Alonso 'too slow' says Ranieri

Filed in archive Transfer rumours on October 9, 2008

The expected transfer of Xabi Alonso from Liverpool to Juventus in the Summer, as we all know, didn't take place. It was thought that the failure of the move to go through was as a result of the Gareth Barry transfer from Aston Villa not materialising.

Now, Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri has revealed that he turned down the chance to sign him because he was "too slow".

Ranieri said: "He left me perplexed by the slowness of his movement. He would have found it hard to support our midfield line seeing as our wingers don't give support like at Liverpool. He is a player who, in the midfield of Rafa's Liverpool, where all of them are little soldiers, finds himself in a fantastic position."

However, with Alonso enjoying a return to form at Liverpool and Juventus currently sitting 11th place in Serie A with two wins from their first six matches, it may well be Alonso who has the last laugh.