Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez has revealed that Xabi Alonso wasn’t happy about leaving Liverpool to land at the Santiago Bernabeu, but the Spanish boss claims he made a financial decision by selling the midfielder.

Alonso had a five-year stint at Anfield, where he stayed from 2004 until his departure for Real Madrid in 2009, and during his stint with the Premier League club, the midfielder won the Champions League in 2005 as well as the FA Cup a year later. He went on to become a favourite amongst the Anfield faithful.




However, under then Liverpool manager Benitez, Alonso was sold to Real Madrid and went on to have five successful seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu before he made a move to Bayern Munich last summer.

Benitez, who is now in charge of Real Madrid, has revealed that Alonso didn’t want to leave Liverpool, but the club sold him for financial reasons.
 


"When one is faced with responsibility, it’s important to assume this position”, the manager said on talkshow El Larguero on the Cadena SER network.

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“I needed the money as team manager.

"You don’t get much for selling a bad player.

“He wasn’t happy about it. I was clear with him and his representative.

"Liverpool Football Club put him up for sale.

“He had just had an excellent season and we sold him for decent money that helped us rebuild the team.”