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Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano is in Spain talking to Real Madrid representatives about a deal that would see Isco move to the Premier League side, according to reports.

Fichajes.net said the Citizens are keen to follow up their long-term interest in the playmaker and agree a transfer in January when the window opens again.

The 23-year-old would be reunited with former boss Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium – the pair worked together at Malaga before Isco’s switch to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2013.

The Spain international has featured 79 times in the league for Los Blancos in his time at the club scoring 13 times in total. More often than not under both Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez the playmaker has been used from the bench.

Speculation surrounding Isco has been present for a long time and while he is happy in Madrid, he would be willing to move for more first team football. City have long wanted to sign the midfielder and just missed out on him when he opted to join Los Blancos.

Should City come up with a firm offer, they could face competition from Premier League leaders Arsenal, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger a big fan.

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Former Real Madrid striker Ronaldo has hit back at criticism from Fabio Capello, saying the Italian was ‘over the hill’ in his second spell as boss of Los Blancos.

Capello said earlier this week at the Globe Soccer Awards that while the Brazilian was one of the best players he ever coached he was a bad influence on others.

It was Capello who sanctioned the sale of the striker to AC Milan in 2007, bringing down the curtain on his four and a half year spell at the club in which is scored more than 100 goals.

“Capello was a great coach in his time, in the 90s. At Real Madrid he was already over the hill and had lost his ability to motivate. So much so that after that season he didn’t have success anywhere,” the ex-forward told the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper.

Capello won the league in his two one-season spells at the Santiago Bernabeu. Since leaving the 10-time Champions League winners, the Italian went on to coach England and Russia, leading them to the 2010 and 2014 World Cups respectively.  After poor start to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, Capello was sacked from the role and is currently taking a break from the game.

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Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi says it was a special moment for him to return to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The defensive midfielder played for Los Blancos for two seasons and was seen by many as the long term successor to Xabi Alonso at the club but he failed to establish himself in the first team and was sold back to the Anoeta side this summer.

On Wednesday, La Real frustrated their hosts for long periods but eventually slipped to a 3-1 defeat. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace while Lucas Vasquez netted late on to secure the three points for the 10-time Champions League winners.

After the game, Illarramendi spoke to Canal Plus to discuss the game. Asked about two controversial penalty decisions in the first half for the hosts – Ronaldo scored one and missed the other – Illarra said he did not want to talk about the referee.

“I don’t want to talk about the referee. We played very well and at 2-1 we felt that we could get back in the game. But the third goal killed us off at the end,” he commented.

And on his return to the Spanish capital, he stated: “Returning to the Bernabeu was special. I spent two years here and have many friends.”

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Real Madrid winger Lucas Vasquez says not every game is a stroll in the park and the players were made to work hard in the win over Real Sociedad.

Los Blancos won 3-1 thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo double and a neat finish by Vasquez last on at the Santiago Bernabeu. But the visitors frustrated the hosts for long periods of the game – something that the fans did not approve of as they jeered and whistled from the stands.

Speaking to Canal Plus after the final whistle, Vasquez said the most important thing was the three points that puts Real right back in the hunt for La Liga. He added that over the course of a season it is impossible to play at the maximum level.

“We knew that it wasn’t going to be easy. Some games are good and some bad but what is important are the three points,” he commented.

Asked about the treatment from the fans, he said: “If the fans think we played at our best then they will applaud. The public is allowed to show they feel. Whether they clap or not and that must be respected.”

He was also quizzed about Rafa Benitez’ comments in his pre-match conference in which he claimed there is a campaign against the club. But Vasquez stayed away from any controversy by saying the players are just focused on the games and doing the best they can for the club.

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Former Real Madrid striker Julio Baptista says his old club needs to stick with boss Rafa Benitez and not change for the sake of it.

The Brazilian, who played for club for two seasons with a loan spell at Arsenal inbetween them, spoke to AS and said stability is the key for long-term success.

In his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, Baptista played under three managers. He was signed by Vanderlei Luxemburgo who was sacked and replaced by Juan Ramon Lopez Caro. Upon his return from the Emirates Stadium, Bernd Schuster was in charge of the side.

Almost a decade later, and Madrid are going through the same situation. They sacked Carlo Ancelotti just 12 months after he guided the side to the Champions League, and now six months into his deal, Benitez looks to be hanging to his job by his fingernails.

“At Madrid if in a year you gain nothing, you don’t have to change the coach. In 2015 under Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid won nothing, but the year before won the Champions League,” Baptista said.

And he added: “Players need stability and changing the coach is no guarantee of success. You can hire the best in the world, but there are dynamics and if the players do not understand the coach, it is very difficult to achieve in the first year. I’m not saying there is a fault, but you have to look at it.”

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Real Madrid regained confidence with a 3-1 win against Real Sociedad, thanks to a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo and a goal from Lucas Vazquez.

Los Blancos were weak in defense and came close to dropping two points as the visitors put them in serious trouble, but Ronaldo rescued the team with a great performance – despite missing a first half penalty.

Rafa Benitez men had two early chances to take the lead. The first came on the break as Bale sent the ball into the path of Ronaldo, whose effort was denied by Rulli. The goalkeeper kept his team in it again moments later when Benzema rattled a low strike too close to the stopper.

The visitors also had their chances. Inigo Martinez met a cross in a corner kick but his connection was not the best, and it bounced wide. Two minutes later, Agirretxe got rid of Marcelo and Nacho far too easily inside the area, but Navas was quickly off his line to save his team.

Los Merengues missed a big chance to take the lead before the half-hour mark. Martinez bumped into Benzema inside the box and the referee called the penalty. However, Ronaldo, who had scored 100% of his penalties this season, sent his effort over the crossbar.

