Page 233

0

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has remain coy on his future at the club amid interest from Real Madrid.

The Belgium international, who previously played on loan at Atletico de Madrid, is believed to be a target for Los Blancos should a move fro David de Gea fail to materialise this summer.

The 23-year-old still has strong links with Spain – girlfriend Marta Dominguez is Spanish and the couple had a daughter last May. Reports suggest that despite being happy at Chelsea, he could be tempted to move back to La Liga if Los Blancos come calling.

Speaking to reporters while on international duty, the goalkeeper was quizzed about his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

And he responded: “I do not say yes, I do not say no. I do not know: I still have three years on my contract. We must see what Chelsea want.”

Courtois spent three seasons on loan at the Vicente Calderon where he made 154 appearances. He helped the side win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, Europa League and reach the final of the Champions League. He arrived back at Chelsea last summer and immediately ousted Petr Cech as the number one and helped the Blues lift the Premier League title.

0

Real Madrid target Romelu Lukaku says Cristiano Ronaldo is one of his inspirations and urged all young players to learn from the Los Blancos man.

Lukaku has netted 18 goals in 27 league games this season for Everton – something that has made big clubs across Europe sit up and take note.

Bayern Munich and Manchester United have been linked with the former Chelsea man but the Belgium international is also attracting the interest of Real, who are keen to add to their attacking options to take the pressure of Karim Benzema and Ronaldo up front.

Speaking about Real’s record goalscorer, Lukaku said Ronaldo’s hugely successful career proves hard work can beat talent.

“I think he is an inspiration for every player who is working hard. He is the type of player who shows that hard work beats talent. He is a talented player but his hard work off and on the pitch shows why he is a top player and he is an example for every young player coming through,” Lukaku told Sky Sports.

Ronaldo has scored 28 goals in 30 league games this campaign and hit another 13 goals in the Champions League. His goals against Malmo in October saw him overtake Alfredo di Stefano as the club’s leading scorer.

4

Ex-England and Liverpool forward Emile Heskey says Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is good enough to play for Real Madrid.

The Spurs forward is enjoyed yet another sensational season at White Hart Lane and has netted 25 goals in all competitions to help the north London side to second in the table and in with a real chance of winning the league for the first time in 55 years.

He netted 31 goals in all competitions for his club last season – his breakthrough year at Spurs.

The 22-year-old showed he can perform at the highest level this weekend as he netted for England against Germany at the Three Lions recorded a famous win in Berlin coming from 2-0 down to defeat the World Cup holders 3-2.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Heskey said Kane has all it takes to play for the biggest clubs in the world and added he is as good as Karim Benzema at Real Madrid.

“Individually, I am so impressed with this squad. Who wouldn’t want Harry Kane and Dele Alli and Jamie Vardy in their squad? Alli would go into a lot of top European teams. Harry Kane is the same. Could Kane go to Real Madrid? I would have him up there with Karim Benzema, I really would,” Heskey told the paper.

0

Pep Guardiola wants to sign Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos for Manchester City when he takes over at the Premier League club this summer, according to reports.

The former Barcelona boss worked with Kroos when the German international was at Bayern Munich and the won the Bundesliga together in Guardiola’s first season in Germany. But Kroos made the switch to the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of that campaign to experience a new league and new culture.

According to Marca, Guardiola is keen to be reunited with the 26-year-old at the Etihad Stadium. The current Bayern boss will have his work cut out to make City the force they once were and his priority will be to freshen up the midfield which has looked laboured at times this campaign.

Kroos is believed to be happy in the Spanish capital and despite suffering a dip in form in his second season, Los Blancos are in no rush to sell.

However, rumours have gathered pace in recent weeks about a possible exit for the 2014 World Cup winner with Premier League side Arsenal also mentioned as a possible destination with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger set to carry out major work on his midfield this summer.

21

Real Madrid have reactivated their interest in signing Argentinian midfielder Lucas Biglia, Italian website Tuttosport has reported.

The 30-year-old has been in Los Blancos radar for some time, especially since Xabi Alonso’s departure. Biglia is a solid midfielder who could provide Zinedine Zidane the balance he’s been looking for.

Other clubs, such as Inter Milan and Juventus are also interested in signing him. Florentino Perez is planning to bring in a couple of midfielders to reinforce the squad next summer, but Biglia is not one of his first options.

Ozil to Barcelona?

Other Real Madrid transfer news include Mesut Ozil becoming a target for Barcelona. According to Spanish website Fichajes.net, Barca would try to include other players in the deal in order to cheapen the transfer.

