Xabi Alonso - Fee Agreed (Official)

[Guest]

Good old newspaper articles. Always spot on, they are

If you used newspaper articles for forming opinions, you'd probably conclude that people in the UK are fraudsters, muggers, abusers and the like. Maybe stuff in newspapers is the extreme case scenario? Because it's more newsworthy.

I base my view on Madrid fans on having met a load of them in Madrid last February. Take as you find, it's better that way.

I do.

[Craig_H]

You little ****

[-V-]

Bye Xabi. Now we have about £35m-40m to spend so lets get on it. Aquilani plus another goalscorer top class attacker please

We may not be able to replace his style and elegance but 2 top class players can make more effective

[Rafael Benítez Maudes]

Xabi Alonso was presented as a Real Madrid player tonight after signing a five-year contract at the Bernabeu.

The Basque midfielder joins Madrid from Liverpool for around £30million and was unveiled at the stadium this evening.

The 27-year-old Spain international arrived in the capital this morning after a fee was agreed between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Alonso then underwent various tests and met his new team-mates for training earlier this afternoon.

The midfielder is Madrid's eighth summer signing, taking the Primera Division giants' spending to over £220million in just two months.

Madrid president Florentino Perez has brought in Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Raul Albiol, Esteban Granero, Arbeloa, Alvaro Negredo and Karim Benzema as he attempts to build a team capable of challenging Barcelona's treble winners.

"It's a very happy day for me," said Alonso. "It's an important step in my career to come to a club like Real Madrid.

"I'm very happy to be part of this club and I was very excited for this day to arrive.

"It's the best opportunity for me to develop as a footballer."

The transfer sees Alonso return to Spain after five years away from his homeland.

And, while he enjoyed his time on Merseyside, the former Real Sociedad player admitted he decided before the end of the season the time was right to move on.

"I am very grateful to Liverpool fans, they were very warm during my five years," he continued. "It will be really difficult to match their appreciation.

"I really enjoyed those five years.

"But a few months ago I took that decision as I thought it was the right moment to find a fresh challenge, to look for a new club.

"That's when Real Madrid came along. Luckily a deal has been done and I'm very happy.

"It is a personal challenge I felt is necessary for my football career.

"I felt it was right so I looked for a change, for a new experience, and when Madrid came in, that's when I decided to come back to Spain."

[Rafael Benítez Maudes]

do you believe him?

[Shaggy]

Looks so wrong.

Is that Arbeloa he's talking to?

[ronniedrew]

jesus wept, he wanted to leave our club, he went after forcing the clubs hand

a good player but gone now, hardly a gerrard or torres , lets all move on

[Rigadon]

do you believe him?

I think the decision ‘to find a fresh challenge’ was made for him last year. I also think that he is completely sincere in his appreciation for the fans.

[BigChief]

Love him for being a legend. But as we know not a single Pool player makes it at Real and I won't be too sorry watching him finish his contract and career unsuccessfully on the Real Madrid bench.

Sorry, but it took a massive kick up the a*sehole for him to show some world class form and he won't get that 'motivation' at Real. He's just joined a sinking ship where he's too old to jump off.

[Tee]

Love him for being a legend. But as we know not a single Pool player makes it at Real and I won't be too sorry watching him finish his contract and career unsuccessfully on the Real Madrid bench.

Sorry, but it took a massive kick up the a*sehole for him to show some world class form and he won't get that 'motivation' at Real. He's just joined a sinking ship where he's too old to jump off.

[DannyMan2006]

MOTM he was in one of the finals. But he was never really accepted because he wasn't a big enough player. Would have achieved a lot more other wise.

I wouldn't say he was a big success, nor would I say he was a failure.

[Craig_H]

Still dont get how a Basque can go to Madrid. But oh well.

[BigChief]

Hahahahaahahaahahah, is that David May?

I would say Maccers spent just as much time splintered on the bench as every other Pool player.

[Craig_H]

Hahahahaahahaahahah, is that David May?

Are you kidding?

[BigChief]

Are you kidding?

I was trying to be ironic and sarcastic. Didn't work obviously.