Real haven't given up on Alonso

REAL MADRID’S bid to sign Xabi Alonso from Liverpool will not be plain sailing but they are still hoping to land the Spain midfielder, coach Manuel Pellegrini said yesterday.

Real are looking to strengthen the centre of midfield following their spending spree on the likes of Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazilian playmaker Kaka and may also sign another full-back, Pellegrini said at a news conference, held just before the squad’s arrival into Dublin today.

“It’s not a mystery that Real Madrid are interested in signing him (Alonso) but it won’t be easy,” he said.

“We are looking at alternatives for some positions,” he added. “The attack is complete and perhaps a central midfielder or fullback is still missing but the rest of the positions are covered.”

In his first news conference since the players began pre-season training last week, Pellegrini also said media reports that Real’s entire contingent of six Dutch players, including Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, would be leaving were inaccurate.

“When there is some news the club will announce it,” he said when asked which players were on their way out. “But it’s not true that all the Dutch players are going to leave as has been reported in the media.”

Pellegrini also responded to criticism of Real’s spending policies published in Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano on Saturday.

The club’s splurge of more than €200 million on four players risks inflating transfer fees and pushing soccer clubs towards bankruptcy or into the hands of organised crime, the paper said.

“Everyone has the right to give their opinion, right or wrong,” Pellegrini said. “I am not the one responsible for talking about comments by the Vatican. If someone thinks that it’s not good they also have the right to express an opinion.”

Separately, Kaka said in a newspaper interview published yesterday that Real were spending such vast sums because the players involved were value for money.

“If Real Madrid has decided to spend so much money on us it’s because we are worth it, no?” Kaka told sports daily Marca. “In the particular case of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the most expensive, he has shown he is number one and that he is worth the money.”

Meanwhile, Rafael Benitez says Liverpool have received “very big offers” for striker Fernando Torres this summer.

Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Real Madrid have been linked with a big-money move for the Spain striker, while team-mates Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano have also been in demand this summer. But Benitez is in no mood to weaken his squad by cashing in.

He said: “We have had some very big offers for some of our key players this summer – and that includes Fernando Torres.

“Clubs wanted Fernando and we were contacted by agents working for those clubs But we always knew that when a bid came in we would say ‘no’.

“The main thing was that Torres wanted to stay here. People knew the player wanted to stay, but it did not stop clubs trying.

“We wanted to send out a message that Liverpool are a strong team and that we want to improve. You don’t improve by selling your best players.”

Benitez has revealed he considered signing Michael Owen this summer, but came to the conclusion that he would not command a regular first-team place.

The 29-year-old spent eight successful seasons at Anfield at the start of his career, scoring 158 goals in all competitions.

However, that has not stopped the striker joining Liverpool’s fiercest rivals Manchester United on a free transfer from Newcastle this summer.

Benitez said: “We had contact with different people and were analysing the situation. But if you want to play Torres and Gerrard there is not always a lot of space for other players.”