How does the if he hands in a transfer work? We make it public and he doesn't get paid
If Di Maria is forced to hand in a transfer request, the club can simply brief the media thus making it public and it also paints the club in a better picture, won't make the club look weak by simply selling a marquee signing
Guess how the English press got word of the Pedro rumour? The club briefed the press and placed an embargo on when the story could be run
Under Moyes, the club gave regular updates to the press because Moyes wanted to seem like he was actively searching for signings in the transfer window and so easing the pressure off himself
A transfer request is a last resort, a player can verbally say he wants to leave but it's not until that it's written on a piece of paper and handed to the club that it's officially a transfer request and that waives any payments the club may owe the player so either signing on fee, loyalty bonus or other bonuses inserted into the contract
When we signed Fellaini, he had to physically go and drive to Everton's office to hand in a written transfer request in the middle of the night to force the transfer through and Everton only allowed it once it meant they were waived of paying him any money owing
Of course the club can always reject a transfer request and force the player to see out his contract