I think Xabi just misses his mancrush....
Xabi Alonso's future has been cause for rampant speculation in recent months. Real Madrid has yet to tie the midfielder down to a contract beyond June 2014, when his current deal expires. This has led to rumblings about what the Basque anchorman's next move will be.
Periko Alonso, the midfielder's father, has waded into this sea of uncertainty and offered some hints about his son's intentions on Radio MARCA. "What he wants to do is to wait a bit to see what happens and how things go, and then, when the time is right, he'll make the appropriate decision. It's as simple as that - there's nothing else to it", Alonso Sr. explained, when asked why his son has yet to sign on the dotted line at 'Los Blancos'.
Xabi's father, himself a former pro, was more categorical about the chances of his son returning to former club Real Sociedad in the near future. "Going home is always difficult, and anyway, Sociedad is pretty well stocked right now", he claimed.
While the saga over Xabi Alonso's contract continues to play out, Real Madrid is already scouring the market in search of someone to step into his shoes. The long list of candidates even includes one Real Sociedad player, Asier Illarramendi, on whom Periko Alonso heaped praise: "He covers a lot of ground, is always involved and does everything well, offering the team a good outlet. He's a really important player and has come on in leaps and bounds this season".
Xabi isn't a version of anything.
He's Xabi.
He probably would fulfil some of the same functions in the team as Allen, but they're by no means carbon copies of each other - for example Alonso's long passing game is far better. We do have other areas which need improvement, but I'm far from sure any of them are actually higher priority than getting more control in CM. Besides, any team has to be ready to adjust its order of priorities if a good deal becomes available.
I hear what you're all saying, that you'd have Xabi's babies, but for me, for 8.5mill I'd rather we bought a ball winning DM, or a proper centre half. I wouldn't want us to go into next season with a Xabi in the team but still with our wank defence and wank DM.
He's a good player, and an excellent controller of games. Just not the sort of player we're screaming out for at the moment. It's not controlling or creating we're struggling with, it's bastard concentration at the back.
I hear what you're all saying, that you'd have Xabi's babies, but for me, for 8.5mill I'd rather we bought a ball winning DM, or a proper centre half. I wouldn't want us to go into next season with a Xabi in the team but still with our wank defence and wank DM.
He's a good player, and an excellent controller of games. Just not the sort of player we're screaming out for at the moment. It's not controlling or creating we're struggling with, it's bastard concentration at the back.
Xabi Alonso has offered brief comment on his future at Real Madrid by admitting that currently it remains undecided.
The midfielder is speculated as set to delay signing an offer to stay on at the Santiago Bernabeu until he is into next season and has assurances on his place in the team.
Whilst his father has commented that he expects a new offer from Los Blancos, Alonso has reflected that he has yet to consider the possibility of a renewal.
“I haven't yet decided my future - I am signed to Real Madrid until 2014 and that is my situation,” the former Real Sociedad and Liverpool man told The People over the weekend.