Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso says he'll always be grateful for his time at Liverpool.
Xabi told Champions Magazine: "I am starting a new era and I will be eternally grateful to Liverpool because they are a very special institution. I jumped into the pool of their history and philosophy.
"I got involved in the city and loved living in the centre. I have grown as a person and as a player. When I joined it was a new project and I was also starting out in this game.
"I left Spain at 22 and became something of a sponge, absorbing everything and trying to find out about the new country, its society and daily lives. I listened to people, talked to strangers, looked around.
"You have to have an open mind to respect their traditions. That helped me understand what was expected of me and the team. Plus, the experience of playing among the elite of Europe, fighting for titles, that has matured me after five unforgettable years."
