Interesting Interview

[londonkopite]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_5530854,00.html

 

It was one of the biggest transfer deals of the summer.

 

Xabi Alonso's big-money move to Real Madrid was a huge disappointment for many Liverpool fans, but he is now seen as a key part of the Real jigsaw as the Bernabeu club bid to conquer Spanish and European football once again.

 

Revista de La Liga caught up with the Spanish midfielder to discuss his hopes and aspirations ahead of the new campaign.

 

He told us about his excitement at the challenge that awaits him in La Liga - and he also gave his thoughts on Real's mega-money signings, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

And he also opened up about his decision to leave Liverpool and his relationship with Rafael Benitez - insisting he has known for 12 months that he needed to leave...

 

ALONSO ON MADRID...

"It's a massive challenge for me, for the club, for all the players. The expectation is really high, the club has spent massive amounts on new players, bringing new hope to the supporters, and we hope to deliver on that expectation. Madrid have given me a lot of support, they have invested a lot of money to acquire me and that was really important to receive that support from the club. The manager wants an offensive team, he wants me to be a link between defence and attack, he wants me to give the ball to the players around me because the potential is huge."

 

ALONSO ON KAKA...

"Kaka's personality on the pitch and off the pitch is similar, he is always happy and trying to make himself available. On the pitch he is technically superb and he always chooses the right option. He is a special player, one of those players who come along every five or 10 years."

 

ALONSO ON RONALDO...

"Cristiano Ronaldo is unique in terms of pace, shooting, dribbling. He brings fantastic football to us, as he did at Manchester United, but he's got a big challenge to do as well for Madrid as he did in the Premier League."

 

ALONSO ON LIVERPOOL...

"It was a tough call and a very difficult decision for me to leave Liverpool. During my five years I was lucky enough to experience some magical nights at Anfield, to experience the support of the best fans in the world. I will always have them in my mind."

 

ALONSO ON BENITEZ...

"There have been a lot of rumours but as I've said before, it was a professional relationship. I have always tried to do what he asked me to do on the pitch. When the birth of my child happened, I had to take a decision to be with my family because it was an important moment. Last summer when the club proposed that I had to be sold to buy new players it was a difficult moment, but I accepted it as a professional. That moment changed my mind, from that moment it was time for a change.

[Coyler]

So it was about the f***ing cash. Jesus wept.

[londonkopite]

So it was about the f***ing cash. Jesus wept.

 

I hope that was sarcasm!!

[Flight]

Imagine how he felt this time around, when he found out he was sold to pay for Stevie and Nandos pay rise.

[Falconhoof]

I hope that was sarcasm!!

I think you've misunderstood Coyler. He's right, it was about the cash...it was about the club needing the cash from his sale.

 

We needed to keep Alonso and add a quality midfielder, the club couldn't afford thet so they told Alonso that he was to be sold to buy players.

 

Whats the plan for january and next summer ?

[Coyler]

Heartfelt exasperation.

 

...the club proposed that I had to be sold to buy new players...

[londonkopite]

Imagine how he felt this time around, when he found out he was sold to pay for Stevie and Nandos pay rise.

 

Sold to buy Gareth Bloody Barry - thats humiliation in itself. Rafa even wanted to pay more for Barry than we were selling Xabi for. It was bizarre.

[londonkopite]

I think you've misunderstood Coyler. He's right, it was about the cash...it was about the club needing the cash from his sale.

 

We needed to keep Alonso and add a quality midfielder, the club couldn't afford thet so they told Alonso that he was to be sold to buy players.

 

Whats the plan for january and next summer ?

 

How so? We were buying Barry for the same price if not more.... revisionism... can't beat it.

[Falconhoof]

How so? We were buying Barry for the same price if not more.... revisionism... can't beat it.

Coyler said

So it was about the f***ing cash. Jesus wept.

in response to Alonso saying, in the interview,

the club proposed that I had to be sold to buy new players

 

What are you finding to argue with ?

[londonkopite]

Coyler said in response to Alonso saying, in the interview,

 

What are you finding to argue with ?

 

How is it about the cash when what Rafa mooted really was a straight swap with Xabi and Barry.... which given his form this past season and Barry's mercenary status - was a mistake.

