Liverpool defender left for Real Madrid after being baffled by club's transfer decision

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In truth, Arbeloa's departure was overshadowed by that of Alonso's less than a week later, but his exit was, like that of his team-mate, a huge factor in the Reds' subsequent slide down the Premier League table.Rafa Benitez's side had pushed Manchester United all the way in 2008/09, losing just twice all season and collecting 86 points to finish four behind their bitter rivals. And Benitez admitted that Johnson, who had turned down Manchester City and a return to Chelsea, arriving could spell the end for Arbeloa, who had just a year left on his contract at that time."We were thinking about bringing in players with quality - that's the first thing," Benitez said.

He would like to stay but he knows the competition will be hard."Speaking in 2014, Arbeloa admitted that Johnson's arrival all but confirmed his desire to leave. He (Benitez) couldn’t say I had to stay.

He had a right-back and I had a call from Madrid."In truth, Liverpool may have lost Arbeloa for nothing the following year had they not cashed in. It was a gamble the Champions League-winning manager was prepared to take to break Liverpool's Premier League duck, but perhaps Arbeloa's influenced was overlooked by some.He would go on to win everything there is at Madrid, lifting La Liga, the Copa Del Rey, two Champions League titles and the Club World Cup, as well as the World Cup and another European Championship with Spain.Liverpool, meanwhile, slipped to seventh in the Premier League, conceding 36 goals and losing 11 games in a season which ultimately cost Benitez his job.A poor transfer window - Benitez had replaced Alonso with Alberto Aquilani - as well as infighting at board level, had derailed the Reds.