Liverpool fullback Alvaro Arbeloa passes Real Madrid medical as £4m move nears

29 July 2009 11:33
The player, who was due to sign a five-year deal at the Spanish club on Wednesday night, insisted he was "very happy" to be returning to his homeland.[LNB]Despite initially demanding £6 million, Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, had little choice but to cash in on the defender after talks over extending his contract at Anfield stalled. Arbeloa, who moved to Liverpool from Deportivo La Coruna for £2.6 million in January 2007, would have been available on a free transfer next summer. [LNB] Related ArticlesTorres urges club to keep AlonsoBenitez pushes Alonso for answerPre-season friendlies guideLiverpool Transfer TalkPremier League Transfer TalkSport on televisionReal had hoped to sign Arbeloa in a joint deal with Xabi Alonso in an attempt to circumvent Benitez's £30 million asking price for the midfielder, but it is believed the completion of the deal has no bearing on his former room-mate's future. [LNB]Sources in Spain believe Real are inching closer to a resolution on the Alonso saga, thanks to the player's desire to move. Florentino Perez, the Spanish club's president, has come under increasing pressure from Manuel Pellegrini, the manager, and technical director Jorge Valdano to break the stalemate and any compromise is likely to be closer to Liverpool's valuation than Real's. [LNB]Benitez wants any deal to be finalised by the end of the week to allow him time to plan for life without the midfielder. Roma's Alberto Aquilani and Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martinez have emerged as likely replacements, while Benitez also plans to reignite his interest in Valencia's David Silva. [LNB]The Spaniard's attempts to offload Italian defender Andrea Dossena, though, have stalled, despite Liverpool agreeing a £5 million fee with Napoli for the left-back. It is believed Dossena's personal demands have held up the move.[LNB] 

Source: Telegraph