He's a clever player, good with long and short passes, always talking about football and trying to improve. He is important for us because he is strong and has experience and he wants to improve. It gives us different possibilities.
Rafael Benitez
Liverpool are getting a cracker in Xabi Alonso. According to former internationals now working in the Spanish media they would rather have seen Real Madrid focus their attentions on Alonso rather than Patrick Vieira. Better than Vieira? Now that is a claim I like the sound of.
John Aldridge
Xabi Alonso is probably one of the most gifted midfielders there are in Spain at the moment because he can defend and he can attack. He plays in the centre of midfield and you won't find him out wide. He is a goalscorer, distributes the ball well and keeps his position. There is a good wave of opinion out in Spain that he can become the best midfielder in Spain for the next decade. Xabi comes from a footballing family as his dad Periko Alonso also played for Real Sociedad and Barcelona. I think he will be a really good signing for Liverpool and I know he is really excited about playing for them.
Guillem Balague, Sky Sports
