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Real Madrid have confirmed they will face fellow European giants PSG, Chelsea and Bayern Munich in the USA this summer as part of the International Champions Cup – a prestigious pre-season tournament.

Los Blancos, who won in China and Australia last summer in the competition, will take on PSG at the Ohio Stadium in Colombus on 28th July. They then head to Ann Arbor in Michigan on July 30 to face Chelsea at the Michigan Stadium. Real have already played at the venue – the largest in the USA – when the faced Manchester United two years ago and set a new record for the number of spectators at a football game in the States.

Their final game as part of the International Champions Cup will take place on August 4 against Bayern Munich at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The will face former boss Carlo Ancelotti, who this summer replaces Manchester City-bound Pep Guardiola.

Speaking to the official club website about the pre-season tournament, Emilio Butragueno said the games will be the ideal preparation for the new season ahead.

“First of all, thank you for the invitation. It’s an honour to be here and to be playing in this tournament again this year. It’s a great competition and one our players are proud to play in. We have got difficult opponents and it will require a lot of hard work. We return to the United States where football has grown a lot in recent years and it’s an opportunity for our fans and the team to enjoy themselves,” he commented.

 

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

Former Porto boss Julen Lopetegui has hailed Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro and says the Brazilian can go on to be a key figure in the side.

The defensive midfielder spent last season on loan at the Portuguese club working under the direction of the ex-Los Blancos youth coach. He featured 40 times and netted 4 goals at the Estádio do Dragão.

Since his return in the summer, Casemiro has featured on a regular basis and has racked up 24 appearances to date this campaign.

Speaking to Madrid-based sports paper, Marca, Lopetegui stated: “He’s got a clear idea of what he brings to the table and his mission on the pitch. He was decisive for us at Porto.

“He’s always on hand to provide balance. For an attack-minded team like we were and Real Madrid are, that makes him a key figure. He’s always well positioned, constantly covering and offering an outlet. What’s more, his physical prowess means he wins every 50-50, and he makes intelligent use of the ball.”

Lopetegui, who was sacked earlier this season, also spoke about how flattering it was to be linked with the top job at the Santiago Bernabeu.

He commented: “I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that it’s nice to be on the radar of a big club like Real Madrid. You never know what’s going to happen, but Real Madrid have had and will always have great coaches.”

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Ex-Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has joined the ranks of those paying tribute to the late Johan Cruyff by calling the former Barcelona man a ‘visionary and an innovator’.

Cryuff, who played for and managed Los Cules winning La Liga and the European Cup, passed away on Thursday at the age of 68 after a battle with lung cancer. The mercurial midfielder had an outstanding career with Ajax and Barcelona and won the World Footballer of the Year award three times.

He was also part of the Dutch side to reach the 1974 World Cup final only to lose out to West Germany 2-1.

Writing in his Newsweek column, Calderon, who was president of Los Blancos between 2006 and 2009, said: “He can be seen as a revolutionary, a dreamer, a visionary, and an innovator who changed the idea of a game in which strength was the primary consideration to another one based, and focused, on ability and technique, giving birth to what has been called “tiki-taka.” He used to say that football should be played with the brain.”

And he continued: “A legend has gone but he has left an important legacy. As Pep Guardiola said: ‘Cruyff painted the chapel and, after him, the coaches simply have restored or improved it.'”

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Ex-Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez says Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t the toughest opponent he has face in a Clasico fixture.

The build up to next weekend’s clash between La Liga’s biggest adversaries is already picked up pace and ahead of the game Xavi took time out to recall his most memorable opponents.

The World Cup winner, one of the most successful players to ever feature for Los Cules, now plays for Al Sadd in Qatar. He made 767 appearances in an illustrious career at the Camp Nou in which he won all on offer including eight La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, three Copa del Rey, six Supercopas de España, the World Club Cup and the European Super Cup.

Speaking to The New Arab, Xavi admitted Cristiano Ronaldo is a great opponent but named ex-Brazil forward Ronaldo and current Los Blancos coach Zinedine Zidane as the best he ever faced.

“Lots of players but the ones I can’t forget are Ronaldo “the phenomenon”, Luis Figo, Raul, Fernando Hierro, Roberto Carlos, Zidane and in the later years Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil. However, the best out of all these I would say were Zidane and Ronaldo the Brazilian.”

He added: “El Clasico is without a doubt the most exciting match of the season and in the lives of each player. I have lots of great memories, but the two that stick out the most are the historical matches when we beat Madrid 5-0 and 6-2.”

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Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has paid tribute to ex-Barcelona player and boss Johan Cruyff, labelling him a ‘footballing legend’ after the Dutchman passed away on Thursday.

Cruyff, widely considered as the modern founder of football, lost his battle with cancer at the age of just 68 prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the world.

As a player, Cryuff won three consecutive European Cups with Ajax and won the World Player of the Year award on three occasions. He was part of the Dutch team that made the final of the 1974 World Cup losing out to West Germany.

He made the switch to Barcelona as a player and won La Liga and the Copa del Rey. When he returned as boss, Cryuff won La Liga four times and also guided Barca to European Cup glory in 1992.

