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Sevilla striker Fernando Llorente says he is unsure why a move to Real Madrid didn’t happen in the summer when he left Juventus but that he’s happy with life at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

The former Athletic Bilbao and Spain striker was believed to be close to a move to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer as Los Blancos looked to fill the void left by Javier Hernandez, who returned to Manchester United following his loan move.

But despite having held talks with the 10-time Champions League winners, a move failed to materialise and he ended up signing for Sevilla.

Speaking to Marca, Llorente stated: Madrid? I don’t know. If I’d have gone there it would have been because something was meant to be. In the end there can be a thousand reasons why things don’t go that way.

“The important thing is that I’m at Sevilla, that both the club and the fans, and especially Unai Emery, have loved me so much, and there is no doubt this was the best option for me.”

Speaking about the situation in La Liga, Llorente said it is very difficult to call a winner outside of Barcelona or Los Blancos because of the vast difference in budgets.

“It’s a complicated League with Madrid and Barcelona, who are on another level, but we have a great team and even though we started badly, we’ll try to finish as high as possible.Madrid and Barcelona are two teams above the rest at all levels. You can’t compare their budgets and what they have every year with the rest,” he commented.

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Barcelona striker Luis Suarez says the Real Madrid defence is the best he’s faced ahead of this weekend’s Clasico.

The La Liga champions visit the Santiago Bernabeu for the first match up of the season between the top two in the league.

Last season, Suarez made his debut in the same fixture following a four-month suspension after his infamous bite on Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini. Luis Enrique’s side lost 3-1 on that day, but got their revenge in the reverse fixture, winning 2-1 with the Uruguayan striker getting on the score sheet.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the former Liverpool striker said Madrid have the best defence he has face in the league and he expects another tough match.

“It’s the toughest defence I’ve faced. It is very strong, very experienced and very competitive. So I give a lot of value to the goal that I scored against Madrid. I tried to use the space between Sergio Ramos and Pepe and be as fast as possible so as not to give them time. Luckily, it went well,” he commented.

Suarez has filled in for Leo Messi’s goals in the recent weeks and has netted nine goals in 10 games this season so far.

 

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Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has hailed Toni Kroos as the perfect player for the club.

Kroos joined Los Blancos last summer from Bundesliga side Bayern Munich in a 25 million euro deal and looked at ease in the first team as he formed a great understanding with Luka Modric.

The World Cup winner has continued his fine form this season and has some of best passing statistics in La Liga once again.

The midfielder has now drawn the praise of Zidane, the former World Player of the Year, who now coaches the Real Madrid Castilla side.

Speaking to reporters, the Frenchman said Kroos has slotted in perfectly into the side and you would never know he had arrived from another league.

“Kroos has changed his game since he got here. We knew that he’s used to German football & that the Spanish game is way different. Spanish style is also about beauty, especially here at Real Madrid. But he immediately adapted [to] this style,” he stated.

And he added: “By now, it’s hard to believe that Toni Kroos is actually German. We hope he will stay at Real for longer. We love him. Toni is exactly the player we did not have. Kroos is perfect for Real Madrid.”

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Former Real Madrid manager Benito Floro says there are no favourites for the Clasico this weekend.

Los Blancos come into the game at the Santiago Bernabeu on the back of a 3-2 defeat to Sevilla two weeks ago – their first defeat of the season. Barcelona, meanwhile, have done well in the absence of Leo Messi and won the last four games to lead La Liga by three points.

Speaking to Marca, Floro, who now manages the Canadian national side, said form goes out the window for the Clasico. “There are no favourites in El Clasico. The clubs’ form going into the game counts for nothing,” he stated.

Floro won the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercopa during his two years in charge between 1992 and 1994. And having been in the dugout himself, is in a position to reveal the pressures of the job. He also denied that a falling out his his players led to his downfall.

“I didn’t have a poor relationship with my players. In fact, it was really good. That wasn’t why I left. The day-to-day battle is no bed of roses for a RMCF manager. When a coach is too easy-going, the team gain nothing,” he commented.

He also gave his thoughts on current boss Rafa Benitez. He stated: “Rafa’s a traditional coach, like Capello or Mourinho. He has a clearly defined game plan, with two lines of four. Rafa’s a coach like so many others, with his own ideas and principles. I don’t think coaches are that different.”

 

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas remains a doubt for the Clasico this weekend as he continues to struggle with a muscle injury.

The Costa Rican shot stopper picked up the problem before the international break with back up keeper Kiko Casilla starting the last two La Liga matches – including the 3-2 defeat to Sevilla.

Navas has been in fine form for the 10-time Champions League winners this season, conceding just three goals in 13 matches to date. Los Blancos had hoped to have him back in goal for the visit of Barcelona but he trained away from the first team squad on Tuesday.

In an update on the injury situation ahead of the first Clasico of the campaign, a club statement read: “The squad went through their paces for the first time this week at Real Madrid City, in a work-out conducted without the players on international duty. Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Isco trained with the group in a session that saw Rafa Benitez include the Real Madrid Castilla men Jose Carlos Lazo, Hector Martinez Torres and Jose Leon. Keylor Navas did work inside the club’s indoor facilities.”

Captain Sergio Ramos is expected to be fit for the game having recovered from a shoulder injury picked up in the loss at Sevilla.

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Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, has risked controversy just days before the Clasico by admitting he is a Real Madrid fan.

