Page 674

By -
0

New Real Madrid signing Gareth Bale has said the chance to sign for the club was a once in a lifetime opportunity and that he would have left Tottenham Hotspur even if they had qualified for the Champions League.

Bale, 24, completed a 91 million euro move to the Santiago Bernabeu last week, ending a summer of speculation.

The Welsh winger spent six years at White Hart Lane but only experienced Champions League football for one season. His side were pipped at the final post by rivals Arsenal last season for the fourth spot in the Premier League, creating doubt over Bale’s future at the club.

But speaking to BT Sport, Bale said he would have left the club even if they were in Europe’s premier competition.

He stated: “It’s once in a lifetime and I don’t think you can turn down a team like that. For me I want to be playing [in the] Champions League but also winning trophies.

“At a club like that [Madrid] they’re out to win every trophy they’re involved in. That’s exactly what I want to do.

“When Real Madrid comes in it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. I think if I didn’t take it I would probably regret it for the rest of my life.”

By -
0

Xabi Alonso’s manager Inaki Ibanez has denied any approaches from Juventus to sign Real Madrid’s midfielder next summer. “Xabi hasn’t heard anything from them”, Ibanez told TuttoJuve.com.

Juventus have been reported to have a strong interest in signing Xabi Alonso next season, as his contract with Los Blancos expires in June 2014 and hasn’t signed a renewal yet. However, Spanish papers have claimed negotiations between Alonso and Real have already started. Nevertheless, Los Merengues have already found a replacement for the 32-year-old and have signed young Asier Illarramendi, hoping Alonso can teach him well while he’s still at Madrid.

Ibanez stated the Basque is not considering any offers for the moment. “We haven’t had any contacts with Juve. Xabi is concentrated in his injury recovery, in training and getting back to playing as soon as possible to help Real Madrid reach their objectives this season”, Ibanez said. “It’s not the time to speak about the future. It’s still September and we’ll have plenty of time to make a decision. He’s got a running contract with Real until June 30th 2014 and his priority is his current club”, Ibanez concluded.

Other top European clubs, such as Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Fiorentina have also shown an interest in signing Alonso. The 32-year-old enjoyed a successful career on Merseyside before his switch to the Santiago Bernabeu. He played an influential role in the Reds’ side under Rafa Benitez as the won the European Cup in dramatic fashion in 2007 – coming from 3-0 down at half time to draw level at 3-3 and then win on penalties.

By -
0

Former Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol has said the decision to leave the club for Napoli was an easy one.

The 28-year-old defender ended his four-year stay in the Spanish capital to team up with Rafa Benitez, and former Real players Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon.

Speaking to Spanish paper El Pais, Spanish international Albiol said the exciting project under way in Naples, along with a lack of playing time at the Santiago Berabeu, meant his decision was easy.

He stated:  “Completing the move took no time, in a few days we arranged everything.

“It was easy to decide – there was Rafael Benitez, they had already signed Jose Callejon, they had a project and Naples has always been a city for football.”

Although the defender only played in 18 La Liga games last season, he said he had no hard feelings towards former Real manager Jose Mourinho.

“I didn’t ask for explanations when I played and did not expect them when I was not playing. With Mourinho there was never a bad relationship, I always got along with him. That is normal with my boss,” he said.

He added that the bad atmosphere surrounding the club towards the end of the campaign was “ because we lost the League, we were eliminated from the Champions League and lost the Copa del Rey Final.”

By -
0

The main focus in the Madrid press today is the announcement of the city to host the Olympic Games in 2020. Madrid is competing against Istanbul and Tokyo, and the IOC will reveal the results of the vote later on from Buenos Aires.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has travelled to Argentina to throw his weight behind the bid and drum up last minute support from the various IOC members.

The main Real Madrid related matter is the decision by Vicente del Bosque to play Iker Casillas in goal for Spain against Finland. There was much speculation pre-match that the Real legend would be dropped, with Victor Valdes set to take his place.

But the 32-year-old was named in the starting line up, making his 150th appearance for his national side, and went on to repay his manager’s faith in him by making a superb stop during the match. Afterwards, del Bosque said the debate over Casillas is a club issue, and that at national level he doesn’t have a problem picking him.

Other Real Madrid players to take part in the internationals were Ronaldo, who scored a hat trick as Portugal defeated Northern Ireland 4-2 in Belfast. Gareth Bale was on the bench for Wales but didn’t make it onto the field as they went down 2-1 to Macedonia. And while Karim Benzema has enjoyed a goalscoring start to the season, his goal drought at international level now stands as 1,217 minutes as France drew 0-0 with Georgia.

By -
0
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Real Madrid have announced a slight increase in turnover for the 2012-13 fiscal year compared to the previous 12 month period.

