“There were many reasons” — Xabi Alonso on rejecting Liverpool

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has disclosed the primary reason behind his choice to turn down a return to Anfield in order to continue his managerial journey with Bayer Leverkusen.

Since taking the helm at the Bundesliga side, Alonso has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround in Leverkusen’s fortunes. Under his leadership, the team has surged to the top of the Bundesliga table this season, currently holding a commanding 16-point lead over reigning champions Bayern Munich.

Speculation had linked Alonso with a potential move to Liverpool to succeed Jurgen Klopp, who is set to depart Anfield at the end of the season.

However, Xabi Alonso put an end to such rumors last month when he confirmed his commitment to Leverkusen.

In a recent interview with TNT Sports, Alonso shed light on his decision-making process, citing the positive environment and team spirit at Leverkusen as key factors.

“I had a good meeting with Bayer Leverkusen, and I informed them that I will stay and continue at the club,” Xabi Alonso stated.

“After a lot of talks about my future, I used the break to reflect and make my decision. This is the place for me.”

Alonso emphasized the strong sense of belonging he feels within the Leverkusen setup.

“There were many reasons and so many players. The season has been great so far, and for sure we want to keep having this thing together. I felt part of it.”

Reflecting on Leverkusen’s success this season, Alonso praised the team’s character and mentality.

“We know that we are beatable, but we fight not to be beaten,” he remarked.

“In tough situations, we have been able to deal with tough moments to win football games and with a great mentality to believe that we could make it to the last minute.”

Alonso also highlighted Leverkusen’s commitment to their footballing philosophy and style of play.

“It’s down to our football, to our ideas, to our style,” he asserted. “We want to understand why we do things, why do things happen.”

With Xabi Alonso opting to stay at Leverkusen, Liverpool are reportedly considering Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim as a potential candidate to succeed Klopp as manager.