You made a point. He was one of our most consistent top level players and we did get emotional over him.After all, he was the backbone of the team. I didn't have a problem with him leaving or staying though. In the last few games that he played he was error prone and several times last season he made crucial errors that hurt us in the long run. Some might say look at Pirlo, but Xabi's role requires a more physical approach to his game and that was becoming his weak point. The problem i saw whether he left or stayed was finding someone capable of replacing him. Kroos is modest defensively, khedira is not set offensively and I don't know if illarra will ever reach the level expected of him. I worry that we'll find it hard to replace him.
JR has a point.
And no player, even though has declined, can replicate what Alonso can do. Maybe Kroos can pass just as nicely, but defensively he is crap. Khedira can defend, but can't build up a play if his life depended on it. Illaramendi is flipping Illaramendi. Like Pepe said we need a proper defensive midfielder, not Falcao.
His decline physically meant he was always gonna be the 12th player in the lineup behind Kroos and Modric. It is Alonso who didn't want that so we should respect that. It's no big deal to me ven though I much prefer Alonso as our defensive option than Illarramendi.
REALLY hope a CDM is purchased though. A proper one, not a f4g like Illarramendi.
It's more about what it says about Madrid. The team is unbalanced now, selling Di Maria and Alonso and with Khederia supposedly leaving it leaves Madrid with no work horses and top heavy. Top heavy teams do not win things these days. You need the work horse midfielders.
I'm not 10$￡ for a declining midfielder is good bussiness we I wouldn't say declining I would say veteran that's what he is.. Good player but he's time at Madrid was counting down... Now hopefully Illaremendi will step up!!!!
I wouldn't care about that worthless piece of sh#t either. He's the ALS version of Stephen Ireland.
He is a great player but it's time to leave and be replaced by a other great young player
How many Spanish players now start for Real Madrid?
because he is a legend and everyone cares about a legend
I feel like 98% of fans wanted him to stay because they're emotionally attached to him.I like Alonso too,but he's been declining sharply.
