After spending five successful years at Anfield winning the FA Cup and the famous Champions League triumph in Istanbul, Turkey, the Spaniard has now revealed his favourite teammate while in Merseyside.
From his book "Ring of Fire" sampled by Guardian he names Jamie Carragher as his favourite teammate at Liverpool. They enjoyed a five-year stint at the club before the midfield maestro headed to Spain with Real Madrid.
"I liked Carra the most. He is the biggest Scouser in the world. We got on well from day one. I think he realised that I loved football and he loves football too."
"We would watch games together and talk about it every day. I think he respected that I would enter arguments with him. He was always very loud; you could hear his voice above everyone else's."
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Even detailing the banter they would exchange. "I would say, 'Carra, shut the fuck up, you have no idea!' He liked all of that: the confrontation."
As well as the legendary defender, he was also influenced by Steven Gerrard, Sami Hyypia and Dietmar Hamann. "Carra, Stevie, Sami and Didi were all huge influences on everyone else. All different characters, strong personalities. When each one of them spoke, I listened."
While adding they enhanced his game for the international arena where he won the World Cup (2010) and not one but TWO European Championships (2008 and 2012). "They helped me improve as a player and as a person, and when I went back to Spain to play for the national team I felt a lot stronger through the experiences shared with them."
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Liverpool