Many fans might argue that Alonso's style and strength differ from iconic midfield maestros like Gerrard or Pirlo from the same era. But David believed every player had unique strengths; while some aspects might vary, Alonso's overall ability was certainly not inferior.
David's choice of Alonso was more pragmatic than emotional—not only were other top playmakers already well-established at the time, but Alonso's style was far better suited to the brutal, fast-paced Premier League. The greatest difference was that, besides his organizing skills, Alonso possessed the defensive tenacity of a combative midfielder.
Last season, Alonso had been recalled to Real Sociedad during the winter break and immediately appointed captain under coach Tosak, leading the team successfully away from relegation and maintaining their La Liga status.
He was only nineteen—a remarkably young age for such responsibility.
Though the chance of acquiring Alonso seemed slim, David held onto hope. Hope, after all, was enough to keep fighting. So he traveled to the Basque Country.
David had already instructed his club to send a £10 million (€10m) transfer offer to Real Sociedad for Alonso.
Though Alonso transferred to Liverpool for £15 million (€15m) in 2004, it was Alonso who led Real Sociedad to a second-place league finish and propelled them into the Champions League last 16.
Despite being captain, Alonso was still far from superstar status—he had played only half a season for Sociedad last year.
The £10 million offer was fair for a player of Alonso's stature but far too low for Real Sociedad to accept easily. They were understandably reluctant to sell their captain—a future club legend in the making.
During a meeting with Sociedad's president, David confidently increased his offer to £14 million (€14m), a move that visibly unsettled the president.
"You may speak with Alonso directly about personal terms," the president said. "If you succeed, congratulations—you've found an excellent player."
This price seemed laughable to many—but David knew the biggest challenge wasn't Real Sociedad, but Alonso himself. The cerebral young player had a clear career plan, and convincing him to step down into England's third tier was no small feat.
Naturally, the matter fell to Alonso's agent—Ivanes.
"I think this is ridiculous," Ivanes said bluntly. "My client will never join a third-tier team. He's happy here as captain. If he transfers, it's only to a giant club—he has that quality."
David explained his intentions carefully. Ivanes was surprised—he hadn't realized David's offer had moved the club so much.
David shrugged. "It's part of European business culture—something I'm learning to navigate."
"I don't think this is ridiculous," David said calmly. "Notts County may be in the Second Division now, but I'm confident in promotion within two years."
David's confidence was unshakable.
"How much does Alonso earn at Sociedad? £30k? £40k per year?" David pressed on. "We can offer £200k per year—comparable to Premier League starters. That's no small change."
David didn't dance around the topic; he put the money and benefits on the table.
At first, Ivanes scoffed and seemed dismissive. But when David mentioned the £200k salary, Ivanes froze.
"Are you serious?" Ivanes exclaimed, incredulous. "This is 2001! Even clubs outside Real Madrid and Barcelona don't pay more than £30k–40k yearly, sometimes not even close to £1 million!"
"This isn't a joke," David said firmly. "If you're only here to play games, sorry—I don't have that kind of time."
Ivanes' disbelief gave way to anger. "If that's the case, I have no time for this nonsense!" he snapped, standing abruptly.
David quickly added, "That salary offer is my sincerity. You do realize that Real Sociedad accepted our £14 million offer, right? I came to you afterward to discuss Alonso's wages."
Ivanes faltered but remained carefully neutral.
The emotional rollercoaster that night shook Ivanes to his core.
Under David's gaze, Ivanes dialed Real Sociedad's president. His expression was full of excitement, though tinged with uncertainty.
After hanging up, Ivanes looked bewildered. "I never expected this was real," he said softly.
David smiled. "I didn't approach Alonso directly because I respect him too much for a mere money talk. But our offer is sincere. I also know Alonso has his own career plan, and you'll help him with that. I just don't think choosing Notts County is a mistake."
Ivanes shook his head. "But you must admit, the Premier League holds very little appeal for my client."
David shrugged. "Not forever, no. Notts County won't be a Second Division club for long."
Ivanes nodded slowly. After all, spending over £14 million on a player and offering Premier League-level wages implied serious ambition.
David sweetened the deal: "If Alonso agrees, I'll give you an extra £1 million commission—but you must get this done quickly. We can't drag this out and compromise our season before it even begins."
The implicit promise of a juicy commission was hard for Ivanes to resist. His greedy heart overrulled his skepticism, and he smiled broadly at David, effectively sealing the deal.
The next morning, David received the call: Alonso had agreed to join Notts County.
The keystone of David's midfield—and his dream of building a powerful team—was now in place.