There's no point keeping a player who wants to leave so I think Rafa is doing the right thing and forcing Alonso to come out and say he wants to leave before entertaining the idea of doing business. I love the fact Real Madrid were "insulted" at the price we quoted them like they have a divine right to buy players for whatever value they see fit.
Funny to think that Alonso had two average seasons before last years exceptional one and I think most people would have taken 35m Euros for him last summer but now he's indispensable. Yes Canna, Cambiasso and Cattermole aren't anywhere near the level of Alonso but im sure they have all been looked at as potential replacements for Masch and not Alonso. I've no idea who we could do a like for like for replace Alonso with whose already at the same level except for players like Fabregas, Inniesta, Xavi but we should trust Rafa's choice, afterall he was the one who brought Alonso here in the first place and helped make him the player he is.
