Liverpool news: Rafa Benitez defends decision to chase Gareth Barry ‘which led to Xabi Alonso’s Anfield exit’
Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has defended his decision to chase Gareth Barry at the expense of losing Xabi Alonso in 2009.
At the time, Barry was thriving for Aston Villa in the Premier League, while Alonso starred for the Reds.
Benitez made Barry a top transfer target following the 2008/09 campaign, but the former England midfielder opted to sign for Manchester City.
And after Barry’s move to City, Alonso joined Real Madrid in a £30million deal ahead of the new season.
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In a Q&A session held by , Benitez, who managed Liverpool for six years between 2004 and 2010, was asked for his ‘thoughts on chasing Gareth Barry, which led to Xabi Alonso leaving’.
The Spaniard replied: “The Barry story is something that still people don’t understand.
“Barry had been playing for years at his maximum level and, at this time, he could play in three positions – midfielder, winger and left-back.
“We had [Javier] Mascherano, Lucas Leiva and [Steven] Gerrard with experience, and selling Alonso was a way to make some money and balance the team.
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“Barry wasn’t to replace Alonso, he was to give us something different that we didn’t have at this time.”
Barry won a Premier League title and an FA Cup with City, before joining Everton on a permanent deal in 2014.
Meanwhile, Alonso enjoyed success with Real Madrid, winning a Champions League trophy and LaLiga title before retiring in 2017.