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Colombia legend Carlos Valderrama has hit out at Real Madrid over how they have used James Rodriguez in the team this season.

The 2014 World Cup top scorer enjoyed a spectacular opening season at the Santiago Bernabeu and impressed many with his all-action displays and trickery.

But he has found this season tougher and found himself in and out of the team at times meaning he’s struggled to reach the form he did last campaign. Indeed some in the media and among the Madrid fan base have suggested the team’s underwhelming season to date is largely down to James and Isco – who has also failed to produce his best football this season.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Valderrama said he did not get why James has not been used as often or played in his favoured position so he be more effective.

“I do not understand the model of Real Madrid now. When Ancelotti was coaching, there was another model and James was a leading figure,” he said.

And he added: “I do not understand why last year he was good but he does not have the same value this year. The good footballers should always play. James has already demonstrated the great talent that he is after having played in different parts of the world. Real Madrid model this year has not been convenient to him.”

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Former Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster says his old club is lagging some way behind La Liga rivals Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid because they have an unbalanced squad.

The German was interviewed by AS ahead of the Clasico on Saturday and said Los Blancos are far behind the Catalan side because they are too keen on having a strong attack and don’t concentrate on other areas of the team.

He added that Atletico’s smart player recruitment in recent years has seen them overtake their city rivals.

“Leaving aside personal preferences, if you take the Madrid squad, draw a line and divide it in two, you know that it is not balanced and at the top you pay for that because your biggest rivals are doing things better,” he commented.

He added: “Your rivals and even Atletico are doing things better. They change one piece for another in the same position, something that Madrid don’t do and to a certain extent they’re paying for it.”

Asked for his thoughts on the outcome of the match he said it is difficult to call because you never know which Real Madrid will turn up.

“I’m not sure how they’ll perform. I see so many highs and lows that I don’t know what to expect. After the international break they’ve barely trained together. They appear to be playing better but we’ll see,” he said.

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Jose Maria Gimenez

Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez, Spanish sports newspaper Marca has revealed.

The 21-year-old centre-back is one of the most promising young players in La Liga. With Pepe having recently turned 33 years old, Los Blancos are looking for a centre-back, and Gimenez has emerged as one of the candidates to arrive next summer at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Uruguay international has become a guaranteed starter for Diego Simeone and he has caught the attention of several European giants, including Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City.

However, Atletico are not willing to let their young star go, and that will be a big obstacle. The player’s buy-out clause is 65 million euros and there is no chance that Florentino Perez will even consider paying it.

According to the latest Real Madrid transfer news, the main candidate to reinforce Los Merengues defence next summer is Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos, but it seems that Gimenez will be in Perez’s wish-list too.

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Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has claimed Zidane “is a third-division manager” in a recent interview with Spanish sports newspaper Sport.

“If things don’t go well, I think Zidane will not continue. He is a third-division manager,” Calderon said.

The Spaniard believes Jose Mourinho will return to the club if Zidane fails: “If Mourinho doesn’t sign with Manchester United, he will be the next Madrid manager. I’m almost certain. If the team wins no titles this season, we will see him again on the bench.”

However, Calderon explained in his opinion Mourinho is not the wisest option. Asked about the three years the Portuguese spent at the Santiago Bernabeu, Calderon said “it was not the best time.” “Now, without him, things are more quiet. He is a person that causes undesired conflicts. The president has been trying to bring him back since last year. He has tried to convince him several times. Florentino is crazy about Mourinho’s return,” he added.

– Click for more Real Madrid news

Calderon also reflected on next Saturday’s El Clasico: “Barcelona have an advantage, but watch out Real Madrid, because in these matches they put more courage. If we win, La Liga is not lost.”

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Sergio Ramos could miss Saturday’s El Clasico against Barcelona due to injury according to the latest reports from Spain.

The Los Blancos captain was withdrawn at half time in Spain’s international friendly against Italy last week due to a problem in his back.

