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Los Blancos are working in selling or giving away on loan all the players who don’t have space in Zinedine Zidane’s squad for the season 2016/17. Some of them are already gone, but after the tour around the United States, the club is working to solve these little problems.

Among these players we can find Martin Odegaard, the young Norwegian star who won’t play at Santiago Bernabéu next season. The club is looking for a similar deal achieved with Asensio or Carvajal. The idea is giving him on loan to a top flight club to have him back in the next season with more experience.

At the moment, there are two clubs that are really interested in signing Martin Odegaard. It’s very likely that the Norwegian ends up playing for a Bundesliga team, being Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen the best teams in the race for signing the youngster.

Odegaard is only 17 years old and Real Madrid have the experience on selling players to the Bundesliga to get them back only after one year. One successful example is Dani Carvajal, who joined Bayer Leverkusen, played really well and was the best right full back that season and he went back to Madrid to have his position in the squad. This year, Real Madrid have done this operation with Borja Mayoral, who joined Wolfsburg on loan this summer after enjoying some minutes in the last season with Zinedine Zidane.

According to the Spanish newspaper As, Odegaard and his father are waiting to close the deal a new offer from Liverpool. Both the player and his father would like to play in Klopp’s team but, nowadays, the Bundesliga looks as his most likely destiny.

Martin Odegaard played last year in Castilla, the second team of Real Madrid in the Spanish Segunda B -the third division in Spain. The team failed to be promoted to the Second Division so Odegaard and the club are not willing to play one more year in this category and the Norwegian should be ready to jump into a top flight club in a competitive European league.

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UEFA has released this morning the three names of the players who can win the trophy ‘Best Player in Europe’ award in the season 2015/16. The three names play in La Liga: Antoine Griezmann, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

The 25th of August we will know which player is the best in the continent this season. The winner will be announced in the draw for the Group Stages in the Champions League. Today, we have known the draws in the last knock out stage before the competition starts in September.

In the 10th of July, UEFA announced all the players nominated for the prize. These were: Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid); Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid); Leo Messi and Luis Suárez (FC Barcelona); Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich); and Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus).

Real Madrid is the club with more players nominated for the trophy and it’s very likely that one of their players finally win the prize. Los Blancos were the best team in the last competition after beating Atlético de Madrid in penalties in the final in Milan.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the last penalty kick and was the top scorer in the competition with 16 goals, including a decisive hat trick against Wolfsburg in the quarter finals round. Along with the Portuguese, Gareth Bale can also win the trophy after being one of the best players in the final and help the team, especially in the semifinals against Manchester City.

Both Real Madrid stars will fight again for one trophy, as they did in the last Euro in France. With only four months until end the year, Griezmann, Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo might be the players fighting for the Ballon D’Or or will be Leo Messi or Luis Suárez included in the nominations?

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Real Madrid arrived on Thursday to the airport Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas after a successful tour around the United States of America and the squad is already focus to lift the European Supercup the next Tuesday.

When the team started to prepare the new season, the new target was pretty clear: win the European Supercup. Zinedine Zidane has prepared the tour around the United States with that idea on mind and now he has three days in Spain to end this preparation.

The first test in this season will be against Sevilla in Norway next Tuesday at 20.45 local time (19.45 in the UK). It will be the second time that Real Madrid face Sevilla in the European Supercup after beating the Andalusian squad (2-0) two years ago in Cardiff with a great performance of the team managed by Carlo Ancelotti.

Zidane has reasons to be happy after the US Tour. The team showed a great level, especially against Bayern Munich, and was able to beat a great team thanks to the great goal scored by Danilo. Real Madrid also beat Chelsea in the States and lost against PSG.

The French coach cannot have for this important game some of the key players of his squad. For instance, Keylor Navas or Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be available for the team. Kiko Casilla has shown in the pre-season tour that he could defend the Real Madrid goal and he showed a great performance against Bayern Munich.

Besides the result, the best news for Real Madrid in this start of the season is the performance of Marco Asensio. The youngster will stay in the squad and he has gain himself a place in the Real Madrid dressing room for the next year. Will be he playing against Sevilla? Maybe it’s too early for this but Zidane could decide to introduce him in the line up next Tuesday.

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Cristiano Ronaldo is set to put pen to paper on a new contract that would see him end his career at Real Madrid. The Portuguese forward is expected to officially pledge his future to the club by the end of August, with informal negotiations already thought to have taken place.

The number 7 is still on holiday after last season’s Champions League winning campaign and his Euro 2016 success with Portugal. However, he has reportedly made contact with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez over the phone and the framework of a new deal has been laid out.

Ronaldo is expected to resume light training next week at which point he and his agent Jorge mendes will put the finishing touches to the contract. The only major detail left to be discussed is whether he will remain at the club until the end of 2020 or 2021.

As this is likely to be the last big contract for the 31-year-old, the new deal is expected to contain provisions for the future as well as keeping his salary at almost €21m net per season. There may also be some renewal clauses if he reaches certain milestones that could prolong his stay beyond the initial expiry date.