[Knox_Harrington]

Just call for his head or f*** off.

[Rimbeux]

Sold to buy Gareth Bloody Barry - thats humiliation in itself. Rafa even wanted to pay more for Barry than we were selling Xabi for. It was bizarre.

 

 

We didn't accept any offers for Alonso

[Falconhoof]

How is it about the cash when what Rafa mooted really was a straight swap with Xabi and Barry.... which given his form this past season and Barry's mercenary status - was a mistake.

 

Its about the cash because Rafa wanted Barry, but couldn't afford him. Alonso was deemed a bankable asset and thats because of the debt repayments.

 

Barry was f***ing ideal for us, an absolute spot on transfer target that would have given us the ability to rotate in midfield with quality players, solidify the left flank and add a threat from dead balls from the left.

[Benzo-13]

Just call for his head or f*** off.

 

Dead right, better than I was gonna put it.

[Benzo-13]

How is it about the cash when what Rafa mooted really was a straight swap with Xabi and Barry.... which given his form this past season and Barry's mercenary status - was a mistake.

 

Which is revisionist.

[meepins]

Which is revisionist.

It's revisionist that it was a mistake?

[Benzo-13]

It's revisionist that it was a mistake?

 

If you're gonna compare players form its revisionist.

 

Year before last Barry had a better season than Xabi.

[Jarg Armani]

Barry would have been a brilliant signing this season or last.

 

Alonso is a brilliant player who we miss.

 

We've ended up with neither.

 

These things are not our biggest problem at present but it's not helping anything very much.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Barry would have been a great consolation prize in the world where Rafa generates a 15-20mln profit and gets to re-invest it.

 

But given that cash was not there to re-invest, I am more than willing to take my chances with a 25yr old attacking midfielder with a good footballing reputation (if his injury record is not)

[Billy Dane]

It's all about feeling valued. Rafa made it clear he preferred to bring in Barry last season, as opposed to keeping Xabi. This summer Xabi thought f*** you when Madrid made it clear they wanted him and decided I'm going. f*** all to do with money, Sorry he's left, but hopefully Rafa has bought in somebody who can change the team dynamic in the way he wanted Barry to.

[abc]

I reckon Barry was Rafa's plan A. For 12m I'm pretty sure he would have been. I also suspect he would have been able to accept a little less for Alonso, maybe between 22-25m. But the key would have been that this would have been all wrapped up pretty early on in the summer. Which is why he had a go at the lad during that press conference.

 

But, that would have made little difference with regards other transfers anyway, as he wouldn't have seen much, if any, of the remaining ~10 million pounds generated from Xabi's sale.

[Benzo-13]

It's all about feeling valued. Rafa made it clear he preferred to bring in Barry last season, as opposed to keeping Xabi. This summer Xabi thought f*** you when Madrid made it clear they wanted him and decided I'm going. f*** all to do with money, Sorry he's left, but hopefully Rafa has bought in somebody who can change the team dynamic in the way he wanted Barry to.

It's not that at all, it's a question of cash from which Rafa had to unnecessarily sacrifice Xabi.

Think of Barry as the Sissoko replacement but became something else thanks to the penniless twosome.

[Billy Dane]

b******s. Rafa made it clear last summer that he wanted Barry and was quite happy to tout Alonso around Europe as he was surplus to requirements. The problem was he (LFC/Parry?whoever) under estimated the line Villa would take in selling their Captain. We managed to piss off both Xabi and Barry with our negotiation techniques last year.

[Benzo-13]

b******s. Rafa made it clear last summer that he wanted Barry and was quite happy to tout Alonso around Europe as he was surplus to requirements. The problem was he (LFC/Parry?whoever) under estimated the line Villa would take in selling their Captain. We managed to piss off both Xabi and Barry with our negotiation techniques last year.

If Villa had sold Barry at the beginning of last summer for the original price we'd had both in our squad and no fallout.

 

The "touting" of Xabi happened much later.

[Billy Dane]

The way I remember it was we were touting Rafa for £14-15m and buying Barry for £10-£12m which most on here thought was a good deal, as Xabi had lost it and we would show a small profit. Problem was we thought Villa would pucker up and let us f*** them.