Xabi Alonso: Why I left Liverpool FC

By James Pearce May 25 2011 - http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2011/05/25/xabi-alonso-why-i-left-liverpool-fc-100252-28760392/2/

XABI ALONSO has revealed how Rafa Benitez’s willingness to sell him in the summer of 2008 led to his departure from Liverpool 12 months later.

The Spanish midfielder, who made 210 appearances for the Reds, left Anfield under a cloud when he joined Real Madrid for £30million in August 2009.

Alonso submitted a transfer request in a bid to force through the move but insists his desire to leave was down to the way he had been treated a year earlier.

Then Reds boss Benitez had informed Alonso he could be sold to raise funds to secure the signing of Gareth Barry from Aston Villa. The transfer didn’t happen but the damage was done.

"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 replaced," he told LFC's website.

"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."

Alonso was one of Liverpool’s outstanding performers in the 2008/09 season as the Reds lost just twice in the league and finished runners-up to champions Manchester United.

However, he had already made his mind up to seek a new challenge.

"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," he added.

"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 team-mates 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."

Its easy to say a it was a cock up him going and again that was my initial feeling reading the article but then it came back that he wasn't having a too good a time before that last season.....but now you weigh Barry v Alonso and its Alonso every time.

He forgot the bit where the pound was struggling against the euro, the UK tax laws were far more severe than those in Spain, and he wanted a move back to Spain for his young family, to (arguably) the biggest club in the world.

For someone who loves the club and it's fans so much, he took off pretty sharpish once the opportunity arose - club wanted him to stay, fans wanted him to stay, even the (evil) manager wanted him to stay. Cue the violins.

Xabi Alonso has had an interview to be screened on lfc tv, Hw talks about his love of liverpool and the reason he left. Of course it is his version of events and others could and will look at it from a different perspective. a lot of people blame Benitez although Xabi says it was a professional relationship.
My opinion was that he hadn't lived up to his promise during a season of injuries and lack of form where Rafa looked at other players coming in and was also tied down with A lack of funds, Left side was a problem and it needed addressed. (still does) sadly it was thought that selling Xabi was the best way of getting that money, luckily nobody would stump up the £10m required which says a lot about his performances the previous season, the fact we got £30m a season later after a decent season shows the improvement he made during that 12 months, Alonso was on his day a great player but it has to be said on others he was woeful, I am glad he is happy at Real and I am sure he is as popular there as he was here, a lovely personable man.

IMO Rafa screwed the pooch big time on Xabi. Every manager makes mistakes. Barry is not fit to lace his boots. I know for a fact if i was treated the way Xabi was i would have been off no matter how much i loved the club. He seems like a man of principles. Never have a bad word to speak about him. He was a top top player for us.

Alonso has two bad seasons running before Rafa tried to offload him. He had his best season during his last year with us. I don’t begrudge Rafa on this decision to move Alonso; but I begrudge Rafa that once Alonso recovered his form, he should have tried to convince him to stay.

I dislike retreading this old ground but I believe its fair to say that our midfield still has not fully recovered from Alonso's departure. His class was apparent instantly and he always looked to pass the ball forwards.