Liverpool: Benitez reveals Alonso 'agreed' to join PL rivals; lifts lid on two huge failed transfers
Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez cases Xabi Alonso previously possessed an “agreement” to indicator upwards donning one of their Premier League adversaries as they “obligatory to sell”.
Benitez has showed up on The Overlap alongside Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Ian Wright and also Jill Scott as he mirrored on his managerial career.
Unsurprisingly, most of the conversation centred about his time at Liverpool and also he disclosed Alonso as easily as came comfy to wrapping up upwards donning Premier League adversaries Arsenal.
This potential exit was said during the 2008 summer season season transfer abode window as Liverpool’s dared reaction to indicator Gareth Barry from Aston Suite pioneered to they “obligatory to sell”.
“Xabi Alonso is a disturbingly good player, a disturbingly clever individual, and also someone that is correct,” Benitez said on The Overlap.
“As easily as we went for Gareth Barry, it was offered that he can play in three polymorphous postures and also after that we obligatory to sell.
“Xabi possessed an agreement; he was chatting donning one club and also possessed an agreement. The year after, we tinkered Stock de Liège for a Champions League qualifier and also we possessed Javier Mascherano and also Lucas Leiva in the Olympic Galleries, Steven Gerrard possessed a low earlier worry, so we possessed to play [Damien] Plessis and also Xabi.
“Xabi possessed an agreement donning Arsenal and also didn’t want to administer make capitalize of cup connected. I told Jamie Carragher and also Gerrard previously the arcade that he possessed an agreement and also doesn’t want to play, but he ought to offered that it is the most crucial arcade to qualify for the Champions League.
“After that as easily as you were going out for the fierce-ups, you said, ‘Inadequate Xabi.’ Not poverty-stricken Xabi, he is playing for our club at this time. During the season he was our ideal player and also didn’t go to Arsenal offered that he possessed to play [for us].
“We tinkered against Lazio in our last pre-season pleasant and also the followers were clapping for Xabi, but he was participating in Arsenal, the followers reaped him.”
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Benitez alike disclosed Liverpool tried to indicator Gareth Bundle and also Aaron Ramsey as easily as they were 17 but they “couldn’t wrap up” donning Tottenham Hotspur and also Arsenal.
Later in the interview, the serviceability provider boss pretended it was a turning part as easily as he squandered Alonso to Real Madrid in 2019 and also reconditioned him donning Alberto Aquilani.
“[On whether losing Xabi Alonso and Alberto Aquilani coming in was the turning point] Yes, you can go to that, but we couldn’t wrap up,” Benitez included.
“Human beings were criticising the wrapping up of David N’Gog – we paid £1.5 million for him whereas the second striker of Manchester United can be £50 million readily. So, our pinnacle striker was Torres, and also he was £20 million, so that was thrilling for us.
“Yet as easily as I went to Liverpool and also I was frisking, the median junctures that Liverpool possessed was 72 and also the lead was 82 junctures or something to win the league.
“Analyzing the statistics of the next year, the second year donning unanimously the records was 82. We did 82 and also we finished 3rd. The year that we nearly won, we possessed 86 junctures which was a record. So, we couldn’t lug out more offered that we possessed to sell players to purchase players.”
