Rafa Benitez has admitted he doesn’t know if Xabi Alonso will play for Liverpool FC again as journalists continued to question the reds boss about the midfielder.
“You never know, you have to ask him.
“Everyone has been asking me about the same question for two months. I think it’s a question for him, not us.
“We signed him five years ago and we renewed his contract two years ago.
“We know that he’s a great player and that’s the reason we signed him and renewed his contract.
“We were not talking with Real Madrid and he knows our position.
“I was very clear the other day. He is our player and has three more years on his contract.
“At the end of the day it all depends on him.”
Xabi Alonso has not taken the step of submitting a transfer request, but has cut a disconsolate figure on Liverpool’s far east tour. Rafa has been keen to highlight the fact that he would prefer Alonso to remain at Anfield.
One player who certainly appears Madrid bound is Alvaro Arbeloa – who is in the last year of his contract after failing to sign a new deal. Arbeloa was not involved in yesterday’s game and is believed to be heading to Madrid for a medical.