Liverpool FC manager Rafa Benitez criticised over Xabi Alonso price

Jul 28 2009 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ has been told to get real over his valuation of Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid grow impatient in their attempt to sign the midfielder.

Real president Florentino Perez yesterday launched a thinly veiled broadside at Liverpool, who are demanding at least £30million for the Spain international.

The Anfield outfit remain determined to hold on to Alonso, with Benitez having held talks with the 27-year-old urging him to resist Real’s advances and commit his future to the club.

The Spanish giants are ready to resume negotiations after their proposed opening offer of £27m met with a cool response from Liverpool officials earlier this month.

But having already splashed out £80m on Cristiano Ronaldo and £56m on Kaka this summer, Real are unhappy with Alonso’s valuation given Liverpool came close to selling the midfielder to Juventus for £15m last year.

“We made huge attempts to get players who had won the Balon d’Or or the World Footballer of the Year award,” said Real president Perez.

“But the arrivals of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo have confused some people who have thought that, because we wanted more Spanish players, they could ask for fees which don’t correspond to reality. A year ago, certain players would have cost less than half the price.

“There is nothing that justifies these prices. If necessary, we can complete the ‘Spanishisation’ with players from our youth system.”

Real have also been frustrated by Alonso’s failure to make public a desire to move to the Bernabeu.

New coach Manuel Pellegrini wants to sign the player but executives at the club are becoming tired at what has become one of the most protracted transfers of the summer window.

However, Alonso will not exactly be reassured by Perez’s explanation of why Real are refusing to pay top dollar for his services.