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Former Real Madrid midfielder Guti has upped the ante ahead of tomorrow’s derby by claiming no player in the current Atletico de Madrid team is good enough to get into the first 11 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The two clubs go head-to-head knowing that whoever loses will more than likely see their title hopes ended once and for all. As it stands, Diego Simeone’s men sit second in the table, eight points behind leaders Barcelona. Los Blancos are third, a point behind the Vicente Calderon side.

But speaking to AS, Guti, who made more than 500 appearances for the 10-time Champions League winners between 1995 and 2010, played down the quality of Los Rojiblancos and said not one of the current team would get into Zinedine Zidane’s starting 11.

“It would be hard. I can’t think of anyone who could play for Real Madrid,” he commented.
He did however praise boss Simeone for making the side a tough one to play against, claiming that during his time as a player, Real normally found it easy to play against their city rivals.

“In my time to play at the Calderon it was an easy game against them. With ‘Cholo’ things are now much more complicated. Atletico is one of Real’s biggest rivals, but as a Madridista I like for them to always lose,” he commented.

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Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has said once again that he is very happy and the club and sees himself playing for Los Blancos for many more years.

The 31-year-old has been subject of much speculation in recent months about where his future lies, with Manchester United and PSG both said to be keen on the forward. But the MLS has emerged as a serious contender.

This week, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Andrea Pirlo all said Ronaldo should head to the US as it would suit his game and lifestyle.

But speaking at an event sponsored by Mahou on Thursday, Real’s all-time leading scorer says he loves hearing his name chanted by Madridistas and wants to remain in the Spanish capital.

“I feel the support of the fans. When the people sing my name, I’m proud. When you play for the biggest club in the world, you have pressure, although I’m used to it now. The size of the club makes people look at you differently, but the balance on a personal level has been positive since I came here. I’m very happy and I want to continue here,” he commented.
He also said he has no regrets about leaving Manchester United for Real in 2009 despite having only won the Champions League and La Liga once each in that time.

“To be the best in Europe is the biggest dream and we did it two years ago. It was a unique moment for us and for the fans, but there have been other important ones. I could not be more proud of the time I’ve spent with Real Madrid,” he added”.

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Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has lifted the lid on the breakdown of the relationship between him and Jose Mourinho in the ex-manager’s last season at the club.

The Portuguese boss dropped Casillas mid-way through the 2012-13 campaign in favour of Diego Lopez, and much of his decision stemmed from the fact he thought the club captain was the source of the dressing room leak to the media – Casillas’ partner is famous sports journalist Sara Carbonero.

Having kept quiet about the situation when he was at the club, Casillas has now revealed what the atmosphere was like and the reason why the relationship broke down.

Hold told RTVE that it began when Casillas spoke to Xavi and Carlos Puyol to try and smooth relations over between Madrid and Barcelona after some Clasico games became very intense and threatened to damage the image of Spanish football in general.

“It didn’t sit well with him that I spoke with someone from Barcelona to ease the tension in the national team. I spoke with Xavi and Puyol. But the words that we used were not ‘listen, forgive me’. That was what a journalist told Mourinho. What I said to Xavi was ‘look, as we keep going like this, we’re marking Spanish football with the image we give with two teams like Madrid and Barca. I don’t talk about the players from other nationalities but the Spanish have a European Championship’,” he commented.

He then went into detail about when he was dropped and how that experience was.

“Then came my injury in January. After that, all I hear about me is crap, crap and more crap. The only thing I wanted was for my hand to recover, to get back to being with the group and competing, but my place had already been occupied by another person – in this case it was Diego Lopez, who was doing well,” he stated.

And he continued: “The boss thought it right that he should play and I couldn’t say anything. But then there were the gestures in the press conferences and the things he did. I saw I was being talked about non-stop, those who support you and those who don’t. I tried to make sure it didn’t affect me, but it was constant, every day.

“There was a war between ‘Mourinhoistas’ and ‘Casillistas’ when I still hadn’t spoken. Then they tell me ‘you don’t speak because you use others to speak for you’. Are we crazy? Do people not have their own judgment, their own opinion? I had spoken with him many times, but the last year we didn’t speak at all. It was an ugly situation. And I think that what I did was for the best.”

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Youri Tielemans
Youri Tielemans celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Europa League match Anderlecht vs Qarabag - VIRGINIE LEFOUR/AFP/Getty Images

Zinedine Zidane has started planning the Real Madrid squad for next season, and according to Spanish sports newspaper Marca he has written the names of two young midfielders at the top of his wish-list.

It was already known that the Frenchman wanted to sign his country-man Paul Pogba, and now Marca have revealed that he is also interested in Belgian 18-year-old Youri Tielemans.

The Anderlecht man has made a big impression since breaking into the first team, and has become one of the most sought-after players in the Belgian league.

According to Marca, Zidane believes both him and Pogba are talented players with a strong mentality. Thus, he has reportedly asked Florentino Perez to make an effort to bring them next summer.

In the case of Pogba, it will not be easy, since Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are also interested. Juventus is reportedly willing to request almost 100 million euros for the France international.

Meanwhile, Tielemans has a market value of 12 million euros according to Transfermarkt, so Los Blancos could easily seduce Anderlecht with an offer around 20 million.

According to the latest transfer rumours, Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have also shown an interest in signing Tielemans.

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Alvaro Morata can be the key for Paul Pogba to arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu next summer, according to Spanish newspaper EcoDiario.

Real Madrid have a buy-back option to bring the Spaniard back to Spain for 32 million euros. EcoDiario has reported that Florentino Perez is willing to use that clause to exert pressure on Juventus to sell them Pogba.

