Bayern make move for Madrid's Xabi Alonso
Little more than a day after selling Angel Di Maria, Real Madrid look set to part with another crucial member of their midfield and dressing room, with Xabi Alonso reportedly on the verge of joining Bayern Munich.
Just an hour after the midfielder announced his retirement from international football – calling time on a glorious career with La Roja, winning two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup – news broke that Alonso was looking to leave Spain altogether.
Spanish television station 'La Sexta' – the same channel that first announced Radamel Falcao was to leave Atletico Madrid for Monaco – dropped the bombshell on Wednesday evening, reporting that Alonso has agreed personal terms with Bayern, who have offered him a salary of €10million per year.
Real Madrid are yet to give the green light to the move, but are believed to be open to selling Alonso, who turns 33 in November, for between €5 and €10million.
Bayern have been on the look out for a temporary solution in midfield ever since Javi Martinez suffered knee ligament damage in the German Super Cup against Borussia Dortmund earlier this month, and the highly experienced Alonso - who reached two Champions League finals with Liverpool and one with Real Madrid - fits the bill.
Alonso has been one of the first names on the Real team sheet since joining Los Blancos in the summer of 2009 for €37million, just one of a raft of big-money brought in by Florentino Perez on his return to the Madrid presidency.
He has made a total of 236 appearances for Real, winning two Copas del Rey (beating Barcelona on both occasions in the final), one La Liga title and the Champions League last season, although he was unable to play in the final against Atletico Madrid due to suspension, he still grabbed the headlines with his exuberant charge down the touchline to hug his team-mates when Gareth Bale gave Madrid the lead in extra-time, which earned him another suspension and forced him to miss the UEFA Super Cup final.
