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Diego Simeone’s superb man management skills will mean his Atletico de Madrid team will pose a real threat to both Real Madrid and Barcelona for the La Liga title this season, according to Carlo Ancelotti.

Atletico won the league two seasons ago but finished third behind the two Spanish giants last season. But they have spent wisely in the transfer market this summer, and Ancelotti believes can challenge to win their second title in three years.

In quotes published by Marca, the Italian stated:”It will be the same as the past three seasons. This year Atletico Madrid will be very strong, they are going to be a big threat to Barcelona and Real Madrid. Simeone is a manager who knows how to get the best out of his players, so matching up to them on the pitch will be very difficult.”

Ancelotti was sacked at the end of last season for failing to win either the league or the Champions League and was replaced by Rafa Benitez.

And the Italian said he wants to see the former Valencia, Liverpool, Inter Milan and Napoli boss succeed.

“I know first hand what it is like to train Real Madrid. I wish Rafa Benitez the best, I have a lot of respect for his work. I can only say that he has a great squad under his charge and that is because I was fortunate enough to coach them for the last two seasons.”

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Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has credited former boss Jose Mourinho for making him realise he had to work harder if he was to succeed at the club.

The France international joined the club as a teenager from Lens in 2011 but injuries held back his progress. When he was fit, he found it tough to dislodge Pepe or Sergio Ramos from the first team.

Speaking to Marca, the centre back revealed how now-Chelsea boss Mourinho pulled him aside after training and told him he had to make more of an effort if he wanted to have a long career at Europe’s most successful club.

“During my second year at Madrid, Mourinho kicked me up the backside. I wasn’t doing what he wanted on the training pitch. He asked me ‘why don’t you run in training?’ and my first reaction was to mutter ‘oh, come on!’ but I knew he was right. I had more to give. Mourinho doesn’t have to give long speeches. He’s precise and direct. He told me that for my own good,” he commented.

He also told the newspaper about the moment he received the call from Los Blancos about a move to the Spanish capital and how he’s matured over the years from an over-excited teenager to the figure of calm he shows now.

“I was very hyper, not like how I appear calm today. I was too playful with my brothers and sisters. They had to calm me down. You can live without worries when you’re young. But that phone call from Madrid changed everything. It was the craziest moment of my life. The phone kept ringing! I spent my exams signing autographs for the other students. I didn’t understand what was happening. It was surreal.”

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Former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said he is unconcerned by Cristiano Ronaldo’s lack of goals so far this season and is confident the Portuguese will hit top form soon.

Ancelotti spent two years working with Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabeu and while they worked together they won the Copa del Rey, Champions League, European Super Cup and World Club Cup.

Ronaldo scored a career best 61 goals for Los Blancos last season, but the lack of major honours for the team meant Ancleotti lost his seat in the dugout.

In quotes published by Madrid-based daily Marca, Ancelotti stated: “I have no doubt about Cristiano, despite him failing to find the net in Real Madrid’s first two games of the season. I know Cristiano really well, and if I were a gambling man, I’d bet on him to be La Liga’s top scorer this term. He’ll out-score Messi again.”

He added: “He notched up 61 goals under me last year. It was incredible. Only the greatest players in the history of the game can boast those kinds of stats. Spain is really lucky to have both Messi and him playing football there.”
Ancelotti is currently taking a break from the game after recovering from surgery in Canada over the summer.

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The agent of Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has said rumours that he would move back to the Premier League this summer was just paper talk and never close to becoming a reality.

The Welshman endured a tough second season in the Spanish capital with some Madridista fans jeering and booing him for some under par performances. That lead to speculation in the UK and Spanish media over the summer that the 25-year-old could be tempted by a switch back to England, with Manchester United and Chelsea mentioned as possible destinations.

But speaking to reporters, Jonathan Barnett said Bale was never going anywhere this summer.

“No, not at all. He was nowhere near leaving — that was all stupid paper talk,” he commented.

Bale has netted 41 goals in 94 games for Madrid, and Barnett added that the former Spurs man intends on sticking around for many more years to come.

He stated: “He is very happy at Real Madrid and hopefully he will stay there for the rest of his career. He’s loving it there and things are going well for him.”

The agent also added that he expects Bale to have the ‘most valuable player in the world’ tag for some time yet to come.

“You have Ronaldo, who is getting to the end of his career, and Messi as well. In Spain they have clauses which come out and state how you much you have to pay so at the moment he is the most valuable and it will be a while before someone breaks it.”

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Liverpool and Arsenal have joined the fight to sign Betis wonderkid Dani Ceballos, according to British newspaper Daily Mirror.

Real Madrid have been pursuing the signing of the 19-year-old during the last few weeks. Los Blancos failed to complete the move before the transfer window closed on August 31st, but they keep working to bring the midfielder to the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, the competency is very high. Roma have also shown an interest in signing Ceballos, and now Arsenal and Liverpool are also keen on the talented footballer.

Ceballos has a 12-million-euro buy-out clause, but his contract expires next June. Real Madrid offered Betis six million last month, but the Andalusians rejected the bid.

Betis are struggling to get the player to sign a contract extension, which benefits Los Blancos in the negotiations. Should Ceballos refuse to renew his contract, he could arrive at Madrid for free next summer.

Yet, if he becomes a free agent, he will surely receive more than four offers before next summer.

Ceballos made a big impression last year for Betis helping the club win the Spanish second division title and was a key member of the Spanish Under-19 team that conquered the European Championship this summer.

