Benitez: Mascherano and Alonso will stay
Xabi Alonso wanted by Real Madrid
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Thursday, 09, Jul 2009 09:52
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is determined to keep key midfield duo Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso.
Alonso, who looked to be heading out of Anfield last summer, is a target for big-spending Real Madrid who have publically stated they want to take the player to the Bernabeu. Argentina captain Mascherano meanwhile has been linked with Barcelona.
Benitez wants both players to stay and has asked them to show some loyalty to the club where they have made their names.
"I do not think Alonso or Mascherano will go. It is clear that they both are under contract with long-term agreements. That is it," said Benitez.
"We signed them both from different situations. Alonso was coming from Real Sociedad and nobody had really heard much of him outside of Spain, he did well and we renewed his contract because of that.
"Mascherano came from West Ham where he had not been doing well. We brought him here and gave him a good contract, so we are very pleased with them both and that Liverpool has been very good to them."
Benitez has tied down key players like Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres to new long-term deals, but it looks like he faces a battle to keep Mascherano and Alonso.