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Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez has said Rafa Benitez is the man who lays down the law at the club and all the players respect him.

The new boss lead his side to three pre-season trophies but the team stumbled in the first game of the campaign away at Sporting Gijon – a fixture in which Rodriguez did not start. The attacking midfielder was back in the side for the 5-0 demolition of Real Betis though.

Speaking to AS, the 23-year-old commented: “I think [Benitez] is the one who calls the shots. I’ve always kept my head down and known I must always train well and that I must always take my chances whenever they arise. I’ve always tried to give everything, whenever, wherever. I always try to leave everything on the pitch, play well and help my teammates, so don’t think I’ve changed at all.”

Rodriguez also went on to discuss on how he has matured as a footballer now and realises that the game is about the team and not just him.

“I was 19 [when I made my Colombia debut], now I’m older and that helps when it comes to gaining experience and winning matches. I always want to win. Wherever they are in the world, Real Madrid always want to win, and I try to help them in the form of goals and assists,” he stated.

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Lucas Silva is adamant he will return to Real Madrid and prove his worth after a season in France with Marseilles.

The Brazilian midfielder joined the Ligue 1 side just months after signing for Los Blancos in a bid to allow him more playing time and help his adjustment in European football.

Silva started off brightly in a Madrid shirt after joining but lost his place in the team and lost form and confidence towards the end of the season. But he’s hoping his temporary deal in France will give him the boost he needs to succeed in La Liga.

Talking to Globoesporte, the 22-year-old stated: “I intend to have a good season in France, improve, play at the Olympic Games next year, then return to Real Madrid. When I had opportunities at Madrid I think I did well, but then I lost a bit of space. I was adapting to a new style of football and country, but I think it was nonetheless important for me to join Madrid. The last six months were a very good experience.

And he added: “I couldn’t stay under the new coaching staff because I didn’t have a Spanish passport, but Rafa Benitez wished me luck and told me I’d remain in his thoughts. It’s a good opportunity for me to demonstrate my qualities.”

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Former Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert says the star of the current team, Leo Messi, needs his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo to keep pushing him to new heights.

Messi and Ronaldo have been the stand out pair in world football for the past few years, sharing all sorts of individual honours included Ballon d’Ors and breaking plenty of goalscoring records along the way.

Both players themselves play down the rivalry between them but in an interview with Voetbal Zone, ex-Holland striker Kluivert said they need each other to improve their games and take their careers to new heights.

“Messi is in a different dimension with his football, but I also think he urgently needs someone like Cristiano Ronaldo. He needs someone who gives him an incentive to go for it every game, to see each match as a challenge. Both players are world class and a level above the rest,” he stated.

And he continued: “At Barcelona, now there is only one central player: Messi. During my time, there were several important players there, though on the other hand Messi’s nothing without his team-mates.”

Both players have yet to hit the back of the net this season in their opening two La Liga fixtures and will be eager to set that right when it returns next week.

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Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has once again reiterated there is no truth in speculation he could move to Arsenal or Manchester United.

The France forward was strongly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer with the FA Cup and Community Shield winners believed to have been ready to offer 50 million euros for him. Towards the end of the transfer window Benzema played down the talk saying he was happy in the Spanish capital.

This week, Los Blancos president Florentino Perez revealed United were keen on taking Benzema to Old Trafford along with having an interest in Gareth Bale and Raphael Varane.

Speaking to Telefoot, the 27-year-old was keen to put the rumours to bed once and for all.

“There was nothing in the talk of a transfer away from Madrid. I’m happy at my current club, it’s the best in the world. I’ll continue to work here and be happy where I am,” he stated.

He also admitted he is yet to hit top form yet this season but he will be back to full fitness soon.

“It’s been like four months since I played properly. I’ve played a little bit for Madrid, but that’s all. I’m working little by little to be back in shape,” he commented.

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Former Arsenal and Barcelona striker Thierry Henry has said Manchester United fans should welcome back David de Gea with open arms when he returns to the first team.

The goalkeeper was on the verge of leaving Old Trafford this summer but the late filing of paperwork just after the transfer window closed means the shot stopper will remain in the Premier League for another season at least.

United and Los Blancos had arranged a 30 million euros deal along with Keylor Navas moving in the opposite direction and have since entered a war of words as to why the deal never crossed the line.

Writing in his column for The Sun newspaper, Henry called on Red Devils fans to back de Gea as he never criticised the club and has always giving his best when playing for the club. The goalkeeper has yet to feature for United this season but should be back in the first team next weekend.

The Gunners legend wrote: “It is strange why both United and Real Madrid left the De Gea move so late as it was obvious he wanted to leave. But I have no doubt he will go on to enjoy a decent season with United. He has not criticised the club so the fans should welcome him back.”

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Iker Casillas

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has told Spain supporters to get behind the team entirely and stop booing defender Gerard Pique.

The Barcelona man has sometimes been in the media causing a stir with his pro-Catalan comments and the fact he loves to wind up Madridistas whenever he gets the chance.

And during Saturday’s European Championship qualifier against Slovakia in Oviedo, a small section of the support jeered Pique for his attitude and comments.

