Manager Rafa Benitez reveals: Xabi Alonso had an agreement to join Arsenal

During his playing career, Xabi Alonso was close to joining Arsenal from Liverpool but the deal fell through, according to manager Rafa Benitez.

Alonso featured under Benitez at Liverpool – ending his playing career seven years ago and entering management – and he’s currently in charge of Bayer Leverkusen.

He guided Bayer Leverkusen to a shock domestic double last term, in what was an unbeaten league season, with his side becoming Invincible in the Bundesliga.

While Alonso is now known for his work as a manager, he is also famous for his playing career in which he featured for Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Alonso, who was linked to the Liverpool manager’s job before Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp, played at Anfield for five years between 2004 and 2009.

But things could’ve been very different as his old Reds boss Benitez said: ‘Xabi Alonso is a very good player, a very clever person, and someone that is right.

‘When we went for Gareth Barry, it was because he could play in three different positions and then we needed to sell. Xabi had an agreement; he was talking with one club and had an agreement.

‘The year after, we played Standard de Liège for a Champions League qualifier and we had Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva in the Olympic Games, Steven Gerrard had a lower back problem, so we had to play [Damien] Plessis and Xabi.

‘Xabi had an agreement with Arsenal and didn’t want to get cup tied. I told Jamie Carragher and Gerrard before the game that he had an agreement and doesn’t want to play, but he must because it is the most important game to qualify for the Champions League.

‘Then when you were going out for the warm-ups, you said, ‘Poor Xabi.’ Not poor Xabi, he is playing for our club at this time.

‘During the season he was our best player and didn’t go to Arsenal because he had to play [for us].

‘We played against Lazio in our last pre-season friendly and the fans were clapping for Xabi, but he was going to Arsenal, the fans loved him.’

Rafael Benitez was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.