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Real Madrid are expected to receive a 80-million-euro offer James Rodriguez next summer, British tabloid Daily Express has claimed. This newspaper has reported that Manchester United have made the Colombian midfielder one of their priority signings and will bid high to take him to Old Trafford.

Rodriguez has been very criticized in Madrid for the past few months, as his performances have been too far from good and his physical fitness is not the best either. The Red Devils are planning to take advantage of this situation and seduce James to move to Manchester.

However, Florentino Perez believes the 24-year-old will be a crucial piece for the future of the club and it is very unlikely that he will agree to sell him. Only a transfer request from the player could make the Los Blancos president change his mind.

Hazard awaiting Real Madrid offer

Other Real Madrid transfer rumours include Eden Hazard awaiting an offer from Los Blancos and Manchester City interfering in Robert Lewandowski’s signing.

The Daily Mail has claimed that the Chelsea midfielder has recently rejected an offer from Paris Saint-Germain because he wants to play in Madrid under Zinedine Zidane. The Frenchman is Hazard’s childhood idol, and that will facilitate his arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu should Florentino Perez finally launch a bid for the Belgian.

Meanwhile, Spanish newspaper El Economista has reported that Pep Guardiola is keen on bringing Robert Lewandowski with him when he moves to Manchester City next summer. The Bayern Munich striker is one of Perez’s priorities for next summer. He is also in talks with Bayern about a possible contract extension, and now City have joined the fight to sign him.

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Benfica's Renato Sanches celebrates after scoring a goal FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images

Real Madrid are reportedly eyeing Benfica’s 18-year-old striker Renato Sanches, according to Portuguese sports newspaper A Bola.

The young forward has become one of the most sought-after footballers in Portugal thanks to his recent performances for the Lisbon-based side.

According to the latest transfer talk, Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have also shown an interest in signing him.

Benfica has recently reacted to the increasing interest in their player. They have extended Renato’s contract and raised his buy-out clause to 80 million euros, the highest in the club’s history

Last week, British press reported that United could be ready to pay that ammount and the player’s agent Jorge Mendes confirmed the Red Devils’ interest.

It seems highly unlikely that United will actually offer such a high fee for a player who has just made his debut in professional football. Florentino Perez will not go any near that ammount, but his good relationship with Mendes could facilitate Renato’s arrival at Madrid should Benfica be willing to negotiate a lower price.

Spanish press has also linked Renato with Atletico Madrid. The Colchoneros haven’t shown an interest yet, but they maintain a good relationship with Benfica, and always take into consideration to sign any quality player that the Portuguese side can offer.

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On-loan Real Madrid midfielder Lucas Silva has denied reports he was kicked off the Marseille team bus for turning down the chance to leave the club.

The Brazilian signed for the Ligue 1 side in the summer on a year-long loan from the Santiago Bernabeu club but his move hasn’t worked out as hoped. He had only made appearances for the Stade Velodrome side and the French side were hoping to move him on in the January transfer window.

Belgian side Anderlecht were keen to end his French nightmare while a number of Brazilian teams were also keen on his signature. With the transfer window still open in his homeland, Silva has now been removed from Marseille’s Europa League squad in the hope they can move him on.

Reports in the L’Equipe said Silva had been forced to leave the team bus before it left for the match against Montpellier last week as he wouldn’t be part of the squad in any place.

But the midfielder released a statement to set the record straight.

He wrote: “During the last day of the winter transfer window, I took my place on the team bus with my teammates. Because of a possible transfer being negotiated, I was led to move in accordance with the transaction taking place. In this way, the Marseille directors advised me to stay in Marseille and not to travel with the team. I was never kicked off the bus as some media outlets announced.”

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Former Real Madrid midfielder Michael Laudrup has discussed his controversial switch from Barcelona to the Santiago Bernabeu saying he knew the time was right to leave the Camp Nou.

