A group of Liverpool fans have been discussing which player they regret the club selling most. The question was posed on Twitter by @LFCTransferRoom but there were a couple of stipulations, supporters commenting were not allowed to mention Luis Suarez or Philippe Coutinho.
The pair both left Anfield for Barcelona and the Reds received a combined £204.05m for their South American stars (via Transfermarkt.co.uk). However, there is another player who many were sad to see move on.
Xabi
— Rudy Schollaerts (@RudySchollaerts) March 31, 2020
It all went downhill when alonso left
— Josh (@Dobsilla) March 31, 2020
Xabi.
— Hops ? & Squats????? (@TuneInToGoonan) March 31, 2020
Xavi Alonso. What a mistake from Rafa to even consider that Gareth Barry could lace that guy’s boots
— Sean Junor-Sheppard (@Theblackfreud) March 31, 2020
Alonso that one hurt us
— Paul Walsh ?? (@PaulWalsh81) March 31, 2020
Finished me with Rafa when he got rid of alonso
— Mark Prezo (@markprezo) March 31, 2020
Has to be Alonso. Look at what he did in the game after he left us. Hindsight is 20/20 but it’s still hard to believe Rafa was prepared to sell him to bring in Gareth Barry.
— Damien Hillen (@DamienHillen) March 31, 2020
Xabi Alonso
— Neil Morris (@TheNeilMorris) March 31, 2020
Xabi Alonso
— Kevin Farrugia (@merseypride) March 31, 2020
Should Liverpool have held on to Xabi Alonso at all costs?
Yes
No
What do we think?
Xabi Alonso was sold to Real Madrid in August 2009 in a deal reportedly worth £31.05m (via Transfermarkt.co.uk), ending an approximate five-year relationship between the club and the Spanish midfielder.
He arrived on Merseyside from Real Sociedad in 2004 for £14.4m and went on to make 210 appearances for the Reds, scoring 18 goals and providing nine assists. A defensive midfielder by trade, Alonso was part of the famous UEFA Champions League-winning side of 2005. He also tasted World Cup glory with his national team in 2010 and went on to lift Europe’s top prize once again with Real Madrid in the 2013/14 season.
It’s clear from the above responses that the now 38-year-old is still held in high regard by the Anfield faithful more than a decade after his departure.