Some 655 days after his departure from the Merseyside club to Galacticos side Real Madrid, Alonso has revealed why he left Liverpool almost 2 summers ago.
Alonso was absolutely pivotal in Liverpool’s rise a few years ago, as he contributed to the Champions League win in Istanbul and the FA Cup several years before. He was adored by Liverpool fans as his passing vision along with his technique for the long range shot made him a key player for Liverpool before he left.
Fans all-around were saddened by the Spaniard’s departure as it came several months after then-manager Rafael Benitez announced his interest in buying another midfielder in English midfielder, whom at that time was at Aston Villa, Gareth Barry. Barry has now moved to Manchester City. Here is what Alonso had to say:
At the end of that season, speaking to Rafa, he told me the situation and that he wanted to sign other players and I could be one of the replacements,” he explained. “If an offer would have come, probably I would have been sold. That’s when I told myself that the situation had changed – from being a very important player to being one of those who can be sold to get funds to sign other players. I accepted it because I am a professional but you have to realise what your situation is. At the end nothing happened because there was no agreement and we started my last season in Liverpool, but knowing what had happened.
I had to take it from their point of view. We knew what had happened and once we knew I was going to stay, if the manager was going to pick me then I was going to play as well as possible. There were no personal problems, it was a professional relationship.
I didn’t feel I had a point to prove. I knew what I was capable of giving to the team and what I had given for the four years – and then the last one. In the last one the team was really good, we were winning so many games, beating the top teams home and away and that made a big difference. Because of the silly draws we got at home at the beginning of the season, that’s probably why we didn’t win the Premier League. We felt we had a very good team, we were very competitive and it was a disappointment not to win the league.
I didn’t know what would happen but at the end of the season, knowing what had happened, I felt if another option was to come I needed to take another step in my career. It was very difficult to take that decision, but it was probably for the best for me because I was not comfortable with that situation and if I had stayed another season it would have been uncomfortable for me.
I was really happy with the team and my teammates and felt that we could do great things. I was happy on that side but within a club you have to see the big picture and another season would have been too much for me.
As soon as the season finished I talked to the manager. I knew that maybe Madrid were coming and I said if the terms were good then I wanted to leave.
Xabi Alonso, in an exclusive interview to Liverpool’s Official Website, liverpoolfc.tv
It’s clear to me that he still feels that he is a red, and rightly so. YNWA
Submitted by Two Liverpool Fans
