Former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso has lifted the lid on his reasons for leaving Anfield for Real Madrid.
Alonso quit Liverpool for Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 after a difficult final year at Anfield.
The Spaniard's future was the subject of constant speculation 12 months prior to his departure after then Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez confirmed his interest in bringing Gareth Barry to the club as Alonso's replacement.
The Barry move failed to materialize and Alonso stayed on for the 2008/09 season, but the 29-year-old admits Liverpool's pursuit of Barry made it too uncomfortable for him to stay on Merseyside.
"At the end of that season, speaking to Rafa, he told me the situation and that he wanted to sign other players and I could be one of the replacements," Alonso told Liverpool's official website.
"If an offer would have come, probably I would have been sold. That's when I told myself that the situation had changed - from being a very important player to being one of those who can be sold to get funds to sign other players.
"I accepted it because I am a professional but you have to realize what your situation is. At the end nothing happened because there was no agreement and we started my last season in Liverpool, but knowing what had happened.
"I didn't know what would happen but at the end of the season, knowing what had happened, I felt if another option was to come I needed to take another step in my career.
"It was very difficult to take that decision, but it was probably for the best for me because I was not comfortable with that situation and if I had stayed another season it would have been uncomfortable for me.
"I was really happy with the team and my team-mates and felt that we could do great things. I was happy on that side but within a club you have to see the big picture and another season would have been too much for me.
"As soon as the season finished I talked to the manager. I knew that maybe Madrid were coming and I said if the terms were good then I wanted to leave."
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