Benitez Tired of Xabi Alonso’s Baby Talk

By: Daryl | March 11th, 2008

Xabi Alonso and Nagore Xabi Alonso won’t be playing in Liverpool’s Champions League second leg against Inter today. He’ll be with girlfriend Nagore instead, as she gives birth to a little Xabi. Which hasn’t gone down too well with Rafa Benitez. Seems the initial plan was for Alonso to be present for junior’s arrival and then head to Milan for the game. But unborn babies are notoriously bad timekeepers who don’t always arrive when they’re supposed to. So with his unborn still being unborn, Alonso requested an extra days leave and hoped to join the squad at the last minute. Benitez basically said don’t bother, and has refused the request and left Alonso out altogether instead.

I can see Benitez’ point. Why have someone in the squad who might not make the game, and will probably be exhausted when he arrives? But seems like the whole thing could have been handled better. Important as football is, some things are more important. Way more important. Benitez could have just given Alonso a few days off out of generosity, rather than denying him the extra day and telling Alonso he wasn’t wanted. Seems like further proof that while Rafa knows his tactics, he’s not a people person.

But at least he’s not as mean as Trevor Francis. In the late eighties, Francis took his first managerial job at QPR and decided he was a badass. So much so that he refused striker Martin Allen permission to see the birth of his child, because Francis felt football should be Allen’s priority. Allen went anyway, and has no regrets.

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Matt

Rafa is really upset about the fact that Xabi junior won't be available for the rotation.
Tavis

and somehow the Americans will get blamed for this too.
Rob

Congratualations to Xabi, and hope Mother and Baby are well.

To be honest, this has to come first - football second. Should have been handled better all round, but there you go. Hope it doesn't cost him a place in the side on a long term basis.
chris

From that Martin Allen link:

"I had an operation on the Saturday evening and about eleven o’clock that night the sister came in and told me that Trevor had phoned the hospital asking how I was and wishing me the very best. I must admit when she told me I wondered if I was still under the aesthetic!"

I love athlete interviews. (Or typos.)