He returned to Madrid to start his recovery process, and although the injury is not serious, Spanish radio station Cadena SER has reported that he might not make it on time for El Clasico.

Ramos has been training in the gym this week, trying to get fit on time for Saturday. He has also participated in part of the group sessions.

The defender is confident he will play against Barcelona. However, with the hopes of winning La Liga completely gone, Zinedine Zidane might decide not to risk him as Real face a crucial match against Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The Real Madrid schedule in the next few weeks will be pretty busy and Zidane will need his captain in perfect shape.

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Ex-Real Madrid playmaker Kaka says current star of the team Cristiano Ronaldo deserves more respect for what he has done for the club.

The playmaker, now plying his trade in the MLS, was asked about his thoughts on the Portugal star – who is Los Blancos’ all time top scorer.

Ronaldo has scored 41 goals for his club this season but has been jeered by some sections of the Madridista support base for a perceived lack of effort in big games.

At 31, there is also talk of Ronaldo possibly moving on this summer with Manchester United, PSG or a host of clubs in the MLS mentioned as likely destinations should he leave.

But Kaka said the three-time Ballon d’Or winner deserves more respect for what he has achieved in his seven seasons to date.

“Cristiano is a great player, I am not just talking about his quality, but in terms of what he has contributed to Madrid. I would like to see the fans have more respect for Cristiano Ronaldo for what he has done for this club,” he said.

And he added: “Sometimes I hear whistles against Cristiano and it’s not good after all he has done. I recommend that he stays in Madrid. Proportion that things happen at Madrid is very big. If things do go well the proportion is big and if they don’t, its also still big.”

 

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France manager Didier Deschamps says he has been impressed with the start former team mate Zinedine Zidane has made to life as Real Madrid boss.

The pair were team mates at Juventus and for Les Blues and played in the side that won the World Cup on home soil in 1998 and the European Championships two years later.

Zidane took over the hotseat at the Santiago Bernabeu in January following the sacking of Rafa Benitez. It is his first role as manager of a first team having been in charge of Real Madrid Castilla and served as assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti previously.

With 44 goals in 14 matches, Los Blancos certainly have goals in them and the side is playing much more confidently that they did under Benitez. Although there is some way to go before any real conclusions can be made about Zidane as a boss, Deschamps believes he has made a good start.

“Zidane’s had a promising start to his coaching career. He has a lot going in his favour to succeed. Zidane knows Real Madrid’s philosophy, its game and its players inside out, and that’s a win in itself,” he commented.

Like many, the former midfielder admitted he never saw Zidane in a managerial role.

“Zidane was talented. He just needed to learn a little bit more about this world. In all honesty, playing together, it didn’t appear to be his preference. Later on coaching seemed to pick his interest, a lot,” he stated.

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Casemiro
Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro - CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/Getty Images

Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro has admitted the week leading up to the Clasico is extra special and the players also feel the anticipation as much as the fans ahead of the big game.

The Brazilian has become a key part of Zinedine Zidane’s team at the Santiago Bernabeu and is expected to take his place in the line up on Saturday evening when Los Blancos take on their fierce rivals.

Real lost 4-0 in the corresponding fixture earlier this season – a game in which previour boss Rafa Benitez abandoned his principles and went all-out attack – and Casemiro admits the players want to put that right this weekend at the Camp Nou.

He commented: “We know that it’s a special week for the players, the fans and for everyone linked with Real Madrid. It’s a game that we’re really looking forward to playing. Hopefully, it arrives quickly and we win it.”

He went on to add: “With every passing day, I feel more comfortable with the players, the coach and fans. They know that I’m here to help everyone. We’re going to leave our hearts and souls out on the pitch in this game. Keep the faith because we’ll never stop working hard.”

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With Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang having rejected Real Madrid’s offer to move to the Spanish capital, Florentino Perez will have to look elsewhere to find the striker he wants to bring next summer.

Since Chicharito Hernandez left last summer, the only pure number 9 in the squad is Karim Benzema. Both the president and the manager believe the French forward needs a back-up, especially now that Real are threatened with a one-year transfer ban.

