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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Theo Squires

Liverpool sold Xabi Alonso to make room for starlet who would play just eight times

Xabi Alonso Liverpool Rafa Benitez Gareth Barry Jurgen Klopp Real Madrid

The manner of Xabi Alonso’s Liverpool exit is one that still rankles supporters even now, 14 years on from his £30m move to Real Madrid.

Having come agonisingly close to winning the Premier League title in 2008/09, the Spaniard called time on his Reds career to return to his homeland with the La Liga giants. However, Rafa Benitez had infamously tried to sell him 12 months earlier as he tried to sign Gareth Barry.

Liverpool fans were outraged and such efforts, and would repeatedly chant the midfielder’s name during a pre-season friendly with Lazio on the eve of the season. When interested clubs failed to meet the Reds’ asking price for Alonso, Kopites were delighted.

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