Xabi Alonso reveals Liverpool’s Gareth Barry pursuit was motive behind Real Madrid move

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid

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Xabi Alonso has admitted Liverpool‘s pursuit of Gareth Barry was the reason why he eventually sought a move to Real Madrid.

The World Cup-winning midfielder spent five successful seasons at Anfield after signing from Real Sociedad in 2004, playing a key role as Rafa Benitez’s side won the Champions League the following year and challenged Manchester United for the Premier League title in 2009.

But towards the end of his time on Merseyside Alonso was unsettled by Benitez’s very public pursuit of Gareth Barry as his potential replacement, and although the move eventually fell through, the 29-year-old has revealed he had already decided his future lay elsewhere.

“At the end of the 2007-08 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,” Alonso told Liverpool’s official 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 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 Real Madrid were coming and I said if the terms were good then I wanted to leave.”