Rumour Mill NEWS

Benitez: “Alonso is our player”

Published by Zac Lee Rigg on August 17, 2008

Xabi Alonso has been the target of much transfer speculation this summer. Reports had him going to Juventus, back home to Spain, and even to Arsenal.

However, Alonso has kept his head down, said the right things to the media, and got on with his game. He played well in the opening Champion’s League qualifier, and played the second half of Liverpool’s Premier League opener versus Sunderland despite not being fully fit. He provided the assist for Fernando Torres’ winner.

This has moved manager Rafa Benitez to claim his territory, as it were, by claiming that the Spaniard is in Anfield to stay.

“We knew Xabi could be only 80 per cent but he played well,” he told Liverpoolfc.tv. “Xabi is our player and he is playing well. If he continues to play like this I will be really pleased.”

Speculation will linger until the transfer window snaps shut on August 31st, but it’s unlikely Alonso will leave after praise such as that.

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