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Daniel Carvajal says he is looking forward to his battle with new arrival Danilo this season for the right back spot at Real Madrid.

Carvajal established himself as an important member of the team under Carlo Ancelotti last season, moving ahead of Alvaro Arbeloa in the starting line up and impressing many with his bursting runs forward.

But Real splashed out 30 million euros on Danilo from Porto earlier this year and he arrived at the club in July having sat out Brazil’s Copa America adventure through injury.

Both players played a half each in the 4-1 win over Manchester City in Melbourne on Friday night and speaking afterwards, Carvajal said competition for places in the line up is healthy and he’s looking forward to it as it will make him a better player.

“It’s one more challenge. But it’s a motivation for me to improve daily. Danilo is one of the best defenders in the world,” the 23-year-old told reporters.

Cavajal, who re-joined Madrid from Bayer Leverkusen two years ago, added: “He’s a great kid and he’s fun to be around. He is a huge asset and that is why they brought him in, so that we can compete for the [full-back] position and (help) Madrid win a title.”

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Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has said the tour to Australia and China this summer is exhausting on the players but he understands that the club needs to do it to reach out to all its fans worldwide.

Los Blancos have been preparing for the new season in Australia, where the lost on penalties to Roma before beating Manchester City to lift the International Champions Cup. Now the team head to China where they will face both Inter Milan and AC Milan before traveling back to Europe to play in the Audi Cup in Munich.

Speaking to reporters in Melbourne, Kroos said the tour had been good but the between training and matches, the players had little opportunity to check out Melbourne.

“It’s normal for this club, but it’s a long trip that’s also become exhausting. We trained a lot and were often in the hotel or the trainings grounds or in the stadium so we didn’t see too much of Australia. Maybe I will come here another time on my own. I prefer it if it’s warm. If I come next time, it will be in summer,” he stated.

When asked about the win over the Premier League side, Kroos added: “We are in pre-season and had two solid matches, today we improved in attack compared to the first match. We scored four goals against a very good team. I think we are on a very good course.”

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Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez has praised his team following their 4-1 victory against Manchester City in the International Champions Cup.

The Spanish manager has claimed “it was a good match, both in defense and attack, and although this is just pre-season, it is always good to see the team well organised and playing at a great level.”

“City had played more games, but they are also in pre-season. Small details made the difference, things that we have worked on in the training sessions. The key is that our players have great quality, and if we are solid in defense we will take advantage of that quality in attack,” Benitez added.

Asked about the possible exit of Sergio Ramos Benitez was clear: “When I arrived I spoke to Iker and Sergio and learnt their situation. They knew my opinion. Sergio knows from the first day I want him to stay and I’m sure he will stay.”

Speaking about David de Gea, he didn’t take it so seriously: “I don’t know anything. He’s not here, so I don’t know. I don’t speak with Louis Van Gaal every day. In every game I have a goalkeeper in each goal and I’m pleased with that,” he explained.

He also commented on Keylor Navas good performance on goal and Kiko Casilla’s situation: “We wanted to give him the chance to play and feel comfortable and he has done well. With Casilla, we will see. He arrived without time to prepare and now in China we will see. There is no need to hurry.”

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Karim Benzema’s relationship with Rihanna has not lasted long, if there ever was such a relationship. The Real Madrid striker has found a new love and this time he has not hidden it at all.

The Frenchman is dating 25-year-old model Analicia Chaves, the former girlfriend of another footballer, Zenit Saint Petersburg man Axel Witsel.

Benzema appears to be proud of this new relationship, as the couple have been very active posting in social networks pictures and videos of them kissing and hugging each other.

In one of the videos, the 27-year-old hugs his lady while he signs a song from Tupac that includes the lyrics ‘I f****d your wife’. Maybe a message for Axel Witsel? Judge for yourselves:

In another video, Chaves kisses Benzema almost twenty times while the footballer enjoys the cuddling:

Benzema has started the pre-season in top shape, scoring a stunning goal in Real Madrid’s 1-4 victory over Manchester City. Could this be thanks to the happy moments he is enjoying off the field?

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Marco Asensio

Real Madrid have decided to send youngster Marco Asensio on a one-year loan to a first division side. Los Blancos had first chosen to let Rafa Benitez assess the player for a few days, but now they have realized that sending him to a team where he can become a leader is the right option.

Asensio has recently impressed in the European Under-19 Championship, guiding the Spanish national team to their seventh title. Before that, he had an impressive season with Mallorca, becoming one of the best players of the Spanish second division.

Rafa Benitez requested the club to keep him for a few days during the pre-season, so Asensio will travel to Munich with the first squad to participate in the Audi Cup. He will make his debut for Real Madrid there before leaving on loan to another club.

