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Bayern Munich and former Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara says Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, known by the media in Spain as the MSN, should all be on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or.

Messi and Neymar are up for the award later this month and are joined by Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who is going for his fourth Ballon d’Or of his career. The 30-year-old missed out on the major honours last season but did hit a career best 61 goals for club and country.

Suarez had lead the line brilliantly for Los Cules this season though and is La Liga’s highest goalscorer at the moment. He, alongside his forward partners, helped the club to five trophies in the 2015 calendar year.

Speaking to reporters, the midfielder said: “Right now, all three of them are deserving of being in the running for the Ballon d’Or. They’re a fabulous trio, just like the tridents made up of Xavi, Leo and Iniesta, or Messi, Eto’o and Henry were. It’s only at the end of your career when you can look back and assess things.

“They’re well on track to become one of the best attacking trios in the history of the game.”

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Real Madrid have officially dismissed Rafa Benitez as manager and appointed Zinedine Zidane as the new head coach.

The board of directors held an urgent meeting this afternoon after Los Blancos’ draw at Valencia on Sunday. The club directors decided to dismiss Benitez and hire Zidane for the job.

Inmediately after, Florentino Perez announced the decision at a press conference in which Zidane and his family were present.

Perez didn’t provide any details on the decision to fire Benitez. He simply said the Spanish manager “is a great professional and a great person, and I want to thank him for his job.”

The Los Merengues president also praised Zidane, claiming “he has always faced every challenge with respect and pride.” “He knows better than anyone what Real Madrid means, and he is aware of how hard and thrilling this job is,” he added.

Perez addressed the new boss to tell him “Madridistas will always be by your side, Zinedine; you are the manager of Real Madrid and I am proud to have you at my side.”

Former Los Blancos midfielder Santiago Solari will leave his job as the Under-19 team manager to become Zidane’s assistant.

Although this is not official yet, sources from the Santiago Bernabeu have suggested Victor Fernandez will replace Zidane at Real Madrid Castilla.

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas says all the players are behind boss Rafa Benitez as more questions are asked following the 2-2 draw with Valencia.

Los Blancos twice lead during the game with Karim Benzema netting early on only for the hosts to hit back through Dani Parejo. Despite having Mateo Kovacic sent off midway through the second half, Real looked to be heading for all three points when Gareth Bale scored in the 82nd minute. But a minute later, Paco Alacer equalised for the hosts.

Many in the media believed Benitez would lose his job if he failed to guide his team to three victories in the three games against Real Sociedad, Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend. Having dropped two vital points at the Mestalla, there now remains huge doubt about how long Benitez can cling onto his job for.

But speaking to the media after the game, Navas said everyone supports the boss and is pulling in the same direction.

“The team put in a great effort. We always want to pay with the same intensity but its difficult when you’re a man down and away. I always try to do the right thing. We are all responsible for what happens. The team is with Benitez. We are fully convinced with Benitez. He is our coach and we respect that, we are with him 100 percent,” he said.

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Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos says his team showed great character in their draw with Valencia on Sunday.

Los Blancos lead twice, through Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale. But the hosts it back on two occasions thanks to goals from Dani Parejo and Paco Alcacer.

Real also had to play last 25 minutes with 10 men after Mateo Kovacic was given his marching orders.

Speaking to TV reporters afterwards, he stated: “It’s clearly been a game with a lot of intensity. The team came out for the three points, but due to the circumstances of the game we didn’t get them. We went forward and they equalised at the end, with just a few minutes left. The loss of a player made us work much more, maybe because we knew we were close to victory.

“We came out with great intensity, but they were able to take advantage in the last minute. When you have one player fewer, the physical exertion doubles, there’s more space and the team suffers more. The team has showed the character that people ask of us, that they demand from this crest.”

Having dropped two more points in the title race, Ramos was asked about the future of Rafa Benitez, who will be under more scrutiny now than ever before. But the captain backed his manager, saying: “Benitez deserved credit. He is the coach and he will always have the confidence of the players.”

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Rafa Benitez congratulated his players on the effort against Valencia after playing one man down during more than 20 minutes.

“The ten minutes we are not in control cannot stain the rest. Scoring when we are down to ten men and receiving a goal one minute later, we don’t know if that’s our rival’s merit. In any case we have to praise our players on their good work,” the Los Blancos managers said at the press conference after the game.

“We have played a great match. In the first 35 minutes we were in control. In the second half, being down to ten men, we made a big effort. We had chances to win and to lose,” he added.

Asked about Karim Benzema’s substitution, Benitez admitted the Frenchman “had a problem in his ankle.” “He did everything he had to do, but we replaced him in order to gain control,” the manager added.

Journalists asked Benitez again about his possible dismissal and the Spaniard said he “cannot prevent people from speculating.” “What I can do is working like we have today, although we haven’t earned all three points,” he concluded.

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Real Madrid lost a big opportunity to shorten Barcelona’s lead as they draw 2-2 against Valencia on Sunday.

After taking the lead thanks to a great goal from Karim Benzema and seeing Daniel Parejo level, Los Blancos suffered a big blow as Mateo Kovacic was shown a red card in the 68th minute.

Gareth Bale managed to level, but Valencia equalised just one minute later. Both teams could have earned the three points in some final minutes of total madness, but the missed their chances.

The visitors had the first chance of the game as Gareth Bale drove down the left and set up Benzema, who found Danilo, but the Brazilian’s strike was just over the bar.

Los Blancos took the lead in the 16th minute. Ronaldo pulled off a lovely flick that found Benzema. The Frenchman charged into the box and rattled a superb shot that found the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

The hosts improved their game and had several chances to level. Cancelo met a brilliant cross from De Paul, but then headed wide of the post.

