Real Madrid have ended their search for new signings with the deal to sign Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso from Liverpool and will now focus on trimming their squad, director general Jorge Valdano said yesterday.

"We understood Xabi Alonso was an important player to complete our squad and it was worth Real Madrid fighting for him," Valdano told radio station Cadena Ser.

"The club needed a shake up. Some very good players have come in to strengthen every position and the fans are very excited.

"With this move we end the search for new players. We continue searching for an exit for those who are surplus to requirements."

Having spent about 250 million euros ($359.8 million) to lure eight players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema to the Bernabeu, Real have until the end of August to cut Manuel Pellegrini's squad back to 25 players.

Midfielder Rafael van der Vaart and forwards Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Alvaro Negredo have been linked to from clubs in Germany, Italy and England.

(Reuters via China Daily August 6, 2009)