Swansea City’s training sessions had extra Spanish spice this week with the arrival of midfielder Mikel Alonso.
The 28-year-old midfielder, brother of Liverpool’s Champions League winning star Xabi, linked up with the Swans after becoming a free agent following his release from Real Sociedad.
The former La Liga playmaker started last season on loan at Bolton where he played in the Uefa Cup and Premier League before returning to his club Real Sociedad in the summer.
After the Basque club were relegated to the second division, the club agreed to buy out his contract and Alonso will be able to join a new club in the January transfer window for free.
“I’m delighted to welcome Mikel into the Swansea City environment and help him to regain his sharpness and intensity before initiating a new chapter in his career come January,” explained Roberto.
He is a Premier League footballer with a great pedigree and it is great to have him around the place.
“We can benefit from his experience, quality and standards on a daily basis. On the other side we want to help him to regain the sharpness in his game and allow him to enjoy his football after a difficult period in his career.”
Whatever the future holds for Alonso, Swans legend Alan Curtis, now an important part of the Swansea coaching team, feels Alonso’s involvement can only be good for the rest of the squad.
“It will be good for the younger players in the squad, especially,” explained Curtis. “To train and mix socially with someone who has played for Real Sociedad and Bolton is a great experience in itself.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to try and tap into his knowledge of the game – and they should take it.
“Watching him in training and it is quite plain to see that technically he is very good.
“It’s also plain to see just how far we’ve come to attract such a high profile player like Mikel to the club, even if it’s just to train at the moment.”
Alonso watched the Swans in action against Barnsley on Tuesday night and has clearly been impressed by what he’s seen of the club so far.
“The important think for me is to get my fitness back,” explained Alonso. “When Roberto gave me the chance to come down and train it was a fantastic opportunity for me, one which I’m grateful of.
“I’ve only been here a short time, but I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen so far.
“Back home people know about Roberto and what he is doing at Swansea. In fact, Swansea is a bit like San Sebastian – a beautiful place by the sea.
“But for me it’s just about getting fit. I don’t know what the future holds. In football you don’t know what will happen from one week to the next.”