Benitez tells Alonso: make official transfer request if you want Real deal

14 July 2009 02:15
Xabi Alonso has been told he must make an official transfer request to show everyone how keen he is to leave Liverpool and join Real Madrid. The 27-year-old has explained to Anfield manager Rafa Benitez in a phone call that he wants to join the new collection of galacticos at the Bernabeu following the recent return of Florentino Perez as president. Benitez told his fellow Spaniard to put it in writing. The Spain midfielder remarkably made the call less than 24 hours before he married his long-term girlfriend Nagore Aramburu in his home city of San Sebastian on Saturday, where the guests included former Liverpool team-mate Luis Garcia and Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta. But even if he does put his request in writing, Benitez has made it clear that Real must pay the price he puts on his midfielder's head - £35million. Despite spending so much on Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol, Madrid appear unwilling to go beyond £25m. Real's new head coach Manuel Pellegrini said: 'It is no mystery that we are interested, but it will not be easy.'

Source: Daily_Mail