Earlier this week, Xabi Alonso handed in a transfer request at Liverpool. Unhappy that his manager is holding out on the players move to Real Madrid, Alonso took that extra step and put the final nail in the coffin.
Here's a transcript of their final conversation as Rafael Benitez tries to talk Xabi into staying by singing Chiquitita by ABBA... 


Rafa                                          (Alonso)
Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong  (I want to leave.)
You're enchained by your own sorrow (No, I just want to leave.)
In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow (...)
How I hate to see you like this (... humph)
There is no way you can deny it (I'm not trying to. I just want to leave.)
I can see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

Chiquitita, tell me the truth (Are you deaf?)
I'm a shoulder you can cry on (Don't make me laugh.)
Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on (Didn't stop you trying to sell me, did it?)
You were always sure of yourself (I was...)
Now I see you've broken a feather (to put it mildly)
I hope we can patch it up together (you don't give up do you?)

Chiquitita, you and I know (go on...)
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving (true)
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end (in sunny Spain!)
You will have no time for grieving (too true)
Chiquitita, you and I cry (well, you might)
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you (true, there is no sun in England)
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before (you know how good I am)
Sing a new song, chiquitita (try this one. I'M LEAVING)
Try once more like you did before (Aggghhhhhhh)
Sing a new song, chiquitita (...)

So the walls came tumbling down (Because YOU tried to sell me.)
And your love's a blown out candle (no, I love this place. Not you.)
All is gone and it seems too hard to handle (no, just tell yourself that)
Chiquitita, tell me the truth (DO YOU LISTEN)
There is no way you can deny it (....give me strength)
I see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

Chiquitita, you and I know (we do, oh how we do. Now everyone else knows too)
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end (You better believe it, Rafa)
You will have no time for grieving (I don't intend to)
Chiquitita, you and I cry (Well, you will when you lose the league without me)
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you (I'm really looking forward to that part)
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before (Just look at my dvd's)
Sing a new song, chiquitita (la la la)
Try once more like you did before (I'M LEAVING)
Sing a new song, chiquitita (...ok)
Try once more like you did before (I'll give you what you want)
Sing a new song, chiquitita (Here. My Transfer Request. So YOU can save face. Happy?)
Jes, es a facd.
Many thanks to ABBA!