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Former Real Madrid forward Antonio Cassano admits his career at the highest level was hurt by his own lack of hard work but he has no regrets.

The 33-year-old plys his trade for Sampdoria where he is enjoying a renaissance following unsuccessful spells at Los Blancos, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

The Italian played for Madrid for two seasons but never really established himself in the side. Shortly after he signed, his poor eating habits lead to him gaining weight – something Los Blancos were not happy about. When compatriot Fabio Capello took the reigns, Cassano had a spectacular falling out with him.

In the end, the striker made just 19 league appearances scoring two goals. He missed four months of his second season with an ankle injury and when he left, then-president Ramon Calderon said Cassano’s attitude had been a problem.

Speaking to Mediaset, Cassano stated: “Let’s say I ruined it for myself. I’ve always been a layabout – I’ve never done anything to help me produce my best. But I’m okay with that. I’m happy. I love it here in Genoa and I want to end my career with Sampdoria.”

The forward said he knows it will be a tall order to get back into the Italy squad but will work hard to put himself into contention for the Euros this summer.

“It’s a one in a billion chance but I want to give it a go because Conte doesn’t shut the door to anyone. My attitude has changed in training too. I want to try but if I don’t make it I’ll cheer Italy on at the Euros from the outside,” he commented.

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Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo says a move to the USA to end his career is an option he would consider.

The 30-year-old, who still have a long-term deal with Los Blancos, has been subject of much speculation in recent months as to what his future holds.

Media reports have suggested the Portugal captain could make a sensational move back to Manchester United, while French big spenders PSG are also said to be keen on him. One rumour that has never gone away is the potential of a switch to the MLS where he could earn one last big pay day before hanging up his boots.

Many former stars from the European leagues have made a move to MLS sides late in their career as football continues to grow there. David Beckham, Kaka, Raul, Frank Lampard, David Villa and Steven Gerrard have all appeared for clubs there.

And speaking to GQ magazine this month, Ronaldo says he could be tempted to follow suit.

“What’s happening there is great, it’s fantastic. Maybe in the future will be a good chance for me to play there. You never know, but it’s something interesting. I consider it, of course, because, as I’ve said, soccer there has become better and better, so why not? I think that this is maybe going to be possible,” he said.

And he added: “I know that many players move there. I think it’s becoming better and better. It’s growing, I think it’s good. It’s good for me and young players that maybe one day we want to move there. So it’s good that football – ‘soccer’ – grows there.”

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Real Madrid are closing in on a Juventus striker, and it is not Alvaro Morata, as many would have expected. Spanish television station La Sexta has revealed Los Blancos main target to reinforce their attack is Paulo Dybala.

Sinche Chicharito Hernandez left Madrid last summer, Los Merengues have been looking for a back-up striker who could give Karim Benzema some rest. The club directors have been eyeing the Argentinian for the past few months and they are reportedly convince that he is the best man for the job.

The main obstacle for Dybala’s arrival is his price. Juventus paid Palermo 35 million euros last summer to sign the 22-year-old and they would request a higher amount according to the latest transfer rumours.

Florentino Perez is reluctant to spend more than 40 million in a player who will not be a guaranteed starter, at least while Karim Benzema remains at the club. La Sexta has reported that, nevertheless, the Los Blancos president will attempt the transfer.

Dybala is a fast and versatile striker, who has been compared with compatriots Sergio Aguero and Leo Messi. This season, he has scored 13 goals in 27 appearances.

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Former Real Madrid midfielder Ivan Campo says Zinedine Zidane can become Los Blancos’ version of Pep Guardiola.

Zidane was promoted from the Real Madrid Castilla side to take charge of the first team in the wake of Rafa Benitez’ sacking earlier this month.

In a similar situation, Guardiola took charge of Barcelona having been in charge of the youth team. A Nou Camp legend from his playing days, the now Bayern Munich boss went on to lead the club to 14 trophies in three years.

Speaking to the International Business Times, Campo said Zidane, an icon at Real Madrid, could have the same impact.

“I know he might have to deal with a FIFA transfer ban, and that Madrid are now in third position. But supporters and club are looking for their own Pep Guardiola. He will be given time and patience to do his job,” he commented.

He added: “Zizou is a god! I think that some of the problems affecting Real Madrid are going to be solved immediately. In order to succeed in a huge team it is mandatory to know what goes on inside the dressing room. Football stars want to play week in week out, but only 11 can play. You need something else than knowing how hard it is to deal with this situation.

“You need to show experience and convey respect. We have seen many situations where it all fell apart because the manager was not able to convey respect; that is the main difference between Zidane and Benitez, for example.”

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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says France can’t afford to deny Karim Benzema to feature for his country at the European Championships this summer.

France are the hosts of the tournament but Benzema has been banned from selection for Les Bleus because on an ongoing blackmail case he is involved in.

In the autumn of last year it emerged that the 27-year-old striker, who joined Los Blancos from Lyon in 2009, was involved in a an attempt to extort money from international team mate Matieu Valbuena to get rid of a sex tape the midfielder featured in.

Benzema was initially dropped from the squad for friendlies against Germany and England in November but the French FA has since said it will not pick him until the case of over one way or another.

According to Zidane though, if the 1998 World Cup winners have any hope of progressing far into the tournament, they should not consider denying Benzema the chance to play.

