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New documents published by Football Leaks shows Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos earns an annual salary of 10.9 million euros.

The revelations, which appear in the German daily Der Spiegel after Football Leaks gave them the details showed the sums involved in the players’ contract as well as the deal agreed between Los Blancos and Bayern Munich when Kroos signed for Real in 2014.

The 10-time Champions League winners agreed to pay the Bundeliga outfit 25 million euros in three installments.

Kroos, who played a key role in helping Germany win the World Cup in Brazil, signed a six-year deal at the Santiago Bernabeu. In his first year, he was paid 11.3 million euros. His salary then drops to 10.9 million a year between the second and sixth year of the deal.

An interesting part of the leak also showed that Kroos will be paid a one-off bonus of 1.8 million euros if his is nominated in the final three of the FIFA World Player of the Year Award and a similar sum if he goes on to win the prize.

When contacted about the details contained in the report, Kroos nor his agent replied.

Football Leaks has gained much interest over recent weeks after it published details of contracts including those of Gareth Bale and Mesut Ozil. The group says it wants to improve transparency in football at a time of increasing prices for fans.

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Granada vs Real Madrid match preview

Real Madrid visit Granada tomorrow night knowing that they can not afford any more slip ups in the league.

The trip to the relegation threatened outfit will be Zinedine Zidane’s second away day as boss of Real and he’ll be hoping for a better result than their last outing – the 1-1 draw with Real Betis.

The positive for Zidane is that he team seem to be firing on all cylinders up front again with Los Blancos having netted 17 goals in their last four league games. They’ll need to keep that kind of run going if they are to overhaul Barcelona in the league.

In terms of team news, the hosts have a lengthy injury list and could be without up to six first teamers – not exactly the ideal preparation when they are preparing to take on the 10-time Champions League winners.

Zidane should have a near-full squad to choose from with the only absentees being the injured duo Pepe and Gareth Bale. Both are nearing a first team return but are just short of fitness to make an appearance at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes.

Probable line ups:
Granada: Fernandez; Lomban, Babin, Biraghi, Foulquier, Rico, Perez, Ibanez, El-Arabi, Rochina, SuccessReal Madrid: Navas; Marcelo, Ramos, Varane, Carvajal; Modric, Kroos, Isco; James, Benzema, Ronaldo

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has given his thoughts on Zinedine Zidane’s appointment as boss of Real Madrid and says he hopes everything works out well for his compatriot.

Zidane was appointed last month to replace the outgoing Rafa Benitez, who lasted just seven months in the hotseat at the Santiago Bernabeu.

In his four games in charge, Los Blancos have won three and drawn one, scoring 17 goals in the process. Many in the media and within the game has concluded that even at this early stage, the players look visibly happier under Zidane than they ever did while working with Benitez.

In his press conference ahead of his side’s game with Bournemouth at the weekend, Wenger was asked for his thoughts of Zidane’s first month as manager of the 10-time Champions League winners.

“First of all, one month is a very short period to assess a manager,” Wenger stated.

And he added: “He was given chance, that is what he wanted and I wish him all the success he deserves. You know how it is at Real Madrid, you need to win every single game and they are in a fight with Barcelona who at the moment are flying. I hope it will go well for him.”

The Gunners take on Real’s fierce rivals Barcelona in the next stage of the Champions League this month.

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Gareth Bale and Pepe look set to miss tomorrow’s La Liga clash with Granada as they continue their recoveries from injury.

Bale suffered a calf injury two weeks ago and remains hopeful he will be able to play some part in his team’s Champions League clash with Roma. He has been on an individualised training programme to build up his strength but the game at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes will come too soon for him.

Pepe picked up a foot problem which Los Blancos confirmed in a statement earlier this week after he had been sent for assessments. No time line has been put on his return although it is not believed the centre back will be out for a significant period of time.

A statement on the Real Madrid website gave an update on the team’s preparations ahead of the match and confirmed the injured duo focused on their recovery.

“Real Madrid held the third training session of the week as they continue to prepare for the league game against Granada, which will take place this Sunday at the Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium. Zinedine Zidane called up the Real Madrid Castilla player Mariano in a session where the focus was placed on ball work. Bale and Pepe continue with their rehabilitation process,” it read.

And it continued: “The session started with physical work out on the field. This was followed up by the Whites players carrying out possession and pressing exercises before various one against ones finishing on goal. Later on in the session they concentrated on tactical work and ended with some crossing and finishing.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo posted a message to his fans on social media yesterday after many well wishers had contacted the Real Madrid star to wish him a happy birthday.

The Los Blancos striker – the club’s all-time leading goalscorer – turned 31 and celebrated with his son after training by blowing out candles on a birthday cake at home.

In a video message posted on his Twitter account, Ronaldo told his 40 million followers that he was very happy.

He stated: “I wanted to thank you for the messages you have sent me. As you know it’s my birthday. Thirty-one years old…I’m really happy. I’m enjoying a really good moment in my professional and personal life. So thank you all! We’re together. And please keep on supporting me like you do. I’ll keep trying to do my best on and off the pitch. Thank you all!”

Among those to send messages to the Portugal captain were many of the club’s first team stars. Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez all posted messages on social media while there were also messages from Arsenal star Mesut Ozil and Argentina legend Diego Maradona.

