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Tillman_GI

Timothy Tillman is only 18 year old but the scouters of the biggest clubs in Europe are following him. Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid or Manchester City have put their eyes in the young player, who has the double nationality from Germany and the United States.

He’s currently playing in the young team of Bayern Munich in the role of offensive midfielder. We could see him already playing the Young League and standing out from the rest of team mates. He doesn’t have a professional contract yet, although Uli Hoeness, Bayern Munich president, knows that they could lose one of the best players of the future.

According to MARCA, FC Barcelona have already taken advantage of this situation and they are in talks with the Tillman’s agent, Christian Rossner. He said to the German newspaper Bild: “We had an offer from Barcelona. They’ve been following him for some months and they want to sign him for the next year. Barcelona’s plan was that he will play with the young team and he could also train with the first team, so he could have a spot in the first team in two or three years time”, Rossner commented.

The scouters boss in FC Barcelona, Pep Boada, also travelled to Munich to watch Tillam playing in live. The Blaugranas want to rush and close a deal soon, because they know that Hoeness doesn’t want Tillman to leave and some European clubs, among them Real Madrid, would like to sign the young playmaker. However, Tillman said in the past that he would like to join FC Barcelona.

Tillman has a contract until June 2018 with Bayern Munich. Barcelona would have to pay around 180.000€ to the German club to get Tillman because the player refused to sign a professional contract, so they’d only have to pay for the formative rights.

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zielinksi_GI

Napoli is scaring Real Madrid with their great performances later and the South Italian club is looking forward to the first leg of the Last 16 Round of the Champions League. The game will take place next Wednesday at Santiago Bernabéu and Napoli will play their Serie A game on Friday to have more time to be prepared for the clash.

Sarri’s side hasn’t lost any game since their trip to Torino in October. The treble at the front formed by Callejón, Mertens and Insigne are one of the reasons but they also have quality in all the lines. We already published that Real Madrid were following Ghoulam, the left back as a possible replacement for Fabio Coentrao. Now, Los Blancos are receiving good reports regarding Piotr Zielinski, the Polish midfielder.

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, most of the biggest European teams have put their eye on the midfielder. Zielinski is only 22 years old and he’s enjoying his first season at Napoli. He arrived this summer from Empoli after some season at Udinese, where he was still very young and he didn’t have many opportunities. However, at Empoli Zielinski played 35 games last season, scoring 5 goals. So he was one of the best players to reach the goal of avoiding relegation with the North Italian club.

Napoli paid Udinese, the owner of the rights, €14M this summer but now the price is even higher. This release clause is set in €65M and everybody knows that Di Laurentis, Napoli boss, doesn’t bargain with his players. Higuaín was sold for €90M, Cavani for €55M and Lavezzi for €30M.

Zielinski was born in Zabkowice, a city close to the German border, known for being the home of Dr. Frankenstein. This small town is now also well-known for being the hometown of one of the young promises in the European footbal. So far, he has played 22 games with Napoli this season and 12 in the starting eleven scoring two goals against Cagliari and Inter. Zielinshi is supposed to have some rest in the Friday game against Genoa, so we can see what he is capable of at Bernabéu on Wednesday.

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thibaut-courtois

Keylor Navas had faced criticism recently when he did some mistakes in the defeat against Sevilla. It was the first game lost after the unbeaten run and some people criticized Keylor Navas, who wasn’t able to save the shot from Stefan Jovetic. The Costa Rican player is showing a superb level since the departure of Iker Casillas two years ago, but his performances are getting worse recently.

On the other hand, Kiko Casilla showed a good level at the beginning of the season and in the Copa del Rey fixtures. There was some controversy because some supporters thought that the Catalan should be the goalkeeper in La Liga. Zidane has always been very keen on Keylor Navas and the manager defended the former Levante player recently in press conference. However, there are four goalkeepers that Real Madrid have in the agenda for the future.

David de Gea

Real Madrid were about to sign David de Gea in the summer of 2015. However, Florentino Pérez had a problem with the fax and the papers didn’t arrive on time. De Gea thought he was going to play at Real Madrid and Keylor was already travelling to Manchester. Finally, both stayed in their clubs and Keylor ended up the season lifting the Champions League trophy.

