OFFICIAL: Liverpool agree €34m deal to take Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid
Wednesday, August 5, 2009 @ 12:32 AM
Liverpool have this afternoon confirmed that they have reached agreement with Real Madrid over a deal to take Xabi Alonso from Anfield to the Spanish giants. The player will now move to Los Merengues as soon as he successfully completes a medical, for which he will, according to Goal.com sources, be in Madrid tomorrow.
A statement on the Reds' official website reads:
"Liverpool Football Club this evening confirmed they had reached agreement for the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, subject only to a medical.
"The terms of the deal will remain confidential and undisclosed."
However, an anonymous source revealed to Goal.com's Mohammed Bhana that the fee agreed between the Merseysiders and the Spanish giants is €34 million. We also understand that Liverpool held out for the full fee and would not accept anything less. Reds manager Rafa Benitez had been extremely reluctant to part with the player, whose possible exit has been talked about almost since the last ball was kicked at the end of last season.
However, it looks now that the Basque playmaker, such an integral part of the Liverpool side, is on his way out of Anfield, and discussion will now surely turn as to how Benitez can replace him in time for the resumption of Premier League hostilities on August 15. Sky Sports News reports in England today have claimed that the Reds are in talks with Juventus regarding Christian Poulsen, though no official confirmation has yet emerged, as reports in Italy, also from Sky, maintain that Alberto Aquilani of Roma remains favourite to swap Serie A for the Premier League.
Source: Goal.com