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Liverpool icon Xabi Alonso has revealed he almost made the move to Barcelona instead of Real Madrid when he left Liverpool in 2009. Elsewhere, the Reds face increased competition for Santos starlet Thiago Maia.
In an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais (h/t Jack Otway of the Daily Express), Alonso revealed then-Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola wanted him, except a certain emerging midfielder complicated the interest:
It happened not long before I left for Real Madrid. Liverpool told me that they wanted to sell me, Rafa Benitez too, and Pep showed an interest in my situation.