Nevertheless, Florentino Pérez has not forgotten David de Gea. The president insists in getting the former Atlético de Madrid goalkeeper on board, but according to The Express, Zinedine Zidane disagrees and the French manager has discarded the Spaniard.

Thibaut Courtois

Since his times with Atlético de Madrid, Thibaut Courtois has always been a target for Real Madrid. The Belgian goalkeeper is shining with Antonio Conte’s Chelsea and it would be hard to sign him in the next transfer window. However, Chelsea are interested in Morata, so this could open a window for talks in the summer.

Gianluigi Donnarumma

He’s the best goalkeeper in Italy since the outbreak of Gigi Buffon. Former Real Madrid player Diego López had to pack the luggage and left Milan because Donnarumma was the owner of the goal in San Siro. He’s the youngest goalkeeper in making the debut with the Italian national team and one of the best players in the new AC Milan. The player is in talks to extend his deal, but the ‘rossoneri’ aren’t currently a top club in Europe, so the Italian might want to change team and fight for bigger success.

Hugo Lloris

Hugo Lloris has recently extended his contract with Tottenham Hotspur until 2022. However, according to The Sun he is in Real Madrid’s radar in case Courtois fails. Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid have a long story of negotiations and they might be at the same table again for the playmaker Isco Alarcón and Hugo Lloris.

The fifth, and more likely option, is keeping Keylor Navas. The Costa Rican suffers big criticism but he’s shown he is more than capable of standing out in the team and give important points to the club. Which goalkeeper do you prefer?

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florentino perez

The war between Vigo’s mayor and Real Madrid is not over yet. The controversy after the postponement of the Celta v Real Madrid game continues and the problems to find an available date is still a problem.

Los Blancos published a statement in their website where they fire back at Vigo’s mayor, Abel Caballero, who said that Real Madrid was lobbying to play the game and not hearing to the security problems: “Real Madrid C. F. regrets the unfortunate statements made by the mayor of Vigo, Abel Caballero, in which he states that this club disregarded the security measures required for the Real Club Celta de Vigo v Real Madrid C.F. fixture to go ahead”, the statement says.

According to Los Blancos, Real Madrid didn’t question the security measures undertaken by Vigo’s mayor. Besides, the club also makes clear that they wanted to play the game: “Real Madrid C. F. wishes to make it very clear that having learned of the possibility of the game being postponed more than 30 hours ahead of kick-off, the club proposed three alternatives to the Professional Football League: firstly, for consideration to be given to the possibility of repairing the damaged stadium roof; secondly, the possibility of the affected stand being closed; and thirdly, if the two aforementioned options were not possible, to look into staging the fixture at another nearby stadium. These proposals were made with a view to avoiding the postponement of the fixture from negatively impacting upon the four competitions, given the knock-on effect it would cause between them, as well as the massive financial losses suffered by television channels from around the world, which will have an impact on future tenders for the sale of broadcasting rights”, said the statement published in the Real Madrid site.

However, Vigo’s mayor spoke on Tuesday again in an interview with the Spanish newspaper MARCA. According to Caballero “Real Madrid were wrong and they know it because the prestige suffers with this”. Caballero also joked with the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, where Celta beat Los Blancos: “Real Madrid are not happy because we knocked them out of Copa del Rey”.

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Sergio Aguero

Since his departure from Atlético de Madrid in 2011, Real Madrid have always been interested in getting Sergio Agüero on board. Los Blancos didn’t ‘touch’ the Argentinian because there was a non-aggression pact between the two big teams from Madrid.

Six years after, the possibility of signing Sergio Agüero becomes more real. The forward is living his worst moments with Manchester City. He’s getting used to be on the bench with Pep Guardiola and he could think in changing team at the end of the current season.

“My contract ends in three years. Now I’m happy with the club and I want to do my best in these last months of the season and help the team. After, the club has to decide whether I have space or not. I want to stay”, Sergio Agüero said after the last game in Premier League, where he was again on the bench.

The new reality for Sergio Agüero is that he is becoming Gabriel Jesús replacement. The Brazilian has started the last games with Manchester City since his arrival in January to the club. On Sunday, he scored the two goals to give the three points to the citizens against Swansea City. The last goal was scored in the injury time. Agüero only played 8 minutes and, obviously, he’s not happy with the new scenario.