Speaking to Le Foot, the Real boss said: “France cannot afford to ignore a player of Benzema’s calibre. When we look at his numbers and everything he does on the field, we cannot let a play of this level go.”

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Real Madrid legend Raul says returning to the club would be his first choice when he take up a career in coaching but he’s happy with his work at the LFP at the moment.

The for Los Blancos forward, the second highest scorer in the club’s history, is working as an ambassador for the LFP – something that he admits allows him to see another side of the game from a much calmer perspective.

The 38-year-old is however studying his coaching badges at the same time with a view to one day returning to the day-to-day involvement in football.

Speaking to Cadena Ser, the ex-Spain international stated: “At the moment I’m not going to get the Coach’s licence. I’m going to go little by little. Now I’m at another moment in my development. The LFP is giving me the opportunity to know the world of football from another point of view. It’s going to enrich me. It’s a much calmer stage.”

And he added: “If I ever feel I’m ready then I won’t mind. I’ve taken a lot of risks in my life and I always will. I hope at some point to help Madrid but having a successful playing career doesn’t mean you’d be a good Coach. Madrid has opened doors for me. I have a good relationship with the President, but there’ll be a time to return. If I worked at a club my first choice would be Madrid. There is time to return.”

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Real Madrid have confirmed that Gareth Bale suffers an injury in the soleus muscle of his right leg that he picked up last Sunday against Sporting Gijon.

The club have not revealed the expected recovery time. However, Spanish newspapers have reported the Welshman will miss three weeks of action.

Thus, Bale would miss the next La Liga matches against Betis, Espanyol and Granada. He could be fit to face Athletic Bilbao on February 13th, but Zinedine Zidane could choose to let him recover properly to make his return in the crucial Champions League game against AS Roma on February 17th.

The club published their following statement on their website:

After tests carried out today on the player Gareth Bale at the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital, he has been diagnosed with soleus muscle injury in his right leg. His recovery will continue to be assessed.

This is a blow for Los Blancos, since Bale has been arguably their best player in the last month.

* Originally published on Real Madrid News by Alejandro Gonzalez

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FC Barcelona are ready to interfere in Eden Hazard’s signing for Real Madrid and will look to seduce the Belgium international to join them, according to reports in Spain.

The Catalan club have reportedly started contacts with the Chelsea star over a possible move to Barcelona next summer. Madrid-based newspapers have complaint that Hazard is not a player Luis Enrique wants and Barca are just trying to prevent him from joining Real Madrid.

The 25-year-old has become a priority target for Los Blancos, especially after the announcement of the transfer ban by FIFA. Although Madrid have been banned from signing players next summer, Florentino Perez believes their appeal will postpone the sanction until 2017. Thus, he will try to sign Hazard during the next summer transfer window.

Ricardo Rodriguez ‘not for sale’

Real Madrid are also looking to reinforce the left-back and one of the main options is Ricardo Rodriguez. However, Wolfsburg sports director Klaus Allofs has claimed they are not going to sell. “They can forget about it,” he said at a recent interview. If the club directors are not willing to start negotiations, Real would have to pay Rodriguez’s 35-million-euros buy-out clause, which seems highly unlikely to happen.

Other Real Madrid transfer news include Nacho Fernandez negotiating with AS Roma. The Los Merengues defender has not played a single minute since Zinedine Zidane took on the manager job and he would be open to a move out of the Santiago Bernabeu. Roma are very interested, but it will be difficult for Real to let him go given the transfer ban threat.

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Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin says goalkeeper David de Gea is committed to the club amid talk of a possible move to Real Madrid.

The shot stopper was on the verge of moving to the Santiago Bernabeu last summer after months of speculation. But the deal spectacularly collapsed when paperwork arrived with the Spanish FA too past the official deadline.

Since then, de Gea has signed a new four-year deal at Old Trafford and is once again in fine form for the Red Devils.

Stories of him making a return to the Spanish capital, where he used to play for Atletico de Madrid, don’t go away though, and some media outlets suggest Real will attempt to sign him this summer if they successfully appeal the transfer ban imposed on them last week.

But speaking to MUTV, Schneiderlin said de Gea is happy in the Premier League and committed to the Red Devils.

“David is a very important player in our squad. We are very happy to have him and happy that he didn’t go last summer. He is fully committed to this football club. When you have a player like this in goal, it’s good for us because we know we are not going to concede many goals and he is going to make some saves,” he stated.

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Luka Modric

Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric says he wants to retire are Real Madrid among reports soon-to-be Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti wants to take him to the Bundesliga.

Ancelotti managed Modric when the Italian was in charge of Los Blanco and the Croation played a key role in helping the side to win the Champions League and Copa del Rey in 2014.

And the former Spurs man says he is happy in the Spanish capital and wants to end his career at the club similar to the way legends such as new boss Zinedine Zidane did.

Speaking to Sportske Novosti, the midfielder said: “I’ve seen that Bayern link mentioned in the press but it’s only a rumour. The whole squad had a really good relationship with Ancelotti. I’m still in touch with him but there has been no talk whatsoever of a move to Bayern.

“My idea is to remain at the club until my contract expires in 2018. All my future plans are related to Real Madrid and there are no other clubs on my mind. I’m so happy here along with my family. Few players have ended their career here, Zidane being one of the exceptions. I’d like to be one of those players too, but time will tell what the future holds.”

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