<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[following Real Madrid...]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://unamadridista.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[unamadridista]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://unamadridista.wordpress.com/author/unamadridista/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Xabi Alonso &#8211; the Don Balón&nbsp;questionnaire]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>A double dose of the delectable Xabi Alonso for your Thursday &#8211; it&#8217;s almost Friday &#8211; pleasure!  He did the <em>Don Balón</em> questionnaire in their latest issue, and so of course I had to share.  His answers are accompanied by photos from one of the best days in my Madrid supporting life.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone" alt="" src="https://i1.wp.com/i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx268/unamadridista/unamadridista3/2010-08-0501.jpg" width="600" height="385" /></p>
<p><strong>1.  Marital status?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Married and with two children.</p>
<p><strong>2.  What were you studying?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I studied business for three years.  I didn&#8217;t finish my degree.</p>
<p><strong>3.  Do footballers make too much money?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; It&#8217;s related to how much money they generate.</p>
<p><strong>4.  Should provincial national teams play official games?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I think this is not only a matter of sports.</p>
<p><strong>5.  What would you like to do when you&#8217;re no longer playing football?<br />
</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; When I leave football, I&#8217;d like to disconnect a bit and enjoy my free time, because while this is great, I&#8217;m very busy.</p>
<p><!--more--><strong>6.  What is your favorite singer or group?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I like Andrés Calamaro.</p>
<p><strong>7.  What is your favorite song?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; “Other Side” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.</p>
<p><strong>8.  Who are you favorite actor and actress?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Robert de Niro and Julianne Moore.</p>
<p><strong>9.  What movie have you watched the most number of times?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; <em>The Great Escape</em> and <em>The Shawshank Redemption.</em></p>
<p><strong>10.  What is the best book you’ve read in your life?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; <em>The Great Gatsby </em>[my favorite book too!!!]<em> </em></p>
<p><em><img class="alignnone" alt="" src="https://i0.wp.com/i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx268/unamadridista/unamadridista3/2010-08-0506.jpg" width="600" height="385" /><br />
</em></p>
<p><strong>11.  Of all the poems that you&#8217;ve read, which did you like the best?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I don&#8217;t remember any of them.</p>
<p><strong>12.  Of all the paintings you&#8217;ve see, which made the biggest impression on you?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Gernika.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>13.  Your best friend in the world of football?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I have a lot but a very good friend is Cristian Alberdi, who plays in Alcorcón.<em> </em></p>
<p><strong>14.  What is your favorite TV show?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I like <em>Cuarto Milenio</em>.<em> </em></p>
<p><strong>15.  What is your favorite food?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Turbot.</p>
<p><strong>16.  A city.</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; London.</p>
<p><strong>17.  Your idea of a perfect night?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I like to go out to eat, with my wife and my friends, and enjoy a good chat.</p>
<p><strong>18.  What place would you like to visit?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Alaska or New Zealand.</p>
<p><strong>19.  Your most recent car?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; An Audi 7.</p>
<p><strong>20.  What is your dream car?<br />
</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I like James Bond&#8217;s Aston Martin.  I like cars a lot.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone" alt="" src="https://i1.wp.com/i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx268/unamadridista/unamadridista3/2010-08-0512.jpg" width="600" height="385" /></p>
<p><strong>21.  Is it easier for footballers to hook up with girls?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I don&#8217;t know why it would be like.</p>
<p><strong>22.  Who is the sexiest woman, after yours?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Scarlett Johansson.</p>
<p><strong>23.  Is love necessary for you in sex?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Yes.  [Oh Xabi&#8230;.]</p>
<p><strong>24.  Do you all play better on the field after having sex?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; It&#8217;s different for everyone.</p>
<p><strong>25.  Would you forgive a onetime act of infidelity?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I don&#8217;t think so.</p>
<p><strong>26.  What do you think about homosexual marriages?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I think that those who have that sexual preference have the same right as everyone else.  I don&#8217;t see any problems.</p>
<p><strong>27.  How do you kill time in the <em>concentraciones</em>?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; With the Internet, I watch TV series&#8230;</p>
<p><strong>28.  What do you think about the death penalty?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I&#8217;m against it.</p>
<p><strong>29.  In what areas has your footballing improved in the last few years?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Perhaps tactically and mentally.</p>
<p><strong>30.  What did you learn from your parents?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Humility, straightforwardness, and to work hard to able to achieve what you want in this life.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone" alt="" src="https://i2.wp.com/i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx268/unamadridista/unamadridista3/2010-08-0509.jpg" width="600" height="385" /></p>
<p><strong>31.  What is your latest splurge?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; A watch.</p>
<p><strong>32.  What does a footballer do during the afternoons?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I spend time with my kids.</p>
<p><strong>33.  When was the last time you got drunk?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; In the World Cup, during the celebration.</p>
<p><strong>34.  What&#8217;s the most recent crazy thing that you did?</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>&#8211; I don&#8217;t remember.</p>
<p><strong>35.  Finish this sentence: It drives me crazy when…</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I have to deal with a lack of respect.</p>
<p><strong>36.  What do you always have in your refrigerator?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Good vegetables from Navarra.</p>
<p><strong>37.  Should all immigrants be legalized?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; In an orderly fashion, but it&#8217;s not easy.</p>
<p><strong>38.  Who were your heroes?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I&#8217;ve always liked Koeman.</p>
<p><strong>39.  Tell me a historic moment of your club.</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; La Séptima.</p>
<p><strong>40.  Which country do you support, apart from Spain, in a World Cup?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I&#8217;ve always liked England.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone" alt="" src="https://i2.wp.com/i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx268/unamadridista/unamadridista3/2010-08-0511.jpg" width="600" height="385" /></p>
<p><strong>41.  The Christmas gift you were most excited about.</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; World Cup boots, the first ones I ever received as a gift.</p>
<p><strong>42.  What other sports have you played or play?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Padel and tennis.</p>
<p><strong>43.  Your favorite historical person?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill.</p>
<p><strong>44.  What footballer did your father constantly talk about?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; My father wasn&#8217;t one to talk about his battles.  He spoke more about what was going on.</p>
<p><strong>45.  Do you have any manias before stepping on the field?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; No.</p>
<p><strong>46.  Where do you usually go for vacations?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; I change the destination, I don&#8217;t have any fixed place.</p>
<p><strong>47.  What question from journalists do you hate the most?<br />
</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; When I&#8217;m asked how I define myself.</p>
<p><strong>48.  Your favorite clothing brand?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; Adidas.</p>
<p><strong>49.  What was the last time you used public transportation?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; A while ago, I did use the metro in London.</p>
<p><strong>50.  If you were the president, what would be the first thing you would do upon arriving at Moncloa?</strong></p>
<p>&#8211; There are a lot of things to do but I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m sufficiently prepared to do so.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone" alt="" src="https://i0.wp.com/i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx268/unamadridista/unamadridista3/2010-08-0504.jpg" width="600" height="385" /></p>
<p><em>And five bonus questions.</em></p>
<p><strong>One.  A dream: </strong>to win the Liga, which I&#8217;ve never won.</p>
<p><strong>Two.  A person that you miss: </strong>my grandparents.</p>
<p><strong>Three.  Your lucky number: </strong>I have a lot of affection for 14 right now.</p>
<p><strong>Four.  If you were on a deserted island, you&#8217;d bring&#8230; </strong>a radio.</p>
<p><strong>Five.  If you weren&#8217;t a footballer, you&#8217;d be&#8230; </strong>I was going to be an engineer, something related with companies.</p>
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