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.

In an interview with the AS newspaper, 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.