In a statement on Real’s official website, Perez said: “A footballing legend, an icon of the sport, has passed away. I would like to express my deep sorrow following the death of Johan Cruyff and offer, on behalf of Real Madrid, and all Real Madrid supporters, our condolences and sympathy to Barcelona and above all to his wife and children.

“He was an extraordinary player who defined an era, and therefore today is a very sad day for the footballing world.”

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Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has insisted the Big Two in La Liga – Barcelona and Real Madrid – have not been putting pressure on him to not play key players in this week’s friendly match against Italy because of next weekend’s Clasico.

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets was withdrawn from the squad earlier this week because of a finger injury while Andres Iniesta missed out altogether dues to various fitness concerns.

Los Blancos visit the Camp Nou on April 2 and go into the match 10 points behind their fierce rivals in the league.

“It is absolutely not true that some clubs have been pressuring us not to use their players in these friendlies,” Del Bosque said at a news conference.

“Absolutely no-one, from no club whatsoever. Not from one of the big clubs, nor someone from one of the small clubs. It infuriates me when I read stuff like that. We have never received any recommendations not to call up or field any players.

“In Busquets’ case, he was sent home because of a problem with his finger. We all saw what happened in the match against Villarreal. As for Iniesta, he is not in the squad because of a minor problem. He could not play for Barcelona against Villarreal either.”

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Real Madrid defender Marcelo has commented on the possibility of country-man Neymar completing a move to the Santiago Bernabeu next summer.

In an interview with Brazilian newspaper O Globo, the Brazilian claimed it is highly unlikely that Neymar will decide to leave Barcelona.

“People talk about many things, except football. I think it is very difficult that Neymar could agree terms with Real Madrid. He is making history at Barcelona, and I don’t think he will change that to come to Madrid,” the 27-year-old explained.

Thus, according to Marcelo, Neymar will most likely sign a contract extension with Barcelona in the next few weeks, increasing his salary.

The Los Blancos left-back also praised Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming he is the best in the world: “Many people say I prefer Cristiano because we are friend, but I keep saying he is the best because I see the way he works and the way he takes care of himself. I see how ambitious he is and how hard he works outside the field. He is the best in the world for the things he does.”

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Zinedine Zidane’s former international team mate Youri Djorkaeff has questioned whether he is the right man for the Real Madrid job long-term.

Zidane took over from Rafa Benitez in January and has guided them to the quarter finals of the Champions League where they take on German side Wolfsburg. Los Blancos are well off the pace in the league though, sitting 10 points behind leaders Barcelona.

The role as first team manager at the Santiago Bernabeu is Zidane’s first as boss although he has been in charge of the second string and was assistant under Carlo Ancleotti when Real won the Champions League and Copa del Rey two years ago.

And Djorkaeff suggested his inexperience could mean he is not the right fit in the long term for the club.

“He is the man for the job, but is he the man for Real Madrid? I’m not sure,” Djorkaeff was quoted by Goal.com.

“It’s a very difficult role. You only have to look at the past three coaches: Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez. How much time does the average Real boss have in the job? Two years, maybe two and a half if you’re lucky?

“The expectations at the club are very high. It’s not easy for him. But he did work with the reserves and the young team in previous years, then as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant, so he does know the place well.”

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james-rodriguez

James Rodriguez is not happy at Real Madrid and his agent Jorge Mendes has started looking for a new club for the Colombian, Spanish newspaper El Confidencial has revealed.

Mendes has reportedly established contact with several European giants to discuss the posibility of a move at the end of the season.

The Colombia international has been very criticised by the fans for his poor performances this season and his scandals outside the field.

The fact that neither Rafa Benitez nor Zinedine Zidane have trusted him to become a guaranteed starter has not pleased the 24-year-old. Thus, both him and his agent believe a move will be the best choice, especially since Zidane is expected to remain the manager for next season.

According to the latest Real Madrid transfer news, several European clubs have shown an interest in signing the talented playmaker, including Manchester United and Paris Saint Germain. However, his price could be an obstacle.

Florentino Perez paid 80 million euros for Rodriguez in the summer of 2014 and he is not willing to lose a single cent. Should he agree to let the Colombian go, he would request any potential buyer to offer at least those 80 million.

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Jese Rodriguez has made the decision of leaving Real Madrid next summer, according to reports from Spain, and Liverpool are the main candidates to land the Spaniard.

Spanish football magazine Don Balon revealed a few weeks ago that Jurgen Klopp wanted the 23-year-old to reinforce his forward line.

The young winger has been considering to leave the Santiago Bernabeu for a few months now, as he barely gets minutes of action. Under Zinedine Zidane, his situation has not changed, and he believes it is time for him to join a team where he can have a leading role.

In the past few months, Liverpool, Arsenal and Inter Milan have shown an interest in landing the Spaniard. Among those three options, the player believes the Reds would be the best choice. At Arsenal he wouldn’t have such an important role, and he prefers the Premier League to the Italian Serie A.

Florentino Perez is expected to facilitate the youngster’s departure. The Los Blancos president could be ready to accept any offer around 20 million euros, an ammount that many big clubs will surely be willing to offer. Should Los Merengues receive several offers, it will be up to Jese Rodriguez to choose his preffered destination, and it seems like for now the player leans toward Liverpool.

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