Xabi Alonso interview

[EwarWoo]

He did moan about it in The Times though. Did he need that little bit extra money?

Maybe he didn't but he thought the game did to attract the best talent and allow him to play with the worlds best

[Fredo]

Maybe he didn't but he thought the game did to attract the best talent and allow him to play with the worlds best

So it's about money then, nothing with sentimentality and attachment he can have for Liverpool?

[Suarez]

It was about the British tax laws not about the conversion rate, and he had every right to raise the issue. You don't ask, you don't get.

He didn't particularly carry on about it.

No it wasn't about the tax laws, he knew what they were when he moved here, that didnt change. He was paid in sterling but spent the majority of his money in Spain, so after paying our tax, and the changes in the strength of the pound when converted, meant he was out of pocket more. Personally, whenever I hear a professional footballer moan about money, I feel I've taken another step further away from football.

Alonso is refusing to commit himself to Liverpool next season, with Real Madrid eager to to take him to the Bernabeu, and with Alonso estimating he is losing a third of his earnings he is edging closer to a return to Spain.

"Of course we footballers think about it; we are not stupid, we keep an eye on it," Alonso said. "When you see your contract down by 30 per cent you cannot be happy. I cannot do anything – it must be Gordon Brown or David Cameron.

" I think the weakness of the sterling is not helping the Premiership because for those competing and fighting against the European teams it is a big weak point. Hopefully over the next few months and years it will get back to what it was not so long ago."

Alonso signed a five-year contract with Liverpool in 2007 worth an estimated £65,000 a week. At the time there were €1.48 to the pound so he was on €96,200 per week but due to the weakness of the pound that has fallen to €76,700 a week.

[Daniel 7]

******* ignored my son at Liverpool airport

[Shaggy]

Great player, but even before the Barry link he'd started moaning about losing money due to the strength of the pound against the euro. He was hoping to move back to Spain then, the Rafa thing gave him a good reason, but money was the main factor imo.

No doubt IMO. He likes to paint himself as the saint but it doesn't wash. Love the guy, would have him back but he talks some crap about his departure.

[Suarez]

******* ignored my son at Liverpool airport

He was probably distracted because he was worrying about how he was going to be able to pay his mortgage and feed his family after working out how much money he was down that week.

[EwarWoo]

I think we've had this discussion a thousand times. Xabi's great, you're all cunts for doubting him, we can move on

[CJ]

No doubt IMO. He likes to paint himself as the saint but it doesn't wash. Love the guy, would have him back but he talks some crap about his departure.

for me what is interesting in his "why i left" talks is how he never mentions his dip in form pre us wanting to sell him or his sudden improvement after that and then him wanting to go.

its probably more complicated than any of us think just because people are involved.

He enjoyed his time here but he wanted to leave so better than many footballers in as much as he still seems to have affection for the club but in reality its about them their family their bank account and medal count.

[destinydude]

No doubt IMO. He likes to paint himself as the saint but it doesn't wash. Love the guy, would have him back but he talks some crap about his departure.

Don't agree with this at all. He never tried to be the saint.

Once a player of his caliber is told he'd be sold to fund other players, you've put a seed in his mind. If he wasn't sold that summer. He probably will be sold this summer or the next even with a small drop in form.

And when Madrid comes in, there's only so much anyone can do. Being a Spaniard he knows what it would mean on his resume to play for them.

There were a butt load of players available to sell. Rafa could have easily sold Kuyt. Kuyt's form was much more poorer than Xabi's. It's not about the money there, it's about being told "Right, you're a good player but we'll sell you to buy other players"

[Shaggy]

But as pointed out he was already angling for a move before the Barry stuff arose.

I can't say too much really but some lads from the Madrid Reds are close to the story and, er, yeah......they know the score. Xabi is not blameless in all of this, far from it.

[destinydude]

for me what is interesting in his "why i left" talks is how he never mentions his dip in form pre us wanting to sell him or his sudden improvement after that and then him wanting to go.

its probably more complicated than any of us think just because people are involved.

He enjoyed his time here but he wanted to leave so better than many footballers in as much as he still seems to have affection for the club but in reality its about them their family their bank account and medal count.

I don't get this bit at all. Not just with Xabi but with any footballer in general. Do you think Gerrard would stay here if he were told we could only afford him 60k a week? Definitely not.

I don't think any club or fans can expect a player to put his life/family in line just to play for the club to 'appease' the fans.

FYI, I don't think he's making significantly much more than what he did at Liverpool. And about the drop in his form, give me a flipping break, there were other players who did far worse in that period.

If I remember correctly, Xabi was immense during the 2nd half of the 07-08 season and our change to 4-2-3-1 which accommodated all Gerrard,Masch and Alonso into the team is what revitalized us and he was very good once we changed the formation.

[destinydude]

But as pointed out he was already angling for a move before the Barry stuff arose.

I can't say too much really but some lads from the Madrid Reds are close to the story and, er, yeah......they know the score. Xabi is not blameless in all of this, far from it.

Don't think he was blameless either but him talking 'crap about his move' is something I don't agree with.

He would have easily been told about his move mid season not just after it so who knows, would I be wrong in angling for a move once I was told I'd be sold? I don't think many would agree with that.

[Glenn Hysen]

Don't agree with this at all. He never tried to be the saint.

Once a player of his caliber is told he'd be sold to fund other players, you've put a seed in his mind. If he wasn't sold that summer. He probably will be sold this summer or the next even with a small drop in form.

And when Madrid comes in, there's only so much anyone can do. Being a Spaniard he knows what it would mean on his resume to play for them.

There were a butt load of players available to sell. Rafa could have easily sold Kuyt. Kuyt's form was much more poorer than Xabi's. It's not about the money there, it's about being told "Right, you're a good player but we'll sell you to buy other players"

[Vermilion]

As soon as i saw Shaggys first post, i knew this would turn into a 'blame game'.

My view is, that had Rafa not tried to sell Xabi, or fallen out with him over the birth of his child, Xabi would imho, still have wanted to leave for Madrid, it was imo an opportunity he would'nt have refused, regardless of what had or had'nt happened previously.

[destinydude]

As soon as i saw Shaggys first post, i knew this would turn into a 'blame game'.

My view is, that had Rafa not tried to sell Xabi, or fallen out with him over the birth of his child, Xabi would imho, still have wanted to leave for Madrid, it was imo an opportunity he would'nt have refused, regardless of what had or had'nt happened previously.

This is something I agree with too and something I won't use 'against' him. Every player has a right to move on as long as he does it gracefully and I believe Xabi was alright all along the transfer saga and he didn't give any piss poor interviews about how he moved on to a bigger club or something.

Also, I don't really believe they fell out because of that 'birth of his child' saga. The only thing that played a significant role in his move was that he was told 'he wasn't wanted (euphemistically it's equal to saying 'we'll sell you to buy other players')