FORMER Real Madrid mid-fielder Xabi Alonso has filed libel action against a leading Spanish broadsheet for allegedly claiming his move to Bayern Munich related to 'extra-marital affairs'.
According to supplement La Otra Crónica ('the other chronicle') in the national daily El Mundo, the man who scored the winning goal that clinched Spain's second consecutive UEFA Euro title was given an ultimatum by his wife, Nagore Aramburu.
The supplement claims the San Sebastián-born model told Xabi to leave the Spanish capital or lose her in light of alleged 'infidelity', which the couple hotly denies.
In the report, journalists claim Xabi has been involved with singer Lourdes Hernández of the band Russian Red.
Lourdes and Xabi are said to be good friends after having worked together on an Emilio Tucci advert where the former Real Madrid player's face and Russian Red's music featured.
The last album by the band, Agent Cooper, includes a song called Xabier, which Hernández has always said is not connected to the footballer from Tolosa (Tarragona).
But based upon the song title and the fact they are friends and work colleagues, La Otra Crónica claims Xabi's wife engineered his move to Bayern Munich to remove him and the family from Madrid so he would not continue his alleged 'affair'.
Xabi, who has a son and two daughters with Basque model Nagore, says he is very happy with his wife and their family, that the rumours are damaging and untrue, and has announced on Twitter that he will be taking legal action against the newspaper.