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Real Madrid Castilla playmaker Martin Odegaard has praised manager Zinedine Zidane in an interview with British newspaper Daily Mail.

The Norway international dismissed rumours of him being unhappy to stay at Los Blancos reserve team and explained he is willing to keep learning from the Frenchman.

“Zidane is a great coach, a great man to learn from. He was one of the best in the world and it is a privilege to work with him,” the 16-year-old stated.

Asked about his chances of getting some first team action this year, Odegaard didn’t seem too worried about it: “I have spoken a little bit with Rafa Benitez but not too much at the minute. My focus is to become a better footballer and develop every day.”

Asked about his decision to join Real Madrid, Odegaard admitted he was tempted by several Premier League clubs: “I visited Liverpool and both Manchester teams, and they all looked good, but my choice was Real Madrid and I’m very happy with it. Madrid is very good. It is the best place if you want to become a better footballer. Maybe (England) will happen in the future and the time will show but right now I am very happy where I am with my club and the situation there.”

The Norwegian pearl confessed he likes wearing the number 10 shirt for Real Madrid Castilla: “I have been given the No 10 shirt and it is a big responsibility having that number but it is the one that I like and I am just going to enjoy it.”

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Daniel Carvajal

Real Madrid right back Daniel Carvajal has said he will work hard to get his place back in the team after missing out in the early stages of the season to Danilo.

The 22-year-old ousted Alvaro Arbeloa from that position last season and made it his own, putting in some impressive performances for Los Blancos.

But the club splashed out 32 million euros on Brazilian right back Danilo from Porto. The defender arrived in the summer and has immediately slotted into the side.

Speaking to reporters about his situation, Carvajal said he is ready to challenge for his place and given Rafa Benitez something to think about.

“This is a big challenge, it’s good to have a battle for one spot. Danilo is playing now but this will be a long season. I will never give up, this is just how I am. I will never throw in the towel,” he commented.

Carvajal, who grew up in the Los Blancos youth teams, spent a season in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen before returning to the club in 2013. While he will find his chances of first team football more challenging this season, Benitez could also use him as cover for Marcelo given the fact Fabio Coentrao left the club leaving them short on the left side of defence too.

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The president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, has said he believes Real Madrid’s version of events over Manchester United’s as to why the deal for David de Gea collapsed.

The Red Devils goalkeeper looked on the verge of a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu with the two clubs ending the summer impasse by agreeing a 30 million euro fee along with Keylor Navas moving the other way.

But the deal fell through after the paperwork to register the players arrived minutes after the close of the summer transfer window in Spain. Los Blancos say this is because United took their time reviewing the contracts and getting everything signed. The Old Trafford club say they did everything on time and Real were late in submitting the papers.

Speaking to SkySportsHQ, Tebas said he believed Real over United but didn’t know the ins and outs of the actual deal.

“If you were to ask anyone from Real Madrid or Manchester United, they would know more about the subject than me. All I know is when I spoke to Madrid, things happened a bit late but I believe in Real Madrid’s version a little more than Manchester United’s version,” he stated.

Asked if Madrid had contacted him to appeal, Tebas added: “No. They just rang to see what had actually happened and if there was any way within the rules that it could be put right.

“Having been involved in those situations myself in the past, when things get tight to the deadline, I believe Madrid did everything they could and behaved in totally the proper way to make sure David de Gea would have been on his way to play for that club.”

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Portugal coach Fernando Santos has said star an Cristiano Ronaldo played through the pain in his side’s 1-0 win over Albania and is not concerned by the barren streak he is going through.

The 30-year-old Real Madrid forward has now gone four games without a goal for club and country this season and missed a sitter in Portugal’s narrow win over Albania.

But speaking to journalists afterwards, Santos revealed his captain is playing through the pain barrier but will return to form soon.

“He’s a player who scores 50 goals a season, so it’s not surprising that it causes some anxiety when he goes a few games without a goal. He showed a fantastic, sacrificial spirit because he was experiencing some pain but gave everything in the game. The goals will come,” he commented.

And he added: “Sometimes anxiety plays its part in stopping goals being scored, but he’s just saving himself up for the right time.”

Portugal need one more win to ensure their place at the Euros in France next year and Santos said he has told his players to treat next month’s qualifier against Denmark as a final.

“We have to face Denmark like it’s a final. Victory is always important. We took an important step, but still nothing is decided. We played well against a good Albania team, but the team always believed and we ended up being happy.”

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Manchester United are preparing a bid to sign Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, British tabloid Daily Star has claimed.

Louis Van Gaal made an attempt to reinforce his defence by bringing Sergio Ramos to Manchester back in July, but after the Spaniard extended his contract with Los Blancos in the summer the Dutchman has set his eyes on another Real centre-back.

Varane is arguably one of the best footballers in his position and Van Gaal is reportedly willing to convince him by offering a very high salary.

The Red Devils’ manager believes the defence is the weakest line in his squad and is ready to bid high to reinforce it.

Should Varane fail to become a guaranteed starter this season, he would probably seek for a move out of the Santiago Bernabeu. However, it seems highly unlikely that Florentino Perez will let one of his favourite players leave.

The Frenchman has extended his contract until 2020 and Rafa Benitez has chosen him as one of the starting centre-backs, at least for now, so Manchester United will have a very difficult job in trying to convince him.

According to reports, United will not launch their offer until next summer so be prepared for another stand-off between the two clubs!

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