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Real Madrid face one of the teams in better form in La Liga as they visit Las Palmas on Sunday. The Canarians have won their last three games and also impressed in their 1-2 loss against Barcelona.

Zinedine Zidane has decided to leave Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez and Danilo in Madrid. Thus, Daniel Carvajal and Isco are expected to return to the starting eleven.

Raphael Varane could also come in to give Pepe or Sergio Ramos some rest. The main doubt is whether Borja Mayoral or Lucas Vazquez will feature alongside Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in the forward line replacing Karim Benzema, who remains on the sidelines due to injury.

Los Blancos will look to get closer to Atletico Madrid, who sit second in the table four points clear of their city rivals.

Quique Setien men will try to show their attractive style of play and keep moving away from relegation positions. The Spanish manager is expected to recover two of his key players, Tana and Roque Mesa, who didn’t feature in last week’s victory against Villarreal.

Possible lineups:

Las Palmas: Varas; Garcia, Aythami, Bigas, Garrido; Roque Mesa, Tana; El Zhar, Viera, Momo; William Jose.

Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Isco; Vazquez, Ronaldo, Bale.

– Check out the Real Madrid schedule for more La Liga matches information

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund insist star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is going nowhere after reports this week suggested he would move to Real Madrid this summer.

The media in Spain have reported the Gabon forward, who as scored 32 goals this season, was rumoured to have agreed a deal that would see him move to the Spanish capital for 100 million euros.

But Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel told the media on Friday that teams thinking of signing him can carry on dreaming as he has a long-term deal at the club with no release clause.

“Everybody has to accept he has a long-term contract without the possibility to step out. Auba signed his contract because he feels good here. He feels that he can still develop and still grow. I can imagine a lot of clubs see his performance, his talent and his personality and can imagine Auba plays for them,” he commented.

And he added: “But we have our own goals. We want to keep this squad together and develop into something extraordinary. We want to have players that lift our status. It is not our goal to give him away. I cannot see the future but if you ask me as a coach, I’m very happy he has a long-term contract.”

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Youngster Borja Mayoral will return to the squad as Real Madrid travel to the Canary Islands to face Las Palmas in La Liga.

Zinedine Zidane has called the 18-year-old again for a league game after leaving him out of the squad for the Champions League match against Roma.

Karim Benzema remains on the sidelines due to injury and will miss the trip to Las Palmas. Toni Kroos was also a doubt due to flu, and Zidane has finaly decided to leave him out.

James Rodriguez and Danilo have also been left out of the squad as Zidane has decided to rest them.

This is the Real Madrid squad that Zidane has picked for the Las Palmas clash:

Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas, Kiko Casilla and Ruben Yanez.
Defenders: Raphael Varane, Pepe, Nacho Fernandez, Marcelo, Daniel Carvajal, Alvaro Arbeloa and Sergio Ramos.
Midfielders: Gareth Bale, Lucas Vazquez, Casemiro, Mateo Kovacic, Isco and Luka Modric.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Jese Rodriguez and Borja Mayoral.

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Florentino Perez, Real Madrid president

Former Real Madrid president Vicente Boluda says current chief Florentino Perez runs the club like a ‘Roman Emperor’ adding the democratic process among socios (members) is not working at the moment.

Perez has faced called to resign from disgruntled fans concerned at the direction the club is going. ‘Florentino dimision’ was first heard loudly at the 4-0 home loss to Barcelona back in November and there have been plenty of calls from him to go since.

As well as lying 12 point behind in the table, fans are unhappy with the image of the club after the embarrassing disqualification from the Copa del Rey, the potential transfer ban that could be enforced and the failed attempt to sign David de Gea from Manchester United.

Speaking to AS, Boluda, who was in charge for five months after Ramon Calderon was forced to resign in 2009, stated: “It is a worrying situation. I do not want to say too much, as my words can be misinterpreted. But I do not like what I see, not me, nor any Madrid socio. But this will change when the team starts to win. Football should be treated as football.

“It must be difficult for Florentino. It does not seem right to me, but it is clear the socios are not happy.”

He added:”During my time the assemblies were more democratic. I must say that. I like for the socios to be able to talk, to debate. That questions are answered. It is different when the socios are not treated as they should be.

“I wanted people to be free to vote with their conscience, and in secret ballot. But it has ended up like the Greeks and Romans, voting with your hand in the air. And with the emperor counting the votes he wants to count.”

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Villarreal boss Marcelino says he can’t see any improvement from Real Madrid since sacking Rafa Benitez.

Benitez was given his marching orders in January – just seven months after he was appointed to the role. He was replaced by Zinedine Zidane.

At the time the Frenchman took over, Los Blancos were third in the table, four points off the summit. Despite losing just one game in the 12 he has taken charge of, Real are still third in La Liga but the gap has grown to 12 points with 10 games to go.

Speaking to Cadena SER, Marcelino said Benitez had a tough job to do when he came in and Real are no better off for making the decision to get rid of him. He also said he’d one day like to be the national team boss but is happy for now with the day-to-day running of a club.

“Of course, I would like to be national team coach, it would be the greatest pride for any coach, anyone would like to lead the national team. But now I feel more like a club coach – I need the day to day [work] and close competition,” he stated.

And he added: “To be national team coach there are other coaches, like Rafa Benitez, with experience and who have won titles. He arrived at Real Madrid in a difficult situation, but I do not think the team have improved a lot since he left. I say what I think from watching Real Madrid play. The Bernabeu is hard because Madrid is far away in La Liga and out of the Copa.”

