Police warn Liverpool fans not to fall for Xabi Alonso scam asking to pay for his flight
By – Thiruselvam
Many Liverpool fans would love to see Xabi Alonso take over at Anfield – but Thai police have warned of a scam urging them to PAY to help make it happen.
The Bayer Leverkusen chief, 42, is the big favourite to take over after Jurgen Klopp ’s shock announcement on Friday he will leave at the end of the season. The ex-Spain midfielder made 143 appearances for Liverpool from 2004 to 2009, including their famous Champions League win and he also lifted the FA Cup.
But in a bizarre turn of events, Thai police have had to publicly urge Liverpool fans not to fall for an online con purporting to show Alonso’s Instagram account – asking for donations of 300 baht (£6.70) to help pay his airfare from Germany.
The message, written in Thai, says: “I am Xabi Alonso, I will be in charge of Liverpool next season, but I am short of money for my flights to Liverpool.”
Given Premier League football is so huge in Thailand – with Liverpool one of the best supported clubs – its Central Investigation Bureau took to Facebook to alert fans who might take it seriously. A statement read; “Liverpool fans, calm down. Xabi is not yet the manager, but there is already a scammer.”
Alonso has impressed leading unbeaten Leverkusen to the top of Bundesliga where they look set to pip Bayern Munich to the title. The former midfielder is the early bookies’ favourite to replace Klopp, with the likes of Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and Germany’s national team coach Julian Nagelsmann also in the frame.
Anfield CEO Billy Hogan, who appeared alongside Klopp at a press conference on Friday, has offered a glimpse into how the process to appoint the new manager will be conducted. “I think from our perspective, I don’t want to set an expectation because it’s a process we will go through.
“The way we operate as a football club is to look at all the information, the data and with due diligence and then make our decision. I can’t put a time on it – it will happen behind the scenes. It’s not to be a distraction… it’s about the campaign continuing and the team continuing to perform.
“When we have something to say, we will have something to say at that point.
He added: “I understand it and it’s a sad day, but it’s also a credit to Jurgen that he’s come to the decision and given the club the chance to go through a process. That’s not easy to do if the news isn’t public.
“[It will be] the same process that brought us Jurgen and that’s something we will do in private, with the people here and ownership. When we get to the place when we have further news then we will share – but it won’t be a running commentary.
“We won’t talk about other people or get into the name game. It’s just an announcement that we are making and we focus on the campaign ahead.”
Source – THE DAILY MIRROR
