Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has been under some speculation this season to leave Anfield in the summer. He has been dropped at times from the Liverpool squad for games by manager Rafael Benitez and it was being indicated that the highly rated Spanish international central midfielder shall move to his long term admirers Real Madrid at the end of this season.

But Xabi Alonso has quashed all those rumours and has deeply insisted that he is happy at Anfield. Alonso has also reiterated that all those people who talk about him moving away from Anfield are doing so since they don't know anything about the matter.

Alonso said:

" I think I will be here next season even if (Gareth) Barry comes. He would bring good competition and he would be more than welcome.

"He can play different positions and if he plays in midfield then I could play with him. I have no problem with that.

"My situation is that I am a Liverpool player and I am very happy here. I signed a new contract last year and that meant I wanted to stay.

He(Rafael Benitez) never told me he wanted me to stay because he doesn't need to tell me that. He just wanted to clarify something the story had said.

"If he wanted me to leave I would prefer him to be honest and say, 'Xabi, we are thinking about other players and you are not going to play that much.'

"Then I would look for a different option. But he still thinks I can play an important role."

So maybe now all transfer speculation engulfing Alonso can cease.