We had to force him to put in a transfer request.
Obviously wasn't pushing that hard to leave then.
I don't blame players for leaving in that period, Hicks and Gillett running wild, he'd fallen out with the manager (at least for a period), and the most successful team in world football back in his home country came calling.
Alonso is boss, and is clearly still following us pretty strongly
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A-3cJTFCIAEjaja.jpg)