The ex-Denmark international was part of the ‘Dream Team’ managed by Johann Cryuff. he was part of the side that won four league titles in a row between 1990 and 1994 and also picked up a European Cup winner’s medal in 1992.

But he left the Catalan outfit in 1994 signing for their fierce rivals for who he went on to play 76 times and scoring 15 goals. He picked up another league winner’s medal in 1995.

Speaking in an extensive interview with Goal.com, Laudrup said he knew the time was right to leave Barcelona after they were beaten 4-0 in the European Cup at Wembley.

“I had a lot of experience in football by then and I realised football is continuous evolution, at whatever level. A team is never complete. You have to think to win today and tomorrow and to plan for the future. When you have to change seven or eight players that is when something has gone badly wrong. The day Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo leave Barcelona and Real Madrid they will both face a crucial challenge to try and keep on winning,” he commented.

Laudrup is generally held in high esteem by both Real and Barcelona fans – something that doesn’t happen with Luis Figo – who is still seen as a figure of hate among Cules fans.

Asked what the difference between the two was, Laudrup commented: “I don’t know, maybe we should ask the fans. When I returned two years ago I did not get a very good reception but when I finished as a player there was never a problem. I still go to the Camp Nou often. I always got well treated in Spain, both in the Camp Nou and the Santiago Bernabeu, but also in Bilbao and Seville. The truth is I do not know why they treat me so well in places where I did not play but this is what I’m most proud of.”

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Former France and Juventus forward David Trezeguet says Zinedine Zidane has everything needed to triumph at Real Madrid.

Zidane was appointed last month replacing Rafa Benitez in the dugout at the Santiago Bernabeu. In his five games in charge, he has lead Los Blancos to four victories and a draw.

There is a renewed sense of optimism among the players and fans at a crucial time of the season when Champion League matches are set to return and the pressure cranks up in the league.

Trezeguet and Zidane played together at club and international level and having seen him at close quarters, the ex-striker says he has all it takes to be a success with the 10-time Champions League winners.

He stated: “When you have the chance to manage Real Madrid, you have to really go for it. Zidane has everything it takes to triumph. The players have a special image of Zidane and therefore have a special motivation.All the players are happy. While with Benitez, communication was lacking, with Zidane, they all want to give a little more. When you have a coach like him you want to give it your all and that’s great for Real Madrid. Zizou’ is a person who makes good decisions and understands the club.”

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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has had his say on one of the most widely debated topics in football in recent years – who is the better player between Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi.

And it won’t be a surprise to find out the Frenchman believes the Los Blancos forward edges it.

The pair have won the past eight Ballon d’Or trophies between them and are widely seen as two of the best players to have ever played the game. This season, Ronaldo has netted 30 goals in 31 appearances for club and country while Messi has lead Barcelona’s attack as they look to retain the La Liga title they won last May.

Speaking to Record Mexico, Zidane said the rivalry between the pair has made football a real spectacle for the fans in recent years, but Ronaldo just edges it when it comes to being the best.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is the best. People can say what they like about Cristiano Ronaldo, but in his heart he’s a good person. Messi is the rival and that rivalry is great for the footballing spectacle, it’s what the fans want to see,” the boss stated.

He also spoke about his first month in charge of the club saying he never imagined himself as manager of the 10-time Champions League winners, but is pleased his message seems to be getting across to the players so far.

“I never thought that I’d be a manager. When your playing career ends all you want to do is spend time with your family. I always liked being on the pitch, it’s what I knew how to do. Everything else was foreign to me. It’s always the manager’s fault if the team lose. But you have to accept that responsibility, with all the good and bad that comes with it,” he commented.

“The main thing is getting my message across to the players. I only give them two or three instructions because they’re extremely professional. I have a sensational group of players, I’m delighted with the work they’re doing.”

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Former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho will take over at Manchester United next season and wants to make Raphael Varane his first signing, reports have said.