Morata’s real transfer value is around 50 million euros, and selling him for 32 would mean that Juve would potentially lose around 18 million. Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have shown an interest in signing the Spaniard, and they would certainly pay the Italians more than 32 million.

Juventus have been firmed whenever asked about Pogba’s price, and they don’t seem willing to let him go for less than 100 million euros. That is an amount that Florentino Perez is not ready to pay, but the clause in Morata’s contract could help him cheapen the deal.

Pogba is one of Zinedine Zidane favourite candidates to reinforce the Real Madrid squad next summer. His arrival could open the door for Casemiro’s exit.

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Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo, Leo Messi and Neymar saying the trio can smell fear in their opponent and never give up.

The Germany defender, currently sidelined with injury, was famously outfoxed by Messi the Champions League last season, ending up on the floor while the Argentine went on to score.

The 27-year-old has recovered from that experience but says when facing the Barcelona striker and his team mate Neymar, or Madrid’s Ronaldo, you have to be switched on from first whistle to last – and have a huge slice of luck to survive 90 minutes unscathed.

Writing in the Players’ Tribune, the Bayern Munich defender stated: “With Ronaldo or Messi, whatever option you choose is difficult if they come at you with open space. They’re just so fast. Neymar and Messi are low to the ground and can turn quickly, so it’s difficult for defenders like me, who are tall centre-backs. Ronaldo, he’s got the height, but he’s also got incredible speed, strength and a good header.

“You can’t be lazy or caught on your heels with those players, because they will win and they will score. They are just too good for you to make even a little mistake. More than speed or technique though, as a defender you need confidence.

“Ronaldo, Messi, Suarez, Neymar – they can all smell if you’re afraid to duel with them. One whiff and then they destroy you. So you gotta show up.”

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The agent of Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has rubbished reports the club could look to offload him in the summer because of his injury troubles.

The Wales international is currently sidelined with a calf problem, the 11th injury he has picked up since joining Los Blancos from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2013.

Reports in the media in Spain this week said the Real directors are getting frustrated with the situation surrounding the Welshman, who has cost the club around 500,000 euros for every appearance he makes when taking into consideration the 91 million euros paid for him and the weekly salary he earns.

Premier League sides Manchester United and Chelsea have been linked with moves for the star, who wrote himself into Real Madrid folklore by netting the crucial second goal in the Champions League final two years ago as well as scoring a stunner against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final.

But speaking to English tabloid the Daily Mirror, Jonathan Barnett said the exit talk was rubbish and Bale will be staying.

“It’s a completely rubbish story made by an irresponsible and totally ill-informed journalist,” he commented.
Bale has netted 13 goals in 15 league appearances for the 10-time European champions this season.

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Javier Tebas
Javier Tebas speaks during the Financial Integrity and Transparency In Sport Forum - Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images For ICSS

La Liga president Javier Tebas believes that Real Madrid have real chances of winning the title despite Barcelona’s nine-point lead in the table.

With only 39 points into play until the end of the season, many believe it is impossible that Barca will drop 10, but others like Tebas and Zinedine Zidane are more optimistic about it.

“I don’t think the end of the league is going to be boring. There are many matches left to play and Barca have very complicated games ahead. Real Madrid have already won more than one title after coming back. They can do it,” Tebas said.

Asked about the Copa del Rey final, which will finaly be played at the Vicente Calderon stadium instead of the Santiago Bernabeu, Tebas explained “it has been the decision of the clubs [Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona]. The Bernabeu was already booked for a concert.”

“I would like examine the Copa del Rey deeply and set a permanent venue for the finals which will be known with plenty of time in advance,” Tebas explained.

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Lucas Lima
Lucas Lima celebrates after scoring against Argentina during their Russia 2018 World Cup Qualifiers EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP/Getty Images

Real Madrid and Barcelona are the main candidates to land Santos midfielder Lucas Lima, according to Brazilian radio station Radio Bradesco Esportes FM.

The 25-year-old is one of the pearls of the Brazilian league and has attracted great interest from several European giants. Paris Saint-Germain are also keeping tabs on the Santos man.

Lima is a good friend of Neymar, and Radio Bradesco Esportes has claimed that the Barcelona star has recommended his club to sign the midfielder. However, Florentino Perez might be willing to interfere in the player’s arrival to the Catalan side, as Los Blancos have been eyeing Lima for the past few months.

According to Transfermarkt, Lucas Lima market value is only nine million euros, but Santos would be willing to get a lot more, since they only own 10 per cent of the footballer’s rights. Doyen investment group own 80 per cent and businessman Edson Khodor owns the remaining ten per cent. They are requesting between 25 and 30 million euros to let the player go.

Lima is a quality box-to-box midfielder who has great technique and excellent shooting skills. He has already made his debut with Brazil national team and is expected to become one of the best midfielders in South America.

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Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first athlete to hit 200 million followers across his social media pages, according to latest figures.

Hookit.com, a social media tracking database, revealed the 31-year-old passed the threshold on Tuesday. He currently has 109.7 million followers on Facebook, 49.6 million on Instagram and 40.7 million on Twitter, and that figure grows by around 135,000 new followers a day.

While Barcelona star Leo Messi may have a couple more Ballon d’Or trophies compared to Real’s all time leading goalscorer, the Argentine is some way off competing on the social media pages front. Messi has just 120 million followers on Facebook and Instagram. The numbers would most likely be closer between the pair but the Barcelona forward doesn’t have a Twitter account.

Ronaldo’s social media page figures reveal that he is a sporting icon with global appeal. Many footballers struggle to break into the market in the USA because football isn’t as widely followed and competes with sports such as basketball, baseball and American Football.

However, Hookit.com revealed Ronaldo’s 200 million followers is more than the combined total of basketball stars LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry. Together, the have 187 million followers on their social media pages.

 

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