Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso has insisted that returning to Anfield for Sunday’s All-Star Charity Match was an emotional experience for him.
Alonso spent five years at Anfield after he joined Liverpool in 2004 and went on to become a fan favourite during his five-year spell at the club. He went on to play an instrumental role at Rafael Benitez’s team in 2005 when they went on to win the Champions League in Istanbul.
The Spain international left Anfield in 2009 for Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid and departed from Spain after five trophy-laden years at the Santiago Bernabeu for Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich at the start of the current campaign.
Sunday’s charity match was his first match on the Reds’ hallowed turf since he left the club in 2009 and the Spaniard has insisted that his return to Anfield was an emotional experience.
“For me it was really emotional”, he told LFC TV.
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“After I left I didn’t have the chance to come properly to say goodbye and it is really special to feel that link between myself and the Liverpool supporters.
“And it has been fantastic, a great cause, and everything has been fantastic and everyone is delighted with how things have gone."
When asked how it felt to hear the 45,000 Liverpool fans chant his name, Alonso replied that the warm reception brought back a lot of memories of his time at the club.
“It brought a lot of memories back to my mind because you have to leave Liverpool to feel that and feel special again."
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