There is an opportunity towards the end of August to do an official presentation, if the deal can be finalised in time. Ronaldo is not expected to be called up by Portugal to face Gibraltar, leaving a suitable gap in his schedule for a ceremony at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid are also keen to nail down a deal for Gareth Bale whose current contract runs out in 2019. The Welshman is expected to receive a pay rise which will take his salary to over €10m and prolong his stay in Madrid. If both deals can be done this summer, then it will be good news for Madridistas who will certainly start the new La Liga campaign in high spirits.

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Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane refused to be drawn on transfer speculation about midfielder James Rodríguez when quizzed after last night’s victory over Bayern Munich. Speaking after the 0-1 International Champions Cup win in New Jersey, the Frenchman had only positive words about the Colombian.

“I’m happy with his performance, happy to have him here with the team playing his first 45 minutes along with players like Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos, getting rhythm. He is here with us and, as our team will keep working, we will look to get better as a team.”

The 25-year-old made his first appearance in the starting XI after his exploits in the Copa America Centenario and was responsible for one of the only positive moments in a first half dominated by the BundesLiga champions. However, Real Madrid improved after half-time and broke the deadlock with just over 10 minutes to go, thanks to a fine strike by full-back Danilo.

Zidane was also asked about the progress of Cristiano Ronaldo and seemed relaxed about the situation. “Right now Cristiano still has his injury and obviously he wants to be back but we need patience and for him to be calm.” he asserted and quickly followed up by assuring any worried fans “He will be back with us soon in Madrid.”

Three-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo is still sidelined with an injury sustained during Portugal’s 1-0 victory over France in the Euro 2016 final. The injury has prevented him from taking part in any of Real Madrid’s pre-season preparations and Zidane has already ruled the 31-year-old out of the UEFA Super Cup clash with Sevilla. At this stage, Ronaldo also remains a doubt for the La Liga opener away to Real Sociedad on August 21.

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A late Danilo strike ensured that Real Madrid ended their pre-season tour of the United States with a 0-1 win over Bayern Munich. It was the second victory in as many games for Los Blancos who take on fellow La Liga side Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup this coming Tuesday.

The champions of Europe struggled to match their German counterparts for much of the first half, as Bayern did most of the pressing. The first big chance fell to Real Madrid transfer target David Alaba who showed just what he was capable of when clattering the woodwork with a free kick on 25 minutes. Moments later, Kiko Casilla was called into action as he saved Julian Green’s shot after a cross from Juan Bernat. The 29-year-old stopper was in the thick of it again 12 minutes before the interval, this time pushing away a long-range effort from Thiago.

Having weathered the storm, Real Madrid looked much better after the interval but it took until almost 60 minutes before they fashioned a clear-cut chance. Marcelo did well to win possession midway inside Bayern’s half and drove forward before finding Morata in space on the left of the penalty area. The striker cut inside but curled a shot beyond the far post of Bayern goalkeeper Ulreich. That seemed to kick start the game for Zinedine Zidane’s side and moments later Isco had Ulreich scrambling with a 25 yard curler which struck the post.

Heading into the final 15 minutes it was beginning to look like a penalty shoot-out was on the cards but Danilo took matters into his own hands. Having come on as a substitute for Dani Carvajal with half an hour to play, the right-back was full of running. He surged up the right-flank unimpeded, then used the space he had created to cut inside and fire a 25 yard effort past the bamboozled Ulreich.

Although Bayern Munich were missing a few key players themselves, the fact that Real Madrid won this match without the ‘big 3’ up-front can be seen as a positive. Cristiano Ronaldo is still recovering from injury, Karim Benzema is still struggling for fitness and Gareth Bale is on extended leave after Euro 2016. The latter is expected to meet up with the squad tomorrow, having kept up his fitness while on holiday with a view to taking part at Lerkendal Stadion in 5 day’s time.

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Real Madrid have long been touted as potential suitors for Newcastle United’s want-away midfielder Moussa Sissoko but may now have to battle for his signature in the transfer market. It’s understood that Los Blancos are one of four clubs that are interested in securing the services of the Frenchman. German side Borussia Dortmund have reportedly shown interest while Everton are said to be keen to add Premier League experience to their midfield. Juventus also have the player on their radar as a potential replacement for the outbound Paul Pogba.

Ex Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez has apparently rebuffed a number of offers for Sissoko as they do not meet Newcastle’s valuation of the player. However, the Magpies begin their domestic season on Friday and will surely want a resolution sooner rather than later. The player himself has hinted that he wants to move on saying after Newcastle’s relegation last season “I’m not against going to search for a new challenge elsewhere, I particularly want to play with big players and in top level matches.”

Sissoko’s performances in a black and white shirt have drawn much criticism from Newcastle fans who feel that he simply went missing in far too many games last season. However, his commanding efforts for France in Euro 2016 show what Real Madrid could be getting if a deal can be pushed through. He even gave himself 10 out of 10 for Les Blues and said “I don’t feel that I’m superior to others but, from the moment where I have given everything, I’m not going to attribute myself another mark. I have nothing to reproach myself for in this competition.”

