26 Jan 2024 12:40:10
Ed001 did alonso leave us because of his love for Madrid or was it for other reasons? I’m worried if he does come if Madrid come calling next year will he just leave for them again? He has said Liverpool is his home before in an interview though.

{Ed001's Note - it was of a falling out with Rafa.}

1.) 26 Jan 2024
26 Jan 2024 12:58:15
Rafa wanted rid for Barry for some reason.

2.) 26 Jan 2024
26 Jan 2024 13:16:23
Rafa tried to offload alonso and get in gareth Barry was it? That's the reason xabi decided to leave us.

3.) 26 Jan 2024
26 Jan 2024 13:25:32
From what I have read it wasn't solely due to Rafa wanting to replace him with Barry, that was more of a follow up to the falling out.

Xabi wanted to stay with his wife who was in labour just before a CL tie in Italy, saying that he would meet up with the team once she had given birth.

Rafa insisted on him making a choice between travelling with the team or staying with his wife and Xabi chose his family (absolutely fair imo! ) .

The relationship between them was irreparably damaged as a result. I liked Rafa and had a lot of time for him, but this was a stupid decision and a bad way to act.

{Ed001's Note - Rafa has since said that same about it and he acted differently in similar situations later on.}

4.) 26 Jan 2024
26 Jan 2024 13:42:24
If i remember rightly, he missed a game for the birth of his child, which upset Rafa, who himself managed through the death of a parent. So Rafa decided to offload him for Barry. Don't quote me on that though. I may be wrong.

5.) 26 Jan 2024
26 Jan 2024 14:04:17
Rafa messed up big time and it was all his fault regarding Alonso leaving by pulling that ridiculous stunt asking Xabi to essentially pick the team or his fam during such a momentous occasion. Rafa can hold that L forever, IMO.