Many strikers have been linked with a move to Real Madrid, but there are five that top Perez’s list. Here at Real Madrid news we’ve analysed those five main candidates to reinforce the Los Blancos attack in the summer transfer market:

5. Jamie Vardy

Jamie_Vardy
The Leicester man is completing a superb season, having scored 19 goals in 33 appearances, helping his team top of the table having a realistic chance of winning their first league title. Many clubs will fight to sign the Englishman next summer, and Los Blancos have shown an interest. However, the club directors are reluctant for a number of reasons: He is 29-years-old and will soon enter the final stage of his career; English footballers have always had problems to adapt to life in Madrid; and finally, he will be too expensive, given the high competition in signing him.

4. Romeru Lukaku

The Belgium international is the third top scorer of the Premier League and has caught the attention of many European giants, including Los Blancos. The 22-year-old has a bright future ahead and he would be a great investment for Real. He has scored 25 goals in 36 games so far this season, at it seems clear that he is ready to join a big club. Everton signed him last summer on a 35-million-euro move from Chelsea and they will be ready to sell as long as they receive a good offer. According to the latest transfer rumours, they could let him go for 65 million euros.

3. Edison Cavani

Edison Cavani GI
The Paris Saint-Germain striker has been one of Florentino Perez’s favourites for a long time, but the Los Merengues president has never had the chance of bringing him to Madrid. Now that the Uruguay international is 29 years old, PSG could be ready to let him go. Cavani is not having his best season, but still he has netted 19 goals in 40 appearances and could be a great back-up for Karim Benzema. Should Perez convince PSG to sell a reasonable price, the Uruguayan would be an interesting option.

2. Alvaro Morata

Whether to stay at Real Madrid or to sell him again, it looks like Los Blancos are going to buy Morata back from Juventus this summer. Due to a clause in the striker’s contract, Perez will only have to pay 30 million euros to bring the striker back home. Should Zinedine Zidane decide to keep him, it would be by far the cheapest option. Yet, perhaps it is not convenient to force the player to return when he wants to play at a club where he can be a guaranteed starter. That could create trouble in the squad, and Zidane should take it into deep consideration.

1. Paulo Dybala

Paulo Dybala
The 22-year-old has become one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe thanks to his great performances this season. He has earned the starting striker role at Juventus, sending Alvaro Morata to the bench. The Argentinian, who is good friends with Leo Messi, has scored 18 goals in 39 appearances so far this season. Perez could use Morata to exert pressure on Juve and get a good deal for Dybala. However, the player has suggested he would like to play for Barcelona, so it won’t be easy for the Real president to convince him.

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The rumours of James Rodriguez departure are close to becoming reality, and Manchester United are first in line to land the Colombia international next summer.

Through the past few months, Spanish media have been reporting that the 24-year-old is not happy at Real Madrid and might seek for a move out. The critics from the fans and the lack of trust from the coach have annoyed the playmaker.

Florentino Perez is not happy with the Colombian’s scandals outside the field either, and sources from the Santiago Bernabeu have suggested the president is only willing to keep him for the income he generates in shirt sales.

However, as the planning of the squad for next season has advanced, Real have realized that there won’t be room for James in the starting eleven. Zinedine Zidane is planning the squad for next season and one of his priorities is bringing a creative midfielder, thus making it impossible for both James and Isco to remain in the team.

With the player determined to leave, Real will be ready to accept offers. The main candidates are Manchester United and Paris Saint Germain. However, according to the latest transfer rumours, the French champions are planning a crazy bid for Paul Pogba and it seems highly unlikely that they will have anything left to offer Los Blancos without breaking the financial fair play rules.

Thus, Manchester United are in the best position to sign the Colombian. Spanish sports newspaper AS recently revealed that United were planning a 45-million-euro offer. At first, Perez was not willing to accept less than 80 million, but given this situation, he will agree to negotiate.

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