Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso, linked with a return to the Premier League with Liverpool and Chelsea, has broken his foot while taking part in training, ruling him out for up to three months.

The club confirmed the news on their official website, and Alonso was close to a return having had surgery on a nagging groin injury in June that had ruled him out of Real's Pre-season plans when he suffered a broken fifth metatarsal.

The 31-year-old has been a mainstay in the side since completing his 2009 transfer from Liverpool, and his presence was missed in the midfield on Sunday when Real scraped a 2-1 victory against Real Betis.

Alonso has been linked with a move back to the Premier League with both Chelsea and Liverpool believed to be interested.

Alonso's former coach at the Santiago Bernebeu Jose Mourinho has returned to Stamford Bridge and was reported to be interested in taking Alonso with him, although no official bids are said to have been received by the Spanish club.

Alonso will also miss Spain's World Cup qualifier against Finland in September, with the national side leading Group I as they look to qualify for the tournament they won in South Africa in 2010.

He could also miss the first 'El Cassico' of the season, when Real travel to the Nou Camp to take on Barcelona on October 26.

Source: The Independent