Real Madrid Star Xabi Alonso Welcomes Christmas Break
Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso is enjoying his first Christmas break from football in five years and says the rest is welcome, particularly since the World Cup will curtail summer holidays for many players next summer.
Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso is enjoying his first Christmas break from football in five years and says the rest is welcome, particularly since the World Cup will curtail summer holidays for many players next summer.
Alonso signed for Liverpool in 2004 from Real Sociedad and as a result endured a hectic winter football schedule in the English Premier League during the past five seasons on Merseyside but since returning to Spain the 28-year-old has acknowledged that the chance to rest over the Christmas period is welcome.
Madrid enter the Christmas period just two points off league leaders Barcelona and return to action on January 3 with a testing trip to Pamplona to take on Osasuna.
"The Christmas break is good for football," Alonso is quoted as saying by Spanish publication AS.
"The break is welcome in a season where there is a World Cup."