by Chris Bascombe, News of the World

Christiano Ronaldo to the left of him, Kaka to the right: What was it that convinced Xabi Alonso to leave Liverpool?

It's a question which sits comfortably alongside Mrs Merton asking Debbie McGee what attracted her to the millionaire Paul Daniels.

Twelve months ago, Alonso was told Gareth Barry was better equipped for Liverpool's centre midfield. Today he represents the finishing touch to the most expensively assembled team in history.

But Alonso doesn't think, speak or behave like a Real Madrid 'Galactico'. He hates the term. Any description elevating him above his admirers provokes a frown.



A small group of fans is gathered in the reception of the Spanish team hotel in the quiet tourist area of Merida, the venue for the midweek World Cup qualifying victory over Estonia.

Some of Alonso's most famous team-mates show their extra yard of pace to avoid a couple of photographs and a handful of signatures. Alonso stops to engage with the supporters.

Liverpool didn't just lose a fantastic footballer in the summer. They lost a great ambassador; a player who defined the Anfield ethos as much as Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.

That's why seeing Alonso in a Real Madrid shirt offers something of a contradiction. The vast wealth and perceived arrogance of 'Los Blancos' is at odds with the humble attitude which made Alonso such a Kop favourite, clashing with the misty-eyed image of the Basque boy fighting against the rich elite.

Liverpool are hardly the paupers punching above their weight their more romantic followers believe, but the accusation which hurt Alonso most during his recent transfer saga was that financial rather than footballing ambition provoked his move. Had that been the case, he'd have accepted rival offers from Manchester City or Chelsea.

"People who know me understand money was not a motivation for joining Real Madrid," said Alonso.

"Yes, when anyone works they consider money, but it was not the first, the second, the third or even the fourth motivation for me. I had other big offers, including some from England, but I always knew the best option was Real Madrid because of the potential of the newly built side.

"Some people mentioned the more attractive tax laws in Spain compared to England as a reason for me coming back, but that's not something I ever thought about. The rewards here are not so different to what I could have earned in England and I would never have considered this an important factor.
Money

"But whatever you think about the levels of money spent in football to build such a team, you have to go along with it and accept it's how it will always be. It always costs big money to buy top players. Of course, at Madrid it's different to most other clubs - except Manchester City. Players also get rewarded according to the pressure they're under, and at a club like Madrid it's massive.

"Yes, I believe there should be more fairness in how the wealth is distributed in the game, but that's something I believe to be true in life, not just football.

"There should also be more fairness between the bank managers, bank executives and workers. There should be more fairness in all industries, but this is not the society we live in, so football is no different. You could say the same about what pop singers are paid.

"When I see so many people having problems with unemployment as I did in England and have in areas of Spain, it's difficult to understand such big amounts being paid out.

"What we can do as footballers is try to give something back. I'm already involved in several charities. I've donated funds into cancer research, and I've always tried to consider people in a less fortunate position than we are as footballers. We should try to support those causes and use the money we earn to give back to our communities.

"That's one of the reasons I don't like the term Galactico and would never describe myself as this.

"It's from the past and I don't believe the description is correct or good. It's not right to look at players as if they're from a different 'galaxy'. It focuses too much on the individual when we're trying to create a team at Madrid."

It comes as no surprise Alonso also feels passionately about the youth talent 'drain' currently occupying the thoughts of FIFA, UEFA and Chelsea's lawyers. His advice to teenagers being lured to England by the promise of superstardom is to consider the sacrifices they're being asked to make.

He said: "I started as a professional with Real Sociedad at 17. Until then, I played in the neighbourhood at a good level. I had the chance to join Barcelona, but my parents were keen for me to continue my studies and not to expect any guarantees from football.

"You can never be sure at that age what will happen, no matter how talented you are. You always need luck too. From my point of view, I was able to develop a life away from football in case things did not go so well.

"This worked for me so if someone at that age asked my advice about whether they should I go abroad at 16 or 17, I would say no. I understand it's different for different players. Each career follows its own path, but that's my experience and it worked for me.

"Even if you have success, to go 10 or 20 years away from your parents and home is not good for the development of the person. As a footballer maybe it has its benefits, but you must always remember there is a life beyond a football career and you must prepare for that.
Lives

"The current system allows the clubs to be too selfish. They think in terms of numbers. If they take 10 young players and one is a big success, they say that policy is worth it, but what about the lives of the nine players who do not make it?"

The chances of Alonso enjoying a swift reunion with his ex-Anfield team-mates are favourable. The Premier League and La Liga are undoubtedly football's superpowers. England and Spain both secured their places for next summer's World Cup finals with eight straight qualifying group wins.

For club and country, it could be the most intense Anglo-Spanish battle since the Armada was spotted off the English coast.

"The competitiveness between England and Spain in the Champions League and the World Cup will be strong," says Alonso. "Real and Barca probably have the best chance outside the English clubs of winning the Champions League. Inter and Juve are always dangerous, but in terms of the top level I understand why people will look at the English and Spanish clubs.

"I think it may be the same at the World Cup. Spain will be one of the favourites with Brazil and Germany. England will be in that group because of the quality of players they have.

"There are great similarities between England now and how it was in Spain before we won the Euros. We were always seen as a country with the potential to win which hadn't for a long time. Winning the Euros gave us that winning mentality - and confidence is higher now.

"We learned there are so many factors which are important heading into a tournament. It's not just about the quality in the squad, but about the preparation, ensuring you peak at the right time. At a World Cup you wait for four years to be perfect for two or three weeks."

As Spain thrive and Real Madrid plot a course for European domination, Alonso could have spent the last few weeks mastering the art of the last laugh at Liverpool's early season struggles. Instead, he remains in a state of regret.

He regrets the messy nature of the transfer to the Bernabeu. He regrets the absence of an affectionate goodbye to The Kop. And he regrets becoming embroiled in the kind of political battle which he'd spent five years avoiding.

Closing the door on his Liverpool career has been tougher than either he or his former club imagined. If Rafa Benitez's men fail to challenge for the title, the origins will be traced back to the moment Alonso became unsettled.

And until his replacement. Alberto Aquilani, shines in a red shirt, supporters will continue to point at the gaping hole in Benitez's midfield.



"I would never think so highly of myself to say the team will do less well without me," said Alonso. "Just because I'm not at the club it does not mean I don't think about Liverpool, and I hope they have a very successful season. I understand it if some Liverpool fans find it difficult to understand why I left and I would have preferred the move to have gone through more smoothly, but I mean it when I say the club remains in my heart. It was time for me to start a new era in my career but I could not have imagined playing for any other English team. The support I received from the fans in Liverpool was too special.

"I'm certain I will play in front of The Kop again some day. I hope that's the case because playing for that club meant so much to me. I'd love to play Liverpool in the Champions League final this season because it would mean both of us having done really well. But another part of me thinks it would be special to play Liverpool earlier in the competition so I can play at Anfield sooner.

"They've had a tough start because of the high expectations but they need to keep pushing on and they have the quality to challenge for the title. The side is much the same as the one which finished second last season."

With one notable exception, of course.