Vinicius Junior began the latest Champions League game on the bench, sparking questions about his relationship with coach Xabi Alonso. To add intrigue, Alonso has now addressed the issue with a seven-word claim that only fuels further debate.

With the Germany attacker battling to adjust and settle in at Liverpool, Xabi has asked Real Madrid chiefs to keep tabs on Wirtz's situation. Bayer sold Wirtz to Liverpool for £125m, but the attacker has struggled to make an impact so far this season.

Ever since Xabi Alonso took over as Real Madrid’s head coach, much has been said about his calm yet effective man-management style. Managing a squad that includes two of football’s biggest

Florian Wirtz's Liverpool team-mates have been blamed for the £116 million ($156m) man's slow start to life at Anfield by Germany legend Rudi Voller. After joining the Reds in June on a long-term contract until at least 2030,