Every word Xabi Alonso said on Liverpool decision, Bayern Munich, next job and Anfield return

Xabi Alonso made his desire to remain at Bayer Leverkusen public on Friday.

It was reported by the Liverpool ECHO on Thursday that the former Reds midfielder was leaning heavily towards remaining in Germany for the upcoming season despite both Bayern and Liverpool making him their top target.

Alonso addressed speculation around his future ahead of his side's clash with Hoffenheim on Saturday. Here's everything he had to say:

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"We have been here many times. It has been a season with much speculation regarding my future and until now we have had so many games. We have been pretty busy, pretty focused, and I wanted to use that time of the international break to reflect a little bit better and to make a decision.

"Last week I had a very good meeting when I informed the club of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen. For sure all the decisions needed to be analysed well and I tried to take the right ones.

"I tried to take them that I feel they come in a natural way and at this moment I felt that this is the best place for me to be, for me to develop as a coach. I am a young coach but I have to feel it and right now I feel that this is the right place and I have to thank the management, the club that has been really supportive.

"I feel really respected by all the departments. The fans that show great support during this year and last year in difficult moments, I feel that. We have all the reasons to believe and to dream that we can have a really great season, we are really pushing for that. A great staff that helps me day by day to