Pep And Xabi, Together At Last

Bayern first approached Alonso in 2013 Xabi Alonso's move to Bayern Munich was a year in the making. Its roots can be traced back to September last year, when Josep Guardiola first had doubts about his side's ability to control games. Pep has always favoured fielding a single midfield linchpin who is at once a playmaker and an enforcer; an inch-perfect passer who holds his position and sets the stage for others to shine. There aren't many players who fit this bill and one obvious candidate, Sergio Busquets, was clearly unattainable. So was Xabi, but things changed. The groundwork for the transfer began being laid in October 2013, when Pep sounded out the Bayern higher-ups about Alonso, but Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness were unconvinced. The subject remained under discussion until Christmas and on Boxing Day, a non-committal Rummenigge tried to lure Xabi over the phone. But the Basqueman had his heart set on winning the 'Décima' with Real Madrid and decided to renew his contract for a further two years. Read more: Pep and Xabi, together at last - MARCA.com