Real Madrid shutdown over Liverpool's Xabi

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez won't consider selling midfielder Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid.

Despite offering £17 million for the Spain international yesterday, Real sports director Predrag Mijatovic was informed by Benitez via telephone: "I cannot consider losing Xabi."

It's been suggested a deal could have been struck if Real had players available in exchange that Benitez was interested in. But there's no-one Mijatovic can offer to convince Benitez to part with his midfield schemer.