Real unveil Alonso

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 €35m 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 €260m 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.