Yet, the Portugal international redeemed himself just before the break. The referee pointed to the spot as a cross from Bale hit the leg of Yuri and bounced up against his arm. Ronaldo planted it right into the corner beyond the despairing dive of Rulli.

Real Sociedad levelled at the start of the second half as Jonathas brushed off Pepe and found an unmarked Bruma, who curled one into the top corner.

The Basques had an incredible opportunity to complete their comeback following some terrible defending from Madrid. Bruma was allowed clean through on goal but Navas smothered the ball at the midfielder’s feet.

In the next play, the hosts regained the lead as Ronaldo caught a corner delivery on the volley beautifully, guiding a low finish beyond Rulli and into the bottom-left corner.

Real Sociedad could have levelled as Carlos Martinez and Vela combined to find Pardo, but the Spaniard dragged his effort a few yards wide of the far post.

Los Blancos sealed the victory with five minutes to go hitting their rival on the break. Bale found Lucas Vazquez with a beauty of a cross and the youngster sent it under the keeper to make it 3-1.

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Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad La Liga preview

Real Madrid return to league action this afternoon against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu after the winter break knowing that any slip up will likely spell the end for Rafa Benitez.

Los Blancos won their last outing 10-2 against Rayo Vallecano but with three defeats in their last six league games and expulsion from the Copa del Rey, the pressure has been on Benitez for some time.

Ahead of today’s game, Benitez told the press he believed their was a witch hunt against him and the club – but you get the feeling that dropping points here or at Valencia in a couple of days time will see the boss leave with Zinedine Zidane waiting in the wings.

In terms of team selection, Benitez has no new injury concerns and will be able to pick a strong side, although Sergio Ramos is a doubt with a calf problem and faces a late fitess test. The Spanish press have been calling on him to play the quintet of Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema, Rodriguez and Isco – something he has yet to do this season.

Los Blancos have a good record against the visitors, who are struggling near the foot of the table – just two points above the drop zone. A brief upturn in form following the sacking of David Moyes is over as La Real have won just one in their last four outings.

Madrid will come up against three former players today – Esteban Granero, Sergio Canales and Asier Illarramendi – who returned to Anoeta last summer after failing to settle in the Spanish capital and take over from Xabi Alonso as the long term successor in the heart of the midfield.

Probable Line Ups:
Real Madrid: Navas, Danilo, Marcelo, Pepe, Varane, Casemiro, James, Modric, Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Real Sociedad: Rulli, Yurí, Martínez, Reyes, Elustondo, Illarramendi, Granero, Canales, Prieto, Vela, Agirretxe.

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Real Madrid youngster Martin Odegaard is reportedly seeking a move out of the Santiago Bernabeu in order to gain experience in a first division team.

The Real Madrid Castilla player believes the time has come for him to take the next step in his career, and he has requested the club to let him leave on loan at the end of this season.

According to Spanish sports newspaper AS, Los Blancos have started talks with Getafe to discuss Odegaard’s loan for next season. The 17-year-old would be very happy to join the South-Madrid club, since he wouldn’t have to move to a new city.

Real had promised Odegaard he would get some first team action despite playing with the reserves, but that is not happening under Rafa Benitez.

Arbeloa to Roma?

Other Real Madrid transfer rumours include Alvaro Arbeloa nearing a deal with Roma and Marco Asensio staying at Espanyol until June.

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport has reported Roma are planning to reinforce their defence in January and they have targeted Arbeloa, who is not getting minutes of play at Real Madrid. Los Blancos are seeking to sign a left-back. Should they do it next month they would surely let Arbeloa leave wherever he wanted.

There had been rumours of youngster Marceo Asensio returning to the Santiago Bernabeu in the winter transfer market, but the latest reports confirm he will remain on loan at Espanyol until the end of the season. Los Merengues are very satisfied with his progression and want him to keep growing at the Barcelona-based side.

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Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez has complained that there is a media campaign against the club, the president and himself. At his first press conference after the Christmas break, the Spaniard critizised the journalists harshly.

“There is a campaign against Florentino, Real Madrid and me. Everything is criticised that can be and where not it is manipulated which anyone can see. This is particularly clear if you look at the situation from the outside,” he told the journalists.

Asked about his relationship with the players, Benitez said that “it is infinitely better than what you read in the press. There are some players who are content and others who are less so, as there are in all squads.”

“Everything is being magnified and I have a lot of experience coaching so I know to be distracted as little as possible,” the Los Blancos manager added.

Benitez explained he has been able to relax during the Christmas break. The Spaniard spent the holidays in Liverpool with his family and confessed he was “calm.”

“Fortunately, the English press do not exaggerate as much and so it was relaxing with the family and concentrating on how to beat Real Sociedad and win trophies this year,” he added.

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Ex-Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero says he believes Jose Mourinho will return to the club some day.

The 28-year-old, who returns to the Santiago Bernabeu with current club Real Sociedad today, played for three seasons for Los Blancos and two of those were under Mourinho. He was one of the few players the Portuguese did not fall out with and often defended his boss.

Mourinho has been linked with return to the Spanish capital in the wake of his sacking from Chelsea. He oversaw nine defeats in sixteen league games which prompted Roman Abramovich to get rid of him.

Having failed to win the Champions League the first time round, Granero told Marca that Mourinho has unfinished business in Spain.

He stated: “It is natural that a world-class coach is linked with a club on the same level. Mourinho and Madrid have been united once, and I am convinced they will be again. And that it will be good for both.”

But he said the club should stick with Rafa Benitez for now. The boss is under huge pressure at the moment with reports says a bad result this week could be the end of his tenure.

He commented: “We must stay away from speculation around the opponent. In my opinion, he is a coach who has the confidence of the club and must be given time. We are midway through the season and judgements are made at the end.”

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