adios, alonso
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso will undergo a medical at the Bernabeu on Wednesday ahead of his £30m move to Real Madrid and the deal's conclusion will bring an end to the Spanish club's summer spending spree.
REAL MADRID'S SPENDING
• Cristiano Ronaldo - £80m • Kaka - £56m • Karim Benzema - £35m • Xabi Alonso - £30m (TBC) • Raul Albiol - £12.7m • Alvaro Negredo - £4.2m • Alvaro Arbeloa - £3.5m • Esteban Granero - £3.4m • Total: £224.8m
Real's director general Jorge Valdano confirmed that the Spanish international would mark a change in focus for Los Blancos, who will now turn their attention to trimming the squad rather than adding to it.
The capture of Alonso, who is not expected to be presented to fans until after Real's tour to North America, will bring the club's total outlay under returning president Florentino Perez to £224.8m and will be the final piece in the new galacticos jigsaw.
"We understood Xabi Alonso was an important player to complete our squad, and it was worth Real Madrid fighting for him," Valdano told radio station Cadena Ser.
"With this move we end the search for new players. We continue searching for an exit for those who are surplus to requirements."
"The club needed a shake up. Some very good players have come in to strengthen every position and the fans are very excited."
Having spent huge amounts of cash to lure eight players - including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema to the Bernabeu - Real have until the end of August to cut Manuel Pellegrini's squad back to 25 players.
Midfielder Rafael van der Vaart and forwards Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Alvaro Negredo have been linked with interest from clubs in Germany, Italy and England.
Thanks Rafa, for trying to offload xabi the other time.
now hes turned his back on liverpool, its nobody's fault but YOURS.
find a replacement QUICK, and dont tell me you're trying to sign that roma midfielder. at least bring in silva ._.