Minutes later, Andre Gomes danced into the penalty area and missed from close range. De Paul was brilliant in the build-up but failed to beat Navas.

In the last minute of the first half, Pepe brought Gomes down inside the box and the referee pointed at the penalty spot. Parejo rolled his effort into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.

Both teams were at a similar level of strenght until Mateo Kovacic was sent off after putting in a terrible challenge on Cancelo.

Valencia started dominating possession and Alcacer was close to scoring, but his effort just rebounded wide of the post.

Real made it 1-2 in a free kick as Bale rose above everyone to meet a delivery from Kroos and angled a header into the top corner.

However, Los Blancos defence showed a terrible lack of concentration one more time allowing Valencia to level just one minute later. Rodrigo beat Ramos and sent a header towards Alcacer, who found the back of the net.

Both teams were exhausted but made an incredible effort in the last few minutes to earn the three points. Bale missed a couple of chances and Navas denied Negredo to maintain the draw in the scoreboard.

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Florentino Perez, Real Madrid president

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has promised fans around the world the players and everyone working at the club will give their all to make sure 2016 see the major honours return to the Spanish capital.

Los Blancos failed to land the league or Champions League title last season and are playing catch up already this season in La Liga.

With more than half of the season to play, Los Blancos are in the hunt. Despite a shaky first half of the campaign in which Real have made plenty of headlines for the wrong reasons including being thrashed by Barcelona and thrown out of the Copa del Rey, they are within touching distance of Los Cules.

In quotes published on the official club website, the president said: “I wish everyone good health, work, well-being and happiness. And I hope that those of us who form a part of the wider Real Madrid family can enjoy winning new titles. I am certain that they will arrive because we have great sides, both in terms of football and basketball. At Real Madrid we promise work and responsibility so that everyone that loves this badge and shirt is always proud of this club.”

He added: “Our Foundation is the charitable soul of this club and we will keep working in order to help those most in need, especially children. May all your dreams come true in 2016”.

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Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo says criticism of him is part of his success and that not even God was able to make everyone happy.

The Los Blancos star has scored 25 goals in all competitions this season. In the 2015 calendar year, he netted 57 goals in total. Yet some pundits have said the 30-year-old is past his best and have been critical of his influence on games this campaign.

The all-time leading scorer for Los Blancos goes up against Barcelona duo Neymar and Leo Messi later this month for the Ballon d’Or which Ronaldo is looking to win for the fourth time in his career.

Speaking to El Mundo, Ronaldo said: “There are people out there who hate me and who say I’m arrogant, vain and whatever. That’s all part of my success. I am made to be the best. We cannot live being obsessed with what other people think about us. It’s impossible to live like that. Not even God managed to please the entire world.

“I have a clear conscience. I sleep well. I feel good helping others, regardless of whether that’s with big things or small things. I look at life differently ever since I became a father.

And he continued: “I can deal with the pressure because of the difficult life I have had. The person I am now is the result of the time I spent without my family and because of the difficult times I went through. I was ironing my own clothes when I was 11 years old. My mental strength goes back to those days.”

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Valencia Real Madrid match preview

Rafa Benitez faces a crucial test as Real Madrid visit Valencia on Sunday night. The Los Blancos manager could be fired if Los Blancos fail to win, according to the latest reports from Spain.

The Spanish coach has been on the spotlight since he lost 0-4 against Barcelona and the recent poor performances his team has put in have increased the chances of him being fire.

Los Blancos have won five of their last six matches at Mestalla, so this seems like a good opportunity for Benitez.

However, Real still have injury problems in defence. Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal are a doubt for the Spanish boss. Ramos is expected to recover on time, but Carvajal will most likely miss the game.

Apart from those two men, Benitez has the rest of the squad available, so he will probably display his usual formation, with Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo in the forward line.

Meanwhile, the new Valencia coach Gary Neville will miss goalkeeper Diego Alves, defenders Jose Luis Gaya and Shkodran Mustafi, and midfielder Sofiane Feghouli.

Neville tried a five-man defence last Thursday against Villarreal and it didn’t seem to work as expected, so he could go back to Valencia’s usual 4-3-3 against Madrid.

Possible line-ups:

Valencia: Domenech; Barragan, Santos, Abdennour, Orban, Cancelo; Parejo, Fuego, Gomes; Alcacer, Piatti.

Real Madrid: Navas; Danilo, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, James Rodriguez; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.

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The manager of Ligue 1 side Nice says Real Madrid are keeping tabs on France international Hatem Ben Arfa.
The 28-year-old winger has impressed for his club this season having joined from Newcastle. He has netted seven times in 18 games – something that the boss says hasn’t gone unnoticed by some of the bigger clubs in the European football.
“I am not surprised to hear that big clubs such as Real Madrid are keeping tabs on him. Hatem has become part of the club, just like Mathieu Bodmer when he joined us from PSG,” Puel said.
And he added: “I do not agree with those who say Hatem needs to be at a small club in order to deliver his best performances. I hope for him that he no longer plays for Nice next season. “The high level he has been playing at is not just some isolated dazzling performances. He has been very consistent and has been working very hard.”
Although there is nothing concrete to suggest Real may follow up any interest in the winger, who has played 13 times for Les Bleus, there could be a need for a left sided player at the Santiago Bernabeu should the relationship between Rafa Benitez and James Rodriguez deteriorate further. The Colombian has been linked with a move away from the Spanish capital, with Chelsea and Manchester United keen on his services.
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