Agüero’s new situation has called the attention of all the biggest clubs in Europe. According to the Daily Star, Manchester United and Chelsea are also following the Argentinian and might be interested in making a bid at the end of the present season. This newspaper informs that Chelsea have thought about Agüero as the perfect replacement for Diego Costa, who could leave the club at the end of the season. Atlético de Madrid, who are also looking for a striker in the market for the next season, could make an offer to bring ‘Kun’ back to Madrid.

Although Real Madrid would have a lot of competitors to sign Agüero, this could be a great opportunity to bring the Argentinian on board Zidane’s project. Karim Benzema’s drought concerns the supporters and Agüero has been a big target for Florentino. Would Agüero fit in Real Madrid?

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hamsik_mertens_GI

In only 10 days, Napoli will visit Real Madrid in the first leg of the Last 16 Round of the Champions League. While Los Blancos had some rest this weekend due to the postponement of their game in Vigo, the Italian side thrashed (1-7) Bologna in Serie A, getting the second position of the Serie A.

Maurizio Sarri’s team is in the best moment of the season. Napoli haven’t lost any game since they visited Juventus on the 29th of October and they’re now second of the table, only 6 points behind Juventus, who still have one pending game. On Saturday, we could see one of the best performances of the season and Napoli are already showing their cards to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League.

“We are not thinking in Real Madrid”, Sarri said after beating Bologna. The Italian team have to play against Genoa on Friday in their last game before facing Los Blancos at Santiago Bernabéu. Sarri could give some rest to key players because Genoa are in a really bad moment, and they should be able to earn the three points in that game.

Zinedine Zidane should pay special attention to the treble formed by Callejón, Mertens and Insigne. Sarri trusted these three players to form the attacking line after the serious injury suffered by Milik and the low level showed by Manolo Gabbiadini, transferred to Southampton in the winter transfer window. Pavoletti, signed in January from Genoa, has not had opportunities with these three players at a great level.

Actually, both Mertens and Hamsik scored a hat-trick and Insigne also found the net against Bologna. Callejón was sent off in the first half. Mertens has scored 16 goals in Serie A, Callejón 8 nets and Insigne 7 goals. Real Madrid should be worried about this treble, one of the best in Europe.

Besides, Napoli are showing a great level far from San Paolo. Although their stadium is one of the hottest venues in Europe, they’re getting better results away. In the Champions League they got 7 points away and in Serie A they have only lost against Juventus and Atalanta. Napoli are the best team away in Serie A with 21 points far from San Paolo.

Finally, Marek Hamsik needs a special attention. The Slovakian playmaker is doing, again, a great season. He’s one of the best players in Europe and he has found the best position in the new formation, with three strikers in the front. Hamsik has scored 9 goals this season so far in Serie A and he’s the Napoli’s most dangerous player.

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Balaídos

Real Madrid bosses aren’t very happy with the postponement of the game in Vigo. Los Blancos wanted to play that match because they thought the suspension could be avoided if they had react on time. The clash could be played in any other stadium of the cover could be fixed to play the important fixture.

Now Real Madrid and Celta de Vigo have to find a date to play the game and the truth is that there aren’t any dates available until May if both teams continue in the European competitions. For this reason, Los Blancos would have wanted to play the game on Sunday, instead of postponing the game without any clue about when can be played.

According to the Spanish newspaper Marca, Real Madrid bosses think that there was a trick in postponing the game and the clubs, the city of Vigo and La Liga could have done more to play that game this weekend. The stadium wasn’t in perfect conditions because there was a lack of commitment in repairing the cover of the stadium, quite old and owned by the Council of Vigo.

The mayor of Vigo, Abel Caballero, was the first who announced the postponement of the clash. Los Blancos wanted to travel and La Liga didn’t give any news to Real Madrid about the game.

Now Los Blancos have to play next Saturday against Osasuna, 13 days after they played the last game against Real Sociedad. By then, Barcelona could be topping the table with three games more than Los Blancos, who still have to play in Valencia in the game postponed for the FIFA Club World Cup.

The feeling is that Celta de Vigo v Real Madrid could have been played on Sunday if the institutions would have had some commitment. Now Celta could play against Alavés the second leg of the semifinals of Copa del Rey with the squad rested, whereas Real Madrid have to wait 6 more days to play an official game.

