year.

 

I think the longer it goes on the more unlikely it will happen, 30 million is not enough. they paid 40 million for Benzema, they pay big money for Brazilian and Portugese players, even Pepe the defender cost them 30 million. we should stick by the valuation or leave it until January when I guarantee you they will come back when they're behind Barcelona because their midfield isnt good enough.

 

he is their #1 target for midfield like Ronaldo was for their attack or Benzema, but they wont come up with the money for us. why? why should we relent? Xabi won't be unhappy challenging for the league and the CL with great players. I just dont believe it

[Code]

Are they waiting for a white or a yellow bus though, thats all that matters.

[SpeedyG]

We really are running the risk here either of (a) keeping a very unhappy player against his will or (b) leaving it so late in the day that it is too late to bring in a replacement. If we sell Xabi right at the end of the window for somehwere around 30m euros (which, i have to say, is a good price for a 27 year-old), every team in Europe will now demand the same in return, whether that is for D'Agostino, Inler, Cambiasso, Lee Cattermole or Joey Barton, because they know we are desperate. If we sell Xabi, it would be much better to have a replacement coming in and doing pre-season training. People might be commending Rafa for his 'hard line' but once a player makes it clear he wants to go - which Xabi has now done in no uncertain terms from my information - then you just have to get the deal done, and stop posturing or playing the hard man. Set a deadline now - no more than next weekend - and get it done. Make clear to Xabi that beyond the deadline, if Madrid fail to come up with a reasonable bid, he simply has to stay another year.

 

It's not just posturing though is it, it's as much about what? 5m in loyalty bonus that we could be spending on a replacement.

 

To me it seems negotiations have come down to who is going to pay the loyalty bonus us or Madrid and do Soceidad get their 5-7m? That's potentially a 10m+ swing we can't afford to throw in the towel on that kind of money.

 

Macia has already been sounding out the replacements so I think we'll be in a position to move quickly.

[Guest Ulysses Everett McGill]

Tony Barrett on the money again

 

Liverpool Echo.co.uk - Liverpool FC - News - Blood Red: Xabi Alonso should pledge future to Liverpool FC cause

 

Xabi Alonso should pledge future to Liverpool FC cause

 

THERE is a theory doing the rounds that Xabi Alonso would be fully justified to leave Liverpool this summer because Rafa Benitez was willing to sell him this time last year.

 

As long as there is a transfer market and the principle of freedom of movement is enshrined in the EU constitution players will be free to come and go as they please, contract permitting of course.

 

But if Alonso does intend to swop Anfield for the Bernabeu then he can’t really use the fact that his manager considered cashing in on him after a below par season as an excuse, no matter how bitterly upsetting that situation was.

 

Yes, Benitez’s admission that he was willing to listen to offers for the Spanish midfielder will have fractured their relationship to the point which Alonso is no longer willing to describe it as anything more than “professional”.

 

And yes, Alonso is well within his rights to feel a lingering sense of harsh treatment having committed himself to Liverpool by signing a new long term contract with the club just 12 months before his manager considered flogging him to Juventus.

 

But since then Alonso has gone on to recapture his very best form and has just enjoyed arguably his best season in a red shirt, rivalling the superlative Steven Gerrard for the title of Liverpool’s star man during the 2008/09 campaign.

 

He couldn’t have done that without the backing of his manager who picked him in the vast majority of Liverpool’s games and who trusted him to continue his role as conductor of the Anfield side’s orchestra. Alonso could hardly claim to have been made an outcast.

 

Indeed, Benitez could quite justifiably point to the fact that he himself found out in the harshest possible manner that he was expendable when Tom Hicks and George Gillett held talks with Jurgen Klinsmann behind his back.

 

Having been undermined in such a manner many people within football expected Benitez to walk away from Anfield and find a new job at a club where his position would be much more secure

 

He didn’t though. The Spaniard battled for his job and fought so well that he ended up signing a new five year contract which ties him to Liverpool until 2013 despite what had gone on before.

 

Alonso could walk away. He could decide that the grass is greener at the Bernabeu and that he no longer wants to play for a manager who tried to sell him.

 

But then again, he could let bygones be bygones, remember that it was Benitez who gave him one of the finest platforms in European football to perform on and pledge his future to Liverpool once again.

 

He could also consider the fact that while Benitez may not have wanted him last summer neither did his current suitors Real Madrid who showed no inclination to sign him when it was clear to everyone that Alonso was available.

 

There is a school of thought which suggests that Liverpool cannot afford to keep an unhappy player, a theory which also applies to Javier Mascherano.

 

But maybe this is one occasion when international football will actually come to Benitez’s aid because whether Alonso and Mascherano are happy or not they are going to have to play well in the coming months to make it to the World Cup on top form.

 

At the very least, Alonso and Mascherano owe Liverpool another year and if the Reds manage to hang on to their central midfield duo it could be the most important bit of business they do this summer.

Edited July 11, 2009 by Ulysses Everett McGill

[Spy Bee]

Good article that.

[05 Milan]

I'm so incredibly sick of this saga. I want a decision from him.

[Chippo]

Some people might suggest Rafa`s comments about loyalty was just another trick to help achieve exactly that.

 

And off course in Rafa`s mind there are nothing wrong getting as much money back as possible in the process.

 

But in your mind Rafa is wrong getting as much money as possible??