Quotes About Xabi

I had five great years at Liverpool and I would rather just keep that memory as it is.

When I used to play against Bayern, Xabi Alonso always used to give me a really hard time. He was so experienced... he made me suffer. The way he'd keep switching play just meant that you could never stop running. He was very intelligent.

My favourite position is as midfielder, playing with Xabi and Khedira.

We know that Xabi Alonso has done a lot for Real Madrid, but this is Real and when a good player leaves, another good player comes in.

When I think of Xabi, my mind goes back to the first training session he had at Melwood in August 2004. And the same word always leaps out: wow! Rafa Benitez had talked him up before he arrived and immediately you understood.

My idea was to stay in Madrid. Then, when I heard of Munich's interest, I said, 'Xabi, think what you want and where you will be happy.'

Xabi embraced life in Liverpool.