Javier Mascherano is delighted Xabi Alonso stayed with Liverpool this season.
"I was at the Beijing Olympics with Argentina [Mascherano won a gold medal] when I read that Xabi Alonso might go to Arsenal. I was a long way away so I didn't know the exact situation but I was surprised and a bit worried, to be honest," he told the Mail on Sunday.
"I'm very glad of course that Xabi is still with us. He's a fantastic player and it would have been harder to play Arsenal if he was in their team. He came back from the European Championship with his confidence on a high from Spain's victory and has been fantastic all season."