Should they pay more than 50 million euros, Real Madrid would receive 33 per cent of the amount. However, Barcelona will do anything possible to avoid that.

0

Cristiano Ronaldo is saving his goals for the European Championship this summer, according to Portugal boss Fernando Santos.

The Real Madrid striker missed a penalty in Portugal’s surprise 1-0 friendly defeat to Bulgaria on Friday evening. The 31-year-old has also missed from the spot twice for his club this season.

But speaking after the game, Santos said he is not concerned by Ronaldo’s penalty miss or lack of goals despite Portugal dominating the game and says he is confident the forward will be back to his best for the tournament which takes place in France in June.

He said: “In the national team, and the clubs where he’s been, Cristiano has always been a reference – always worth 40, 50 goals per season. He didn’t score against Bulgaria but he’s reserving his goals for the Euros. We created many chances but we couldn’t score. If we didn’t create then, yes, I would be apprehensive.”

Since making his debut in 2003, Ronaldo has played 123 times for his country, netting 55 goals along the way. He is the first Portuguese footballer to have scored at three World Cup finals having scored in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 editions. He is also his country’s leading scorer having overtaken Pauleta in the build up to the tournament in Brazil in 2014.

0
Roberto Carlos

Former Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos is set to become the head coach at David Beckham’s MLS team in Miami, according to reports.

Beckham is set to launch a team in America’s top-tier by 2018 having bought a plot of land to build a stadium. He next job is to hire a head coach to start assembling a squad good enough to compete with the already established teams.

According to Madrid-based sports paper AS, Carlos is keen to take on the role and is even willing to snub an offer from Florentino Perez to become a coach at Real Madrid. The former Brazil left back, who played alongside Beckham at the Santiago Bernabeu during the pair’s playing days is currently in charge of Indian Super League side Delhi Dynamos.

He has plenty of coaching experience thanks to stints in charge of Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia and Sivasspor and Akhisar Belediye in Turkey.

Appointing Roberto Carlos, a World Cup winner in 2002, could also be a boost for attracting fans to the new MLS franchise as there are almost 50,000 Brazilians living in Miami.

In his time at Los Blancos, Carlos helped the side to four La Liga titles and the Champions League trophies among others.

0

Real Madrid midfielder Isco wants to stay at the club amid reports a number of clubs across Europe are eyeing a move for him.

The former Malaga man started seven of the the first eight games under Zinedine Zidane but has been rotated in and out of the side since then with Lucas Vazquez, Mateo Kovacic and James Rodriguez all competing for a place in the starting 11 with him at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Spain international has been linked with a move away from the 10-time Champions League winners with Manchester City and Arsenal thought to be in for him. This week, Madrid-based sports paper AS claimed Italian champions Juventus have also joined the chase for the 23-year-old.

But it went to to add that despite the interest in him, Isco wants to remain in the Spanish capital. He has two years remaining on his current deal.

Isco joined Los Blancos from Malaga for 30 million euros in 2013. He had made 139 appearances for the club scoring 21 goals along the way. In his first season, he helped the team to the Champions League title and the Copa del Rey, while has also picked up winners’ medals in the World Club Cup and European Super Cup.

23
Cristiano Ronaldo and Iryna Shaik on holidays

Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo is expecting his second child though a surrogate mother, Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhan has revealed.

This newspaper has claimed that the Portugal international has started searching for a perfect surrogate mother to bear his child, a task he believes is vital.

Apparently, Ronaldo moved the paperwork along considerably during his last visit to the United States last Christmas.

In the recent Real Madrid match against Celta Vigo, Ronaldo Ronaldo stuck the ball under his shirt to celebrate his goals, suggesting he could be thinking of having another child.

Ronaldo’s first son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, was born in 2010. Back then Ronaldo published the following statement to announce it: “It is with great joy and emotion that I inform I have recently become a father to a baby boy. As agreed with the baby’s mother, who prefers to have her identity kept confidential, my son will be under my exclusive guardianship. I request everyone to fully respect my right to privacy (and that of the child) at least on issues as personal as these are.”

0

Manchester United are ready to launch a 50-million-euro bid to sign Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos next summer, Spanish press has reported.

The Germany international is one of the players who could leave the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season, and he will have plenty of offers.

Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City have also shown an interest in bringing the talented midfielder. However, according to reports, United have made his signing a priority and they are ready to offer up to 50 million euros.

Los Blancos signed Kroos in the summer of 2014 on a 25-million-euro move, and now they could get twice that amount should they decide to sell.

Florentino Perez is expected to bring several midfielders to reinforce the squad next summer, and that could leave no room for Kroos in the starting eleven. Thus, it is possible that the German will consider to leave.

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