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Alvaro Morata

Spanish sports newspaper Marca has claimed that Real Madrid have already made a decision about Alvaro Morata’s return: They will exercise their buy-back option on the player only to sell him again for a higher amount and earn a few million euros.

Los Blancos directors have been long considering whether to re-sign Morata or not. According to Marca, they have finally decided they don’t need him in the squad, but will bring him back anyway just for economic reasons.

Morata’s current market value is around 50 million euros. Los Merengues believe they can sell the Spanish striker to a Premier League side for that amount, thus earning 18 million euros.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal are the main candidates to land the 23-year-old. The Red Devils would be especially interested should Jose Mourinho be confirmed as the new manager, since the Portuguese is a big admirer of Morata.

If Madrid finally go ahead with this transaction, Juventus will not be pleased at all, and they could refuse to negotiate with Los Blancos for Paulo Dybala, who is one of Florentino Perez’s targets for next season.

In the past few games, the Argentinian has replaced Morata at Juventus as the starting number 9. According to the latest Real Madrid news, the Spaniard would gladly accept to leave Turin should he continue sitting on the bench.

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Arsenal are ready to increase their bid to sign Real Madrid playmaker Isco Alarcon, Italian journalist Emanuele Giulianelli has claimed.

Arsene Wenger is very interested in bringing the Spain international to London, and despite the first rumours suggested they were not going of offer more than 40 million euros, now it seems like Arsenal could be ready to offer 45 million.

A few weeks ago, many at the Santiago Bernabeu were convinced that Isco would leave the club soon, given the minor role he had under Rafa Benitez. Arsenal seemed like the best option for the Andalusian, as he was keen on joining the Premier League.

However, Zinedine Zidane’s arrival has drastically changes Isco’s situation. The 23-year-old has become a crucial piece for the Frenchman. Now, he is an undisputed starter at the biggest club in the world, so it seems highly unlikely that he will even consider an offer to leave.

Should the situation change, a 45-million-euro offer would very likely please Florentino Perez. But right now there is no chance the Los Blancos president will start negotiations to sell his starting playmaker.

Isco arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2013 on a 30-million-euro move from Malaga. He has scored 20 and provided 31 assists in 126 games for Los Blancos.

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Former Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello has revealed he told ex-striker Ronald to lose weight when he took charge of the club for the second time.

Having managed Los Blancos in the 1996-97 season, the Italian returned in 2006 for a second stint and took over one of the most talented squads ever assembled.

One of the stars of that side was Ronaldo but he return to pre-season training overweight, Capello revealed.

Speaking to Madrid-based daily, AS, the ex-England and Russia coach said he asked the forward to lose weight but he refused.

“Look, he weighed 96kg. I asked ‘how much did you weigh when you won the World Cup in 2002?’ ’84kg’ he said. ‘Can you go down to 90kg at least?’ And he didn’t,” Capello stated.

In the wide ranging interview, Capello was also quizzed on whether the presidents he worked under had ever had any influence on team selection – as has been suggested was the case with Rafa Benitez and Florentino Perez.

The Italian said it happened once under Lorenzo Sanz. He ignored him though and didn’t pick his son Fernando.

When Madrid signed Marcelo, Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuain, all very young, Ramon Calderon said ‘why don’t you play them?’ I replied ‘don’t worry, they’re the future fortune of Madrid,’” he revealed.

And he added: “The only problem I had with Lorenzo Sanz is because he wanted his son to play. And Fernando is a good kid. He trained perfectly. But his father insisted he play, and that couldn’t happen.”

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Former Bayern Munich striker Giovane Elber has told current star Robert Lewandowski to reject the overtures of Real Madrid and stay put at the club.

The Poland international has long attracted the interest of Los Blancos, who tried to sign him in 2014 when he left Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer.

With Bayern boss Pep Guadriola set to leave the club in the summer after agreeing a deal to take over at Manchester City, many of the clubs stars are believed to be considering their options.

Lewandowski has been courted by a number of Premier League clubs including City, Chelsea and Manchester United. But according to recent reports, he is keen to test himself in La Liga. He is even said to be prepared to turn down a move to the Premier League and wait until’s transfer ban is over if it is enforced after their appeal.

Speaking to Goal.com, Elber said Lewandowski should stay as he is a guaranteed starter and is likely to carry on winning major trophies at the Allianz Arena.

“Lewandowski should not think about signing for another club. He can win the Champions League with Bayern, the league and the cup at least. If you sign for Real or Barca it can be you don’t play. I hope Lewy stays in Munich,” he commented.

 

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Ex-Barcelona forward Eidur Gudjohnsen has revealed Real Madrid showed an interest in signing him before he moved to the Camp Nou but were too tied up in their presidential election to take him to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The forward, who enjoyed successful spells with Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea in England, moved to La Liga in 2006. He went on to make 112 appearances for Los Cules and helped them win the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey.

But he said things could have been different that summer had Real not been too busy electing Ramon Calderon and then appointing Fabio Capello as the new manager.

Speaking to FourFourTwo magazine, the ex-Iceland international said: “From what I was told at the time, they were at least interested. The first interest I heard from Spain was Real Madrid. But the club were going through their elections and didn’t have a coach, so I wondered how concrete the interest was. I had no idea then how things worked in Spain.

“When Barcelona came in with everything in place, having just won the Champions League, I thought: ‘Let’s get this done – where do I sign?’ I’d heard whispers about Barcelona for a year, ever since we [Chelsea] had knocked them out of Europe.”

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