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Marco Asensio

Manchester United are very interested onsigning Marco Asensio for next season. Far from being a player recognized worldwide as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, the English team wants to sign a young player, who can be the playmaker at Old Trafford. Marco Asensio is playing a very good season at Real Madrid and many important European teams are interested in his services.

According to Daily Star, Manchester United want to sign the Spanish midfielder for next season. José Mourinho believes that Marco Asensio can adapt very good in Manchester United formation because he is the playmaker the English team needs for next season. However, Real Madrid don’t want to sell him because he is playing really good, being in several times in Zidane’s starting 11. He is very young and Los Blancos think he can improve with the pass of the years.

Zidane is believing on him because he is playing many minutes being a good substitution in the midfield. Marco Asensio knows that it’s very difficult to play at Real Madrid because there are many players with a lot of talent and that it’s not easy to be in the usual line-up. Now he is working very hard with the goal of being more important in the team.

Marco Asensio arrived to Madrid last summer, after being on loan at Espanyol, where he grew as player and where he had the first chance to play in La Liga. In the current season, the Spaniard playmaker has played 13 games in the regular season scoring two goals, six games in La Copa where he scored three goals and three games in Champions League. With all the injuries Real Madrid have had, Marco Asensio has played many minutes having great performances and gaining the supporter confidence. Now Los Blancos must think if they must sell Marco Asensio to Manchester United after his good games in the current season.

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Antonio Cassano signed with Real Madrid in the season 2005-2006 from Roma for an amount of €5.5M, and he will be remembered as one of the most frustrated signings in Real Madrid history. He played two seasons at Madrid, scoring only two goals in La Liga and he only played 690 minutes in two years in the regular season. Despite arriving Madrid at the of of 24, the best moment of his career, the former AS Roma had a very poor performance in the two seasons, highlighting his bad behavior. Nowadays, the Italian attacker don’t play in any team, and he is 34 years old, so maybe his retirement from football may come soon.

The Italian player spoke in the  ‘Corriere dello Sport’ and he said the reasons why he has not succeeded in his career:”My biggest mistake was the year and a half at Real Madrid. At that time I liked to have no rules and I did not have a good behavior at Madrid”, the Transalpine striker said.

When he was playing for Roma he had a very good relationship with Francesco Totti:” If I had heard only 10% of all the positive advise Totti gave me,  my career would have been different. He remembered me that it’s better to earn less money rather go somewhere else in the world and not be 100% sure. Only one year and a half later I left Madrid. If I had listened to Totti I would probably have stayed at Rome for 10 or 15 years”, Casssano affirmed.

When he left Real Madrid, the Italian player tried to recover his best level at Sampdoria, Milan, Inter Milan and Parma, but he failed in all the teams. Antonio Cassano had an incredible technique and he could have been an Italian star as Totti, Del Piero, Maldini etc, but his behavior prevented it.

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Celta v Real Madrid postponed

The match Celta de Vigo v Real Madrid will be postponed because of the weather. The heavy rain and the wind of Galicia in the recent days has caused hundred of incidents in the north of Spain. One of them is the game that will be postponed between the team managed by Zidane and Celta, that should have been played today (19:45 UK time) at Balaídos. Celta de Vigo stadium is very damaged and La Liga has decided not to risk and postpone the game. This will be the second game that will be suspended in this week end because the Deportivo de la Coruña v Betis will be also postponed.

The stadium can not be fixed until Tuesday because it has many damaged areas and the heavy rain is very dangerous even for firefighters. Now both clubs and La Liga must find a new date for the match and it will not be easy, because Los Blancos have already postponed one match of the regular season against Valencia and both teams are playing European competitions. Reason why Real Madrid did everything possible to provide solutions to play the game, but Balaídos was never a good option because Vigo’s mayor said that it was impossible to play in these conditions and that they will not risk the  Celta’s supporters and players security.

These are not good news for Real Madrid because they were going to play against a team that was focused in the second leg of La Copa del Rey on Wednesday. Celta de Vigo is currently playing the semifinals of la Copa and they were going to play with an unusual lin-up against the team managed by Zinedine Zidane. It was a good chance to win at Balaídos, because it’s a very tough stadium to achieve the three points. The Galician team are playing a good football in their stadium, where they have only lost three games in the regular season at Balaídos.

 

 

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