One person who is qualified to speak about booing is Casillas. The 34-year-old former Los Blancos shot stopper, who captained his national side for the 100th time at the weekend, was jeered and whistled at by some sections of the Madrid support during the final few years as a Real player prior to his switch to Porto this summer.

Speaking to reporters, Casillas called for fans to back Pique. He stated: “Let’s see if together we can redirect the feelings of the fans towards Pique. We want fans to continue clapping for everyone.”

He also spoke about Spain’s win, praising the collective effort. “It was a very important victory. It was a real relief to win, we wanted it badly and worked for it. Slovakia played very well and created plenty of chances, just like they did before. We won and we played superbly.”

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Real Madrid defenders Alvaro Arbeloa and Nacho Fernandez could leave the club in January, Spanish website Fichajes.net has reported.

Both players were close to moving away from Madrid during the summer transfer market, but they ended up staying. However, they know they will not get many minutes of play and several teams are tempting them to join them.

According to reports, Turkish side Besiktas are very interested in bringing Arbeloa. Yet, they are not willing to pay a high price for the 32-year-old.

Meanwhile, Napoli have shown a big interest in signing Nacho. In fact, they made an approach in the last day of the summer transfer window, but they received a negative answer. Now they expect to convince the footballer if he keeps sitting on the bench during the start of the season.

Both clubs guarantee Arbeloa and Nacho a leading role in the team, something that could be very tempting for the defenders.

However, it seems highly unlikely that both of them will leave in January unless Los Blancos make any new signings for their defence. If the pair leaves, Rafa Benitez would be left with only six defenders in his squad and he will not approve that.

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Florentino Perez has claimed Manchester United wanted to sign Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane this summer but the trio were happy to stay in the Spanish capital.

Much has been written in the past few days over the fall out from David de Gea’s failed transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu with both clubs looking to blame each other.

Earlier in the summer, plenty of speculation also surrounded Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos, who was reportedly unhappy over contract negotiations and was willing to move to Old Trafford.

But Perez has now revealed Louis van Gaal was keen to add three other Real stars to his squad in Manchester.

He told Cadena SER: “We know that United showed interest in Bale, Benzema and Varane.”

Bale has long been linked with a move back to the Premier League, particularly having suffered somewhat of a disappointing second season in the Spanish capital by his high standards, with fans and the media starting to get on his back. He has since said he wants to stay at the club for many more years.

Varane was known to be unhappy with a lack of playing time and has linked with a move to Chelsea in the past but with Pepe entering the autumn of his career, the Frenchman is looking to solidify his place in the side alongside Ramos.

And Benzema is also happy to stay in the Spanish capital after denying reports earlier this summer he was on the verge of a switch to FA Cup holders Arsenal.

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Rafa Benitez turned down the chance to become Real Madrid manager in 2009 opting to stay on as Liverpool boss, Florentino Perez has claimed.

Los Blancos were on the lookout for a new manager that summer after Juande Ramos left the Santiago Bernabeu. And with Benitez having lead the Anfield side to second place in the Premier League as well as plotting the downfall of Los Blancos in the Champions League, he was identified as the man to take over.

But the Madrid-born boss had other plans and stayed with Liverpool instead of being tempted by Perez’ and Madrid’s overtures.

In quotes published by the Liverpool Echo, Perez said: “I thought of him in 2009 and offered him the job. The circumstances did not allow it because he had renewed with Liverpool and could not leave them.”

Benitez was sacked in 2010 after Liverpool only managed 7th place in the league. After spells at Inter Milan, Chelsea and Napoli, he arrived in the Spanish capital this summer.

And Perez said he’s happy he finally got his man.

“Rafa Benitez is the best for Madrid at this time. He is Spanish, a Madridista. He knows the culture, the values, and is from this house,” the Real supremo added.

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Real Madrid scarves

Real Madrid have become the latest high profile European football club to pledge support to refugees fleeing the Middle East and Africa and looking for a better life across Europe.

The 10-time Champions League winners announced they will donate one million euros to aid thousands of refugees streaming into Spain. The club will work with the Spanish Government on how best to use the money such as funding charity programs and offering facilities to newcomers to Spain.

A statement released by the club said: “Faithful to its commitment to charity, the club has taken this decision with the aim of supporting men, women and children who have been forced to leave their homes in order to flee from war and death.

“The president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, spoke by phone with the president of the Government, Mariano Rajoy. The pair talked about this contribution and other measures that the club will put in place in order to collaborate with the care of refugees that arrive in Spain.”

Across Europe, clubs have carried out various initiatives to help those arriving on European shores having completed treacherous sea journeys. Bayern Munich aim to raise one million euros through a charity match while they have also said they will set up a camp for refugees and provide food, shelter, accommodation, German lessons and football equipment. Refugee children will also accompany the players onto the field in their next match against Augsburg.

Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund allocated more than 200 tickets to refugees for their Europa League tie against Danish club Odd, while many other German clubs such as FSV Meinz, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Dynamo Dresden, Leverkusen, Schalke have launched their own initiatives.

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