Juventus instead of Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool in 2009.
The 34-year-old spent five years at the English Premier League side before moving to the Spanish La Liga, where he spent another five seasons and then moved on to Bayern in the German Bundesliga, but a move to Italy was on the cards.
“It was 2009, [then Liverpool coach Rafael] Benitez came up to me and said clearly: ‘Xabi, we need money to bring in other players that interest me,’ and to find money, my name was first on the transfer list,” Alonso told The Guardian.
“There was a lot of interest from Juventus and Arsenal, but the clubs couldn’t find an agreement, but I was ready to leave because the coach told me to.
“In the end, there was an agreement with Real Madrid.”
Alonso went on to win a Champions League and a La Liga title with Los Blancos, and has won two straight Bundesliga titles since he moved to Bayern.
