Xabi Alonso interview

[CJ]

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.

my point was that money is a factor not that it isnt. Also the family thing was about the fact that too most people living in a nice climate etc might be more important than being close to Liverpool 1.

[lickedlollipop]

[Daniel 7]

Regardless of who did what and to whom, how much someone at the top of his game felt like he needed to earn in comparison to his contemporaries, or how a working relationship broke down - we would not have had to sell him if we weren't being asset stripped or having to operate on a sell to buy basis.

Another casualty of Hicks and Gillett.

Also, the Spanish connection were always going to go home eventually. Pepe will too at some point.

[Spanishfly]

Oi Reina embraces the Liverpool life and culture!

[Rafa Justice]

Couldn't give a **** about Xabi. He left us, its over.

If he comes back, fine. Until then, do one.

[BigChief]

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.

This is how I saw it then, and still see it today. Would love to see him back too, but he's not exactly the future any more at his age. Ship = sailed.

[Arn]

Some key points.

We had to sell a player or players for around £30m to pay the interest on the loan. If Xabi had stayed then we would have had to sell either Gerrard or Torres or a few other players.

To sell player(s) for £30m was a must.

If Real come calling when you are from Spain then it is very little chance to keep the player. More or less every Spanish player dream of playing for either Real Madrid or Barcelona. He had the chance to make his dream come true, to play for one of the big two in Spain.

As soon as Real showed interest then he was gone. It was after that all about getting as much money we could get for him.

He loves us but he loves and respects Real much much more. He loved playing for us but now he is living his dream. It is a big difference.

[Fernandinho]

Arn, you are a true genius mate. Thank god we have guys like him posting or else we might actually need brains for ourselves.

[Resu]

Some key points.

We had to sell a player or players for around £30m to pay the interest on the loan. If Xabi had stayed then we would have had to sell either Gerrard or Torres or a few other players.

To sell player(s) for £30m was a must.

If Real come calling when you are from Spain then it is very little chance to keep the player. More or less every Spanish player dream of playing for either Real Madrid or Barcelona. He had the chance to make his dream come true, to play for one of the big two in Spain.

As soon as Real showed interest then he was gone. It was after that all about getting as much money we could get for him.

He loves us but he loves and respects Real much much more. He loved playing for us but now he is living his dream. It is a big difference.

Just out of interest, has he said this before joining Real?
As his father played for Barca you`d think he`d prefer them over Real as a kid.
I do understand why he went to Real, but I think it`s more out of more money/trophies than pure love for the team.

[Lee]

Arn, you are a true genius mate. Thank god we have guys like him posting or else we might actually need brains for ourselves.

[BrooklynRed]

Reading about Xabi is like having a drink with an ex-girlfriend; how's the family, remember the good times, still have feelings for one another but in the end, she's banging another guy and you've got your own life to live. You'll always care for her and have some feelings and attraction, but it is over now. He was one of my all-time favorite players for Liverpool, the break-up was hard, but I'm in love with my club and while I wish him the best, Xabi no longer figures in my day to day. Nice to hear from him, but roll 2011-12 and #19

[The Birdman]

Considering he only played to his true potential in that last year after he admits himself in that interview that he was motivated by Rafa saying he could go maybe Rafa should have tried to sell him earlier.
Great player but one who's stock has risen since he left because of H&G stripping us bare and Xabi is associated with the 'what could have happened if' era.

In no way is he blamless, Rafa has said in interviews he knew Xabi wanted to return to Spain, then came the moaning about tax and conversion rates etc...

Him wanking lyrical now about LFC doesnt change a thing, he wanted to leave and he left. Both Xabi and Rafa could have done things differently

[sitoca]

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

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"

Kuyt's sale alone could not have finance Gareth Barry. Selling more players would also have weaken the team further then strengthen it. The way Rafa saw it was Xabi poor form for 2 seasons and selling him to finance Barry was a straight swap player for player.

[Craig_H]

Was Barry EVER good enough to replace even a below-par Alonso? I doubt it.

[The Birdman]

Was Barry EVER good enough to replace even a below-par Alonso? I doubt it.

O'Neil, Benitez, Capello and Mancini all seem to think he's a very good footballer