Real Madrid received a €40 million bid for Xabi Alonso from English side Manchester Unied according to reports in Spain.
The Barclays Premier League champions were very active on the transfer market in the summer with unsuccessful approaches for Athletic Bilbao’s Ander Herrera and Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas.
Sami Khedira, Thiago Alcantara and Luka Modric were also moves the Red Devils failed to complete before Everton’s Marouane Fellaini arrived before deadline day for 33 million euros.
According to El Confidencial, United made an approach for Madrid’s Xabi Alonso before they completed the signing of the Belgian. The move barely saw the light of day as president Florentino Perez refused to discuss the transfer.
Alonso’s previous experiences at Liverpool make a transfer to hated rivals United seem very unlikely, despite being linked with a move back to the Premier League.
The 32 year-old’s contract will expire at the end of the season so whether he feels inclined to fuel the old rivalries he left behind remains to be seen.
Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156