In the latest financial figures published by the club, Los Blancos had a turnover of 520.9 million euros – an increase of 1.3% from the previous year.

The increase in turnover means the Santiago Bernabeu side has become the first sports club in the world to surpass the 500 million euro mark for two consecutive years.

The club said it had recorded a net profit of 39.9 million euros, up 52.4% from the previous season. The jump in profit meant the club’s net debt fell by more than a quarter (27.4%) to 90.6 million euros. In total, the debt decreased by 34 million euros.

The financial results will be subject to approval at a general meeting held on September 22. The figures do not include the 91 million euros paid out to Tottenham Hotspur for recent signing Gareth Bale.

By -
0

New Manchester City winger Jesus Navas has said he would like to see Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas join him at the Etihad Stadium.

Los Blancos legend Casillas was linked with a move away from the club before the transfer window closed – with City and Arsenal both interested in the 32-year-old.

Casillas lost his place in the side last season under Jose Mourinho and has so far failed to make a start in La Liga this year with new boss Carlo Ancelotti in charge.

Although he stayed at the Santiago Bernabeu for now, he is believed to still be keen on a move in January to help secure the number one spot for Spain at next year’s World Cup.

And Navas told AS he would like to see Casillas join him in Manchester.

He is quoted as saying: “You always want good players on your team. We are not going to sign Iker right now but we all know what a great keeper he is, and the importance he has in a team. At City there are great keepers, but Iker would be a great reinforcement.”

By -
0

Alvaro Morata is determined to earn a spot in Real Madrid’s starting eleven. The 20-year-old striker scored a four goal haul in Spain’s 6-2 victory over Austria in the Under-21 European Championship qualifier.

Morata, who is the only pure number nine in Real Madrid’s squad together with Karim Benzema, showed his good state of fitness with a brilliant performance.

The other two Spain’s goals were also scored by Real Madrid players: Daniel Carvajal and Jese Rodriguez. The right-back netted the first one in the third minute, although he also scored in his own goal a few minutes before the end.

The next four goals had Morata’s signature: in the 12th, the 17th, the 49th and the 86th minutes. The young forward ashamed Austria’s defense with his speed and physical strengh.

Jese, who came in from the bench, scored the sixth goal in the 91st minute.

By -
8

Barcelona star Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Real Madrid legend Guti.

Speaking to Punto Pelota, Guti stated the two are world class players, but that in the crucial moments of big games, Messi tends to deliver more.

The 26-year-old Argentinean has scored more than 200 goals in La Liga since he made his debut in the 2004-05 season. Ronaldo also has a phenomenal record having scored 202 goals in 202 games for Los Blancos.

Guti said: “I can only repeat what I have already said before and that is that Messi is the best in the world at the moment. It pains me to admit it, but it’s the simple truth.

He added:  “I am not saying that Messi is on another level than Cristiano, though. But he’s more decisive at certain moments when the team really needs him. He can salvage a game by himself.

“They are arguably the two best players in the world, but when it comes to my personal preference I must admit that I like Messi more.”

By -
0

The dust is finally beginning to settle after a big week in which Real Madrid signed Gareth Bale and sold Mesut Ozil, and the Madrid press is turning its attention to the Spain match against Finland this evening as well as the outcome of the vote for the 2020 Olympic Games.

There is still plenty of Real Madrid coverage, and AS has a story about Cristiano Ronaldo being told by the club that he is still the most expensive player in the world. The Portuguese has expressed his anger at the sale of Ozil and it was though that he would become more agitated if he felt that he was no longer the number one.

The debate over who is the most important player was also raised by Moreno Carinena, president of Castilla when Ramon Calderon was president of Madrid. He told AS that Ronaldo is vital for Real Madrid to be successful, while Bale isn’t.

Elsewhere, Asier Illarramendi continues to make progress with his recovery and played in a Castilla game yesterday to gain some match fitness.

 

By -
1

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Antonio Adan has acussed Jose Mourinho of being “disrespectful” to him when he signed Diego Lopez last season.

The Portuguese manager, who had given Adan a spot in the started eleven in various La Liga games, opted to bring a new goalkeeper when Iker Casillas got injured, rather than lining up Adan.

“When Iker got injured, I was denied a chance at Real Madrid, when in my opinion I had shown that I was good enough to be there”, Adan told Spanish television channel La Sexta.

“When I was denied that chance, I was being disrespected. I would have liked that Mourinho had come to me and give me an explanation, rather than learning in the press that Diego Lopez was coming”, he said.

Adan confessed he had “a very hard time” during those months.

The Real Madrid home-grown goalkeeper reached an agreement with the club to end his contract but was unable to find a new team before the transfer market deadline.

1...673674675...733Page 674 of 733

www.gambleaware.co.uk or www.gamcare.org.uk
Please gamble responsibly