Xabi Alonso - Fee Agreed (Official)

[Lee]

That's ****ing sick. I hope he gets knob-rot

[Neil Young]

I think the decision ‘to find a fresh challenge’ was made for him last year.

Based on what precisely?

IMO Xabi can be credited with the responsibility for taking his own decisions. He's acted in a perfectly reasonable way and notably has not criticised the manager.

[Rigadon]

I think the decision ‘to find a fresh challenge’ was made for him last year. I also think that he is completely sincere in his appreciation for the fans.

Based on what precisely?

IMO Xabi can be credited with the responsibility for taking his own decisions. He's acted in a perfectly reasonable way and notably has not criticised the manager.

I don't think it's so terrible. He wanted to go and we've got good money for him. We know Rafa planned to replace him a year ago and although he obviously had a very good season since then, Rafa has clearly worked out an alternative plan.

Whether the plan works remains to be seen but the I'd say Alonso was our fifth or sixth most important player (after Gerrard, Torres, Reina, Mascherano and possibly Carragher). He's not irreplaceable and I don't think he was the "heartbeat of the team" or whatever other hyped-up cliché the Press has bequeathed us.

Life goes on.

[Neil Young]

[Reece]

QFT man, QFT.

[twh]

Real have got an absolute bargain.

I think Xabi will be the difference bewteween them being a team of great individuals and a team that gels.

I want him to do well but I also hope Barca walk it.

[Neil Young]

QFT man, QFT.

[the rev leeroy brown]

gutted he's gone but he is. time to leave it in the past. rafa ****ed up. all the best in the future xabi.

[Mattshark]

gutted he's gone but he is. time to leave it in the past. rafa ****ed up. all the best in the future xabi.

Why did Rafa **** up exactly? Maybe Xabi just got greedy.

[the rev leeroy brown]

Why did Rafa **** up exactly? Maybe Xabi just got greedy.

i just beleive that xabi and his family had got over the initial home sickness he often spoke about. he was our best performer by far last year. but rafa seemed determined to sell him. if rafa had shown half the admiration he showed reina, gerard, kyut or torres, he would have felt wanted and would have stayed to see us lift number 19. IMO rafa made him feel unwanted in order to force him out.

[Guest]

i just beleive that xabi and his family had got over the initial home sickness he often spoke about. he was our best performer by far last year. but rafa seemed determined to sell him. if rafa had shown half the admiration he showed reina, gerard, kyut or torres, he would have felt wanted and would have stayed to see us lift number 19. IMO rafa made him feel unwanted in order to force him out.

[Mattshark]

i just beleive that xabi and his family had got over the initial home sickness he often spoke about. he was our best performer by far last year. but rafa seemed determined to sell him. if rafa had shown half the admiration he showed reina, gerard, kyut or torres, he would have felt wanted and would have stayed to see us lift number 19. IMO rafa made him feel unwanted in order to force him out.

That's nice for you. So assumption you blame Rafa because we tried to buy another midfielder last year after 2 average seasons from Xabi.

[the rev leeroy brown]

That's nice for you. So assumption you blame Rafa because we tried to buy another midfielder last year after 2 average seasons from Xabi.

i blame rafa for not having adequate man management skills. if ur not his favourite he doesn't care bout u. he is like every teacher i ever had at school.

[Guest]

i blame rafa for not having adequate man management skills. if ur not his favourite he doesn't care bout u. he is like every teacher i ever had at school.

And he's made us championship and champions league challengers.

You know nothing about his man management skills. How many good players have left the club because of his so called lack of it? Only Xabi if I'm not mistaken and he's even made a whopping profit on him.

[saj]

That's nice for you. So assumption you blame Rafa because we tried to buy another midfielder last year after 2 average seasons from Xabi.

He was injured frequently in those 2 apparent average seasons and him being average is still better than 99% of other midfielders in the premiership. We have lost THE BEST central midfielder in world football - you can't put a price on a player with that quality. And it's obvious that he didn't feel wanted by Rafa. Look back to Rafa's quotes just before we were due to play Inter Milan when Xabi's wife was due to give birth.