Alonso: I almost joined Barcelona before Real Madrid

Previous Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso uncovered he practically joined Barcelona before he made the move to the Spanish capital. 

Alonso, 35, left Premier League side Liverpool for Madrid in 2009, going ahead to win LaLiga, the Champions League, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana before connecting up with Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich five years after the fact. 

Yet, it could have been a great deal extraordinary for Alonso - who is set to resign toward the finish of the season - had it not been for the development of kindred Spaniard Sergio Busquets at Barca. 

"It happened not well before I cleared out for Real Madrid," Alonso told El Pais. 

"Liverpool revealed to me that they needed to offer me, [manager around then, Rafael] Benitez as well, and Pep demonstrated an enthusiasm for my circumstance. 

"He needed to sign me on the grounds that, as he told Rafa, I was the sort of player who might fit his [playing] display. In any case, he had questions in light of the fact that Busquets had recently come through and had the makings of a colossal player. 

"Guardiola picked him, and he wasn't demonstrated off-base." 

Alonso has shown up this season as safeguarding champions Bayern sit eight focuses clear on the table. 

He has likewise highlighted in six Champions League installations in front of the Champions League quarter-last second leg against titleholders Real Madrid, who triumphed 2-1 in Munich.