Xabi Alonso had a final training session with his Liverpool teammates yesterday at Melwood.

The end of a summer-long saga over the 27-year-old's future ended when Liverpool issued a short statement effectively bringing to a close his spell on Merseyside.

The statement read: "Liverpool Football Club this evening confirmed they had reached agreement for the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, subject only to a medical. The terms of the deal will remain confidential and undisclosed."

But although Liverpool will not reveal the details of the deal, privately sources were maintaining that manager Rafael Benitez had got his own way over the fee.

It is believed that Madrid made another attempt to end the deadlock with an offer of £30m that will rise to £34m depending on Alonso's success over the first two years of what is believed to be a five-year contract.

Alonso had trained with his Liverpool colleagues this afternoon at the club's Melwood complex.

But as the Liverpool party headed for John Lennon airport and a charter flight to Norway for Wednesday's friendly with Lyn Oslo, Alonso was heading back to Spain.

Real Madrid issued a statement of their own, confirming he will have a medical on Wednesday.