The 26-year-old could be the answer to the midfield conundrum at the Bernabeu and is one of a handful of alternative options after interest in Paul Pogba has cooled. Also thought to be in the mix are Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic and Bayern Munich’s David Alaba. However, it will be difficult to persuade either club to sell while Newcastle seem happy to let Sissoko go, if the money is right.

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Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti have expressed mutual respect towards one another ahead of tonight’s International Champions Cup match in New Jersey. Los Blancos take on BundesLiga champions Bayern Munich, the new club of the former Real Madrid boss. Zidane worked as Ancelotti’s assistant for a spell at Santiago Bernabeu and also played under the Italian at Juventus, so it’s little surprise that the pair had kind words for eachother.

The current Real Madrid boss had this to say about his former mentor “I learned a lot from him and now it’s my turn to be Madrid Coach. It’s thanks to him that things changed. I have a lot of respect for him and I’ll say hello as always, with great respect.” Zidane also recalled “He’s someone I admire a lot and I learned a lot from him. I was silent, I was there and I wanted to learn what I had to do.”

This was reciprocated by Ancelotti who said “Zizou has great quality and I was sure that one day he would be coaching Real Madrid. He has experience, he was a great player, and he has charisma, which is the number one thing a person needs to have a relationship with his players.” Aware that the pair could meet again in this season’s Champions League, the Italian also joked “I wish him all the best, a little more in Spain than in Europe, obviously.”

Tonight’s encounter at MetLife Stadium will not only give us an indication as to how pre-season preparations are going but could also help any potential transfer talks to progress. It appears as if Real madrid have moved on from the pursuit of Paul Pogba and that Bayern’s David Alaba has emerged as a priority target. It will be interesting to see if Florentino Perez can wrangle a deal for the 24-year-old and what impact that may or may not have on Zidane and Ancelotti’s friendship.

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It’s looking increasingly likely that Real Madrid starlet Jese Rodriguez is set to join French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain. However, despite L’Equipe reporting that a €25 million fee has been agreed, Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane has hinted that a loan deal may be preferred.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s International Champions Cup game against Bayern Munich in New Jersey, Zidane was adamant “It is not finalised yet. There is nothing signed, but it is close. When we get back to Madrid we will know more about this with Jese.” The Frenchman who guided Real madrid to an unprecedented eleventh European Cup success then continued to say “PSG are a good team, I hope it goes well for him, but Madrid is his home. He has been here his whole life. Maybe it is just for one year, then he returns home.”

Jese is clearly admired by Zidane, evidenced by his involvement in 38 games across all competitions last season. However, he was largely used as a substitute in those games and never once completed 90 minutes. At 23, the Canary Islander is determined to nail down first team football and a move to Parc Des Princes appears to be imminent.

Real Madrid have previously sold players with buy-back clauses and gone on to re-sign them. Alvaro Morata being a prime example, who is now back in the frame after spending 2 years at Serie A champions Juventus. In fact, Morata’s return to the Bernabeu, along with the emergence of Lucas Vazquez has arguably lessened the chances of Jese breaking into the first team. These sort of ‘buy-back’ deals are not permitted in France, so it will have to be a loan if Real Madrid plan on retaining the services of Jese for future seasons.

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Real Madrid continues to search for a signing for next season. Although the priority remains the inclusion of a midfielder. Los Blancos are no closer to signing a player with the quality to raise the level of the team.

After failing to compete with Manchester United for the signing of Paul Pogba and watching Verratti extend his contract with Paris Saint Germain, Real Madrid are considering the alternative of hiring Sissoko or Matic.

In the case of the French player, Los Blancos understand the midfielder has expressed his desire to leave the Newcastle. The club made enquiries about a possible deal after his performances at Euro2016, where he featured the host team.

Madrid has also shown interest in Matic and has been in contact with his club, Chelsea. So far, the London club have said the defensive midfielder is not for sale and is not willing to negotiate. But word from the Bernabeu suggests a deal can be done and believe a figure close to 40 or 45 million euros would be enough to sway the Premier League club.

The Serbian midfielder is keen for the deal to work. According to sources close to the club, he is tired of the Premier League and is ready to leave London. The arrival of N’Gola Kante now threatens Matic’s place and he would be happy to join Zidane at the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, Real Madrid will use their friendly against Bayern Munich to ask the German club about the situation of the Austrian player, David Alaba. The versatile midfielder has attracted the attention of Zinedine Zidane, who reportedly asked Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to make an effort to sign the 24-year-old.

Bayern have priced Alaba at 80 million euros in a bid to scare away potential buyers as Barcelona and Manchester have also been keeping tabs on the player. Ancelotti has already told the Austrian of his desire to keep him at the Allianz Arena and has promised that he will have a major role to play. However, Alaba is understood to be keen to listen to Real Madrid’s offer.

 

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