Many in the UK media, including the Daily Mail, claim the Portuguese boss has told close friends he will be taking charge at Old Trafford at the end of the season. Current manager Louis van Gaal has strenuously denied reports he will leave the 20-time title winners although momentum is gathering pace that both Pep Guardiola and Mourinho will be residing in the same city from next season.

Some reports have suggested that Mourinho’s first job will be to focus on his defence and has identified Varane as the man to lead the back line for the Red Devils.

It was Mourinho who signed the Frenchman from Lens in 2011 and he has always regarded him highly. The pair are believed to enjoy a close relationship – something Mourinho will look to exploit in his attempts to lure Varane away from the Santiago Bernabeu.

The central defender was unknown to be unhappy at his lack of first team opportunities in the past but over the last 18 months has established himself as an important member of the Los Blancos side and there are signs he and Sergio Ramos can be the basis of a strong defence for many years to come.

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Real Madrid legend Raul says the players and fans can dream once again after the appointment of Zinedine Zidane as the new manager.

Los Blancos’ season had lurched from crisis to crisis under Rafa Benitez before he was sacked after just seven months into the job.

The 10-time Champions League winners stumbled in many of the big games they played, they were thrown out of the Copa del Rey, there was a bungled attempt to sign David de Gea from Manchester United, and they were handed a two-window transfer ban for breaching rules over the signing of youth players from abroad.

But under Zidane, the team has gone five games undefeated, winning four of them. They lie just four points off the top of the table, albeit having played a game more than leaders Barcelona. Next week, they take on Roma in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League.

And speaking to beInSports, Raul said there was plenty to be optimistic about, even encouraging fans to dream of silverware at the end of the campaign.

“I think that the message Zidane has to offer will get through to the players, because he was a world-class player. He’ll go down as one of the best ever because of what he won and how he played and he’ll be able to make the players buy into his message, having inherited a squad brimming with talent,” he stated.

And he continued: “He knows what people really want. Why not dream of ending this year with something to shout about? And, failing that, he will have to be given time so that next season all the work he is doing can bear fruit.”

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Gareth Bale’s recovery from the calf injury he suffered last month is going slower than expected. According to Spanish sports newspaper Marca, the Welshman has suffered a setback and will remain sidelined for more than three weeks, thus missing next week’s Champions League clash against Roma.

The Real Madrid winger fell injured during a La Liga match against Sporting Gijon on January 16th. He was diagnosed with a calf injury and the expected recovery time was from two to three weeks. Thus, Zinedine Zidane counted on having him ready for the next La Liga game against Athletic Bilbao.

In the past few days, Bale has been going through especial training sessions at a sand ground and he even shared a picture of a training session at a swimming pool.

It looked like he would be set to return on time, but the truth is that he hasn’t been able to participate in a regular training session yet.

The 26-year-old has suffered several calf problems since he arrived at Real Madrid and Los Blancos don’t want to risk him. Asked about the Welshman’s return, Zidane explained on Sunday that “Bale is better, but not completely recovered. It’s better do things right with him and go bit by bit.”

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Premier League side Liverpool have identified Real Madrid striker Jese Rodriguez as the man to come in and breath fresh life into their side this summer, according to reports.

With Daniel Sturridge unable to remain fit for a prolonged period and Christian Benteke’s big-money move not working out as they had hoped for last summer, the Anfield side are on the lookout to freshen up their strike force this summer.

Boss Jurgen Klopp has identified Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as an option although it is thought the asking price for the Gabon international may be too much.

And the German manager has his eye on Jese as an alternative. The 23-year-old maintains he is happy at Los Blancos but a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu would almost certainly guarantee him more game time that he craves.

The striker made his mark in the Real Madrid second string where he netted 34 goals in 80 games. He broke into first team contention in 2013 and has scored 14 goals for the club since then. But a severe knee injury in March 2014 hampered his progress and he has had to make do with a bit-part role since.

Should Liverpool follow up on their interest, they could face competition from other Premier League sides with Chelsea and Arsenal having been linked with him in the past.

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