Benitez warns Alonso bidders
09 Aug 2008 - 13:55:20
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has warned potential bidders that Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso will only leave the club for a very good price.
The 26-year-old former Real Sociedad schemer has been heavily linked with Italian giants this summer, but Benitez is only prepared to sanction a move for a substantial fee.
He said: "We know Alonso was a very good player and as a result he had a good price on his head. We had offers, but they were not enough so we decided he needed to stay with us.
"It could be that he does stay with us. For me it is not a problem if he stays or not. He can stay, we always have felt he is a good player.
"We are only talking about a very, very good price. He is a good player, if he is not going to bring a good price, then it is very simple, easy to understand."
Alonso moved to Anfield in the summer of 2004 and has scored 14 goals in 163 appearances for the Reds to date.