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Former Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez has made a swift return to management after being appointed as the new boss of Premier League side Newcastle United.

Benitez was in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu was just seven months before being sacked in January and replaced by Zinedine Zidane. During his time at the 10-time Champions League winners there were plenty of reports of tense relations with senior players including Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez.

Newcastle are in serious danger in the league and find themselves in the relegation zone, one point from safety. It is believed Benitez has signed a three-year deal that includes a get out clause should the Magpies be relegated at the end of this campaign.In statement released by Benitez after it was confirmed he would replace the sacked Steve McClaren, he said he was delighted to be back in football.

“I have the pleasure to confirm I have committed to a legendary English club, with the massive challenge of remaining part of the Premier League. It will be a challenge not just for me and my staff but for the players, the Club and the fans.

“All of us must push together in the same direction and with the same target in mind. This is the reason why I’m going to ask for your total support to successfully complete this task. Personally, it means my return to the Premier League, closer to my home and my family. I can’t be happier.”

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Brazilian defender Wendell during Bundesliga match - PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images

Real Madrid are keeping an eye on Bayer Leverkusen youngster Wendell Nascimento Borges, commonly known as Wendell, according to reports from ESPN Brazil.

The 22-year-old left-back is having a terrific season at the Bundesliga and he has caught Florentino Perez’s attention. The Los Blancos president is seeking for a player who can give Marcelo some rest, as the Brazilian is the only man in the squad that doesn’t have a specific back-up.

Wendell is seen by many as the perfect man to play that role. Even Zinedine Zidane has given his blessing, according to ESPN. Thus, the player could arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu next summer if the latest Real Madrid transfer news are true.

Los Blancos are reportedly willing to offer up to 35 million euros, although that seems a very high price for a substitute. Florentino Perez will surely try to get a better deal. According to Transfermarkt, the footballer’s current market value is 15 million euros.

Wendell is a left-back of great offensive skills, very similar to Marcelo. The main obstacle for his arrival is the fact that he has a non-EU passport. Los Blancos don’t have enough room for one more non-European player, as they already have three: James Rodriguez, Casemiro and Danilo. Unless Wendell gets an European passport, one of those three players would have to leave the club for the Leverkusen man to arrive.

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Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski during a Bundesliga match - Christof Koepsel/Getty Images For MAN

Robert Lewandowski has decided to reject Real Madrid’s offer and remain at Bayern Munich at least for one more season, according to reports in Spain.

Spanish television station La Sexta has revealed the Poland international has told his agent that he is happy in Munich and wants to stay there.

Both Real Madrid and the player’s agent have been exerting pressure for the move to take place next summer, and for a while it seemed like a done deal. However, the footballer is keen on playing under Carlo Ancelotti management next season and continue winning titles for the German side.

Journalist Frederic Hermel has explained that Lewandowski “doesn’t get on well with Pep Guardiola, but he likes Ancelotti’s project and wants to stay there.”

Florentino Perez was willing to spend a big amount of money to bring the 27-year-old, whose current market value is 70 million euros, according to Transfermarkt.

With such a busy schedule, Lewandowski would be a quality add for the Real Madrid forward line rotation. Since Chicharito Hernandez’s departure last summer, Karim Benzema is the only pure striker in the squad. Now it seems like Los Blancos will have to keep looking for their new number 9.

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Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema is closer to a return for France and a possible call up for the European Championships this summer after a ban was lifted on him communicating with team mate Matieu Valbuena.

The Los Blancos forward is involved in a case of attempted blackmail against the Lyon midfielder. He was charged last autumn for his involvement in trying to extort money from Valbuena to destroy a sex tape featuring the midfielder.

Under the terms of his judicial supervision, Benzema was forbidden from contacting Valbuena. He was dropped from the France squad for the friendlies against Germany and England in November and was then handed a suspension by the French FA until the trial is over. Noel Le Graet, president of the French FA, said the suspension could be overturned if Benzema and Valbuena could communicate again.

Last month a judge lifted the ban preventing him from communicating with Valbuena. And that decision has been upheld on appeal, paving the way for Benzema to be recalled to Didier Deschamp’s side.

Olivier Combe, one of Benzema’s legal team, was quoted by L’Equipe as saying: “The Versailles appeals court confirmed the decision of the investigating judge, which allows Karim Benzema to meet Mathieu Valbuena.”

Sylvian Cormier, one of Benzema’s lawyers, added: “Common sense has reasserted itself. This decision lifts the legal obstacles that could have existed.”

 

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Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa has continued his war of words with Barcelona’s Gerard Pique by accusing the defender of showing a lack of respect.

Pique has often poked fun at Real Madrid and when Arbeloa responded last year, the former Manchester United man retorted “Arbeloa is not a friend, just someone I know.”

Since then, Arbeloa has kept quiet on the subject but he broke his silence in an interview with La Galerna.

The 33-year-old said: “Many people told me ‘You have to respond’. I have digested it enough. You usually heat up and respond straight away, but later you realise it is better to let the situation cool over and not say certain things.

“I could explain to the world why I am not Pique’s friend, but maybe he would not be in a good way if I did that. It’s also true that I know his family, and the respect I have for them he does not have for mine.”

He went on to add: “Our families are important. We hear a lot of claptrap and more or less you don’t care, but those close to you suffer. Thinking about that, I preferred not to respond. If he attacked Real Madrid once again, I would have jumped, because I will defend them always. To attack me is different. This is my form of acting. To not respond is better than to say things that could have been said.”

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