The 53-year-old, who has been in his position since April 2013, revealed he has supported Los Blancos since he was a child, but admitted his puts his support for the club on the side so his work is not compromised.

In a honest interview with Madrid-based daily AS, Tebas said: “If I say I don’t support Madrid, then that would be hypocritical and I would be painted as a liar. And I certainly don’t like to be called a liar. Imagine if I said that I loved all teams, and then it came out that I supported Madrid since I was a boy, went to 27 Clasicos in the past, that I celebrated Madrid wins with friends in a bar. I prefer to call it as it is.”

The La Liga chief did then reaffirm his desire to see league games played abroad to raise the profile of Spanish football even further but stated the Clasico would always be played in Spain.

“The Clasico will never be played outside of Spain. It’s a key game in our league competition and has huge international prestige. We’ll study the possibility of playing certain games outside of Spain but at present this initiative doesn’t form part of our international expansion plans.”

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Jesus Vallejo says he still finds it hard to believe that Real Madrid wanted to sign him but has set his sights on being back at the Santiago Bernabeu next season.

The 18-year-old centre back was snapped up by Los Blancos earlier this year from Real Zaragoza but was immediately loaned back to the club for this season. If all goes well, and Real boss Rafa Benitez is happy with his progress, Vallejo aims to return to the Spanish capital next season to start learning from the likes of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane.

Speaking in an interview with AS, Vallejo said he was taken bu surprise when the 10-time Champions League winners came calling.

At first it was hard to believe because I hadn’t heard any rumours [of Madrid] but little by little it happened. It was a great joy, a time to celebrate,” he stated.

And he added: “I have spoken with Rafa Benitez, when I signed. He said to be focused on my club and we’d talk again about next season.

“I see Madrid as a target for next season. It’s always there that it won’t be the year I’m with them, knowing the challenge that it is. It wouldn’t help to relax. Zaragoza have to be promoted to the Primera this year. I’d tell the Madrid fans that I’m a calm guy, and hopefully I can be with them next year to defend that shirt.”

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Security at the Santiago Bernabeu will be stepped up ahead of the Clasico this weekend in wake of the Paris attacks last Friday.

The highly-anticipated clash between the top two in La Liga falls just over a week after various attacks were carried out in the French capital, including outside the Stade de France, the national stadium. The attacks killed more than 130 people, the worst attack in Europe since the Madrid bombings in 2004.

The Clasico itself is not in doubt, but a government delegate in Madrid, Concepcion Dancausa, told AS extra security measures would be in place for the game.

“Even the sandwiches will be examined,” she said, in reference to Benfica fans smuggling in flares for the Champions League clash with Atletico de Madrid earlier this season.

She added: “It’s a case of doing what’s normally done, but with more control. The surveillance as the fans come in and out of the ground will be more thorough.”

And she called on the rival supporters to show solidarity in what is a nervy time for people across Europe: “The French fans left the Stade de France calm and singing their national anthem, it was an example – it’s about not being scared and collaborating with each other.”

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Leonel Messi

Barcelona striker Leo Messi has returned to training ahead of the Clasico this weekend.

The Argentina forward has been out of action since the end of September with a knee ligament injury but could feature off the bench with the Catalan outfit visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

A statement on the Barcelona website confirmed the 28-year-old’s participation in training on Monday.

It read: “(Monday’s training) session included the presence of ‘Leo’ Messi, who is in the process of recovering from a left knee injury suffered on September 26.”

When he was initially injured, it was feared Messi could be out of action for longer. And despite his return being a boost to the La Liga champions, his national team doctor has warned that the four time Ballon d’Or winner risks more problems if rushed back too soon.

Homero De Agostino told Cadena SER Catalonia:”I doubt that Messi will be fit to play El Clasico. The coach cannot trust in somebody who has just recovered.

“The problem is when the player hits the ball with his instep, which reproduces the mechanism of the injury. I don’t believe the problem is physical, but rather football. Although it is Messi, he will need to get his rhythm back with the football.”

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Florentino Perez, Real Madrid president

Florentino Perez has hailed Raul as one of the greatest players in Real Madrid’s history after the striker hung up his boots at the weekend.

The 38-year-old called time on his incredible career in the most fitting way possible – lifting another title – the North America Soccer League Bowl with New York Cosmos. His side saw off Ottawa Fury in the final.

Raul spent 16 seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu and has made the most appearances in the club’s history. He was also the highest scorer, with 323 goals, until Ronaldo surpassd him last month. The legendary forward won six La Liga titles and three Champions League titles among many others in a glittering career.

In a statement published on the official club website, Perez had high words of praise for the ex-Spain attacker.

“Raúl is an essential figure when it comes to assessing Real Madrid’s most recent history. Raúl embodies the essential values and principles that are enshrined in the sacred code of Real Madrid. For every Real Madrid fan, Raúl was, is, and always will be, an example of honesty, work, the ability to resist defeat and someone that is passionate about football,” he wrote.

And he continued: “Today, wherever he may be, I am sure that our beloved president of honour Alfredo Di Stéfano will feel the pride that all of us who love Raúl feel. Raúl was one of Alfredo Di Stéfano’s great and worthy successors.

“Thank you Raúl, for having helped to make Real Madrid great with your dedication and talent.

“Dear Raúl, your example will be forever recognised at Real Madrid, where you know that the doors are always open to you because for years, you fuelled the legend of the Whites and because you too are a legend.”

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