Real Madrid Alvaro Arbeloa writes for MARCA

It's been 10 years since I was welcomed to Liverpool; staring, half a smile, and a firm hand. From that day to this, I knew a footballer who I've been able to discover as a real and true person, Xabi Alonso.

With him you earn more respect everyday, or in my case you have to win to earn it, and when you break that invisible wall you find a cheerful, loyal, loving, and restless character.

He has been my companion in a thousand battles, someone to count on during bad times, and to always support. These years I've enjoyed every day of our friendship and, fortunately, his incredible talent as a footballer.

If you've never seen Xabi play you can get a good idea by checking out his CV. If you've had the opportunity to play him, you've been able to test your skills against his elegant and precise strike of the ball that should be exhibited in the Museo del Prado, as he makes it look easy to put a ball at his teammates' feet from 60 yards.

You will also notice his presence, seemingly always in the right place, controlling the pace of the game at will, his mastery of the passing game, and his overwhelming ability to influence the game. Playing besides him, you know it's all that and more.

Throughout these years I've had the great privilege of playing with some of the best players in history. Undoubtedly, Xabi Alonso is one of them. But, I'm sorry, Alonso the footballer, you cannot beat my friend Xabi.

PS. In Madrid there is a great successor by the name of Casemiro. He's a unique player who is going to be very big.