Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool 1 Real 0 - Xabi looks set for Anfield stay as Spaniards eye De Rossi
Real Madrid are ready to make a formal move for Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi in the biggest indication yet that Liverpool have won the fight to hold on to Xabi Alonso.
The Spaniards had been determined to add Alonso to the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol but Rafa Benitez has insisted the midfielder is not for sale.
Bernabeu sporting director Jorge Valdano has not given up hope on Alonso, but admits their pursuit is waning.
'The whole world knows he is a player who always seemed interesting to us. He is a man who is a gifted organiser and is at a mature stage of his career,' said Valdano.
'We got closer to Liverpool but in the past few days they widened the gap by increasing the transfer fee too much for our liking. Therefore, we see the player moving away (from Real Madrid).'
And though some read the comments as part of a long pursuit of Alonso, Madrid have now made a £26million move for Roma midfielder De Rossi, according to reports in Spain.
Madrid-based newspaper Marca says Liverpool had refused to budge from a £40m valuation of 27-year-old Alonso, who is thought to be keen to join the Bernabeu revolution.
De Rossi, 25, is committed to his hometown club, but Roma's financial woes mean it will be difficult for them to resist the bid.
However, Roma sporting director Daniele Prade insists De Rossi will not be going anywhere.
'Will someone leave? I can’t promise anything on this, because the transfer market sometimes presents unexpected situations,' said Prade. 'De Rossi? It’s obvious that he is staying put.'
Madrid are likely to maintain a separate interest in Liverpool right-back Alvaro Arbeloa but are not keen to go above £5m.
Liverpool rate the 26-year-old Spain international closer to £8m but he has just a year left on his Anfield contract.
Valdano indicated Madrid's incredible summer spending spree, which so far stands at about £180m, could be drawing to a close as he insisted the club would not be ripped off in pursuit of their targets.
They are set to let others, including Chelsea and Barcelona, fight it out for Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery.
Valdano said: 'With Ribery there is a feeling that he will not leave this season, for Bayern Munich have found many ways to say no - sometimes exhaustively saying "no" and sometimes talking about 80m euros (£69m), which is another way of saying no.
'Therefore, we are resigned to waiting for another opportunity to come. The player has two years to fulfil on his contract and, well, life is long.'
They have ruled out making a summer move for Inter Milan defender Maicon - a target for Chelsea and Manchester City.
