Alonso plays it cool over Madrid move

Xabi Alonso joined up with the Liverpool squad last night for their Far East tour with his future at the club still uncertain.

The midfielder met boss Rafael Benitez and the Anfield squad at Vienna airport after flying from Spain - where he got married last weekend - following weeks of speculation that he was about to join Real Madrid.

Bernabeu officials had been working last week to try to tie up a deal for the 30-year-old that would have avoided him having to take part in the Liverpool trip to play Thailand in Bangkok on Wednesday and Singapore next Sunday.

There were even suggestions that he would be given leave from Liverpool so that a £30million move could be completed.

But after Liverpool had lost 1-0 yesterday evening in a friendly against Rapid Vienna, the squad went directly to the airport to be reunited with their Spanish stars, for the overnight flight to the Far East.

Alonso, Fernando Torres, Jose Reina and Alvaro Arbeloa had all been given extra time off following their participation in the Confederation Cup.

And Alonso - who as yet has not formally asked for a transfer - has spoken for the first time about his future ahead of the flight from Spain.

Alonso said: 'It is always a great feeling when Madrid want you, especially considering the phase of the career I am in now.

'But at this point, whether or not that can happen is not up to me. It's a matter that involves three parties, including myself. I do not like to force the issue. I prefer to talk.

'Madrid's project is certainly impressive. But beyond that, I cannot tell you anything else.'

Alonso intends to hold discussions with Benitez. He said: 'I will talk to him, sure, but the first thing to do when I arrive [in Austria] is to greet him.

'But I imagine that in the next few days, there will be time for all that, even though in reality, there is nothing in particular to talk to Rafa about. It's the clubs who have to negotiate to reach an agreement.'

On the reported fee, Alonso said: 'I am not the man who can answer these questions.

'The truth is that I cannot say much, because every little thing can be misinterpreted. And I do not know how things will turn out either because I am not a fortune teller.'

Benitez has consistently said in public that he does not want to sell Alonso, but if the position becomes untenable with the Spaniard having to search for a replacement, the fee he wants is over £30m.

Valencia's David Silva is reputed to be a target, while Liverpool are also likely to enter the bidding for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young.

Javier Mascherano, who has been told he will not be sold to Barcelona, played in the last 25 minutes of the defeat in Vienna, while new signing Glen Johnson was sidelined with an Achilles injury.

'Fraud' Beckham clashes with fans in return to LA Galaxy

David Beckham got involved in an ugly confrontation with fans at his home return game in Los Angeles.

The former England captain attempted to jump over a barrier as he left the field at half-time to remonstrate with a section of the crowd that had been jeering him.

He was held back by security staff, members of whom were also needed to restrain an angry fan who left his seat and rushed towards the footballer.

Beckham received a less than friendly welcome at his first home game for LA Galaxy after returning from a five-month loan spell at AC Milan - the team LA faced.

A hardcore section of the crowd booed Beckham every time he touched the ball and held aloft signs reading "Go Home Fraud" and "23: Repent" in reference to his shirt number.

Another read: "Hey Becks, Here Before You, Here after You, Here Despite You" while one stated: "Is evil something u are...or something u do?"

Frand: Fans' signs said it all at the LA Galaxy home coming

Earlier this year, Beckham indicated he wanted to stay in Milan rather than return to America, stating that the standard of play was far higher in Italy.

The apparent snub has angered some LA fans, notably a hardcore that sit in the so-called LA Riot Squad section.

Throughout the first half of the game he was subjected to jeers and obscene chants.

After the referee blew for half time, Beckham tried to hurdle an advertising boarding and appeared to make a "come on" gesture towards fans.

In response, one man left his seat, jumped down onto the pitch and attempted to run towards Beckham. At this point security intervened and escorted Beckham to the changing room, while removing the fan from the pitch.

Simon Fuller, Posh, Tom Cruise and Gary Barlow watch the match

Despite the incident, Beckham returned in the second half. He was the last man to take to the pitch and hugged several of his former AC Milan teammates before gesturing towards the rowdy section of the crowd.

A line of yellow-jacketed security staff stood below the supporters in the trouble area as a precaution.

In the 65th minute Beckham assisted in the scoring of an LA Galaxy goal. After doing so he turned and shrugged his shoulders in the direction of the section of crowd that had been jeering him.

Beckham was substituted in the 75th minute and walked off to a mixture of cheers and boos. The friendly match ended 2-2.

Beckham claimed he had tried to shake a supporter's hand. "The majority of the fans have been great," Beckham said afterwards in comments broadcast on Sky Sports News.

On the boos, he added: "It's to be expected. Sometimes it goes beyond it. I tried to shake one of the guy's hands but he didn't want any of it. That's the way it is."