Source: Daily_Mail
Xabi Alonso finally hands in Liverpool transfer request to force through move
Xabi Alonso bowed to pressure from Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and handed in a formal transfer request.
The move, confirmed by Anfield sources, takes Alonso a step closer to joining Real Madrid after Sportsmail revealed the two clubs are close to agreeing a compromise fee of about £28million for the Spain midfielder.
Benitez is still reluctant to sell and having put a £35m price tag on the player, demanded Alonso show the club's fans that he wanted to leave by putting it in writing.
After spending the early part of the week with his family in San Sebastian following Liverpool's Far East tour, Alonso returned to training yesterday and officially asked for a move.
He looks certain to follow his Anfield team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa to the Bernabeu, where he will team up with Real's new galacticos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema.
Having completed his £3.5m move to Madrid, Arbeloa said: 'I hope Xabi joins me. He is a great footballer and a very good friend of mine and I would be very happy to have him here.
'He isn't going through an easy situation, but he is a professional who knows how to deal with this.'
Benitez will use the profit on a player who cost £10.5m in 2004 tostrengthen his squad, with Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani andValencia winger David Silva among his targets, along with Wiganmidfielder Lee Cattermole and Hull defender Michael Turner.
The Liverpool boss will be even more determined to hold on to JavierMascherano, but the Argentina midfielder's brother Sebastian claims heis keen on a move to Barcelona despite Liverpool demanding £50m.
He said: 'If Barcelona make a very good cash offer, I believe Javiermay leave Liverpool as it would be the best for him and his family. Butif there is no good offer, they will not let him go.'