Many European clubs have shown an interest in signing Asensio on loan, most of them La Liga clubs. Espanyol, Betis, Villarreal, Getafe and Rayo Vallecano are among the candidates to enjoy Asensio’s game next season.

Real Madrid signed Asensio from Mallorca last December in a 4.5-million-euro deal. The 19-year-old stayed at his hometown club for the remaining of the season and now he will join Los Blancos when he finishes his holidays –which will last longer than usual due to his participation in the European Under-19 Championship.

Real directors are convinced he will be a key piece in the future of the team and want him to move to a club where he can grow and develop his game. Rumours in Spain suggest Espanyol are favourites to land him as part of a secret deal between the clubs during Kiko Casilla transfer negotiations.

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Karim Benzema will be at Real Madrid next season despite strong rumours of a switch to Arsenal, according to his agent.

The Gunners have been linked with the star in the past couple of weeks with reports the FA Cup winners are readying a 50 million euro bid but are willing to play the waiting game until the end of the transfer window.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, one of the club’s directors, Lord Harris said boss Arsene Wenger is in a position to spend on whoever he wants other than Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi as the club is now able to compete with the biggest sides in Europe having been held back for many years in order to finance their move to Emirates Stadium.

Karim Djaziri, the agent of the 27-year-old striker, was quick to try and put an end to transfer speculation though.

He told Sky Sports News: “Karim is very happy at Real Madrid and he will be a Real Madrid player by the end of this transfer window, 1,000 percent. Karim is not looking to move anywhere this summer.”

Benzema has played at the Santiago Bernabeu for the past six years since moving from Lyon in 2009. He has scored 124 goals in 281 appearances in all for Los Blancos.

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Real Madrid will not sign a new striker to replace Chicharito Hernandez this summer. Instead, they will promote youngster Borja Mayoral to become Karim Benzema’s back-up, Spanish sports newspaper Marca has revealed.

The 18-year-old has caused a great impression these past few weeks, leading the Spanish Under-19 national team to conquer the European Championship and winning the Golden Shoe as the top scorer of the tournament.

Los Blancos are confident Mayoral is ready to make his first-team debut and they have ruled out the signing of a new striker in order to let Mayoral earn some minutes of play.

The club directors believe it wouldn’t be positive to sign a world-class number 9 to compete with Benzema, as that could weaken the Frenchman’s self-confidence. They have sought a low-profile striker like Chicharito but the options available have not convinced them.

Mayoral rise has taken place in perfect timing. He scored more than 50 goals last season for Los Blancos youth teams and got to play for Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid Castilla in the last stage of the league.

Los Blancos want him now to remain officially as a Real Madrid Castilla player, but training with the first team, so he can be ready for Rafa Benitez to call him whenever he is needed.

Benitez also knows he can use Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Jese Rodriguez in that position. In fact, the three of them have already played as strikers at some point in the pre-season. Thus, the number 9 spot seems perfectly covered now that Mayoral is about to join the squad.

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Real Madrid thrashed Premier League side Manchester City 4-1 in front of a record attendance at the MCG in Melbourne in their second game of pre-season.

Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and Denis Cheryshev all grabbed a goal each for the 10-time Champions League winners, while Yaya Toure, a former Barcelona man, got on the scoresheet for City. The game was played in front of 99,382 spectators – the highest figure for a football matched played at the iconic Australian sports ground.

New Real boss Rafa Benitez named a strong line up that included Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Benzema. For City, ex-Los Blancos boss Manuel Pellegrini included David Silva, Samir Nasri and new signing Raheem Sterling.

It was the La Liga side who looked more comfortable on the ball in the opening exchanges and they deservedly took the lead through Frenchman Benzema in the 21st minute. The 27-year-old, subject of interest from Arsenal, hooked a volley over his shoulder into the net after meeting Bale’s cross.

Just four minutes later, Ronaldo doubled Madrid’s lead and collecting a long ball from Kross. Los Blancos found themselves further ahead just before the break when Pepe found space in the box to head past England keeper Joe Hart, but City pulled one back in first half stoppage time.

After the break, City couldn’t turn the tide in their favour and fell further behind just after the 70th minute when Russian Cheyshev tapped in after good work from Isco.

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Luka Modric

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has said his injury problems are behind him and he’s looking forward to a successful season ahead.

The Croatian missed most of last campaign with two injuries and his presence in midfield was missed as Los Blancos blew their lead in the title race and also fell at the semi-final hurdle in the Champions League against Juventus.

Now back to full fitness, Modric said he is delighted to be playing and taking part in pre-season and working with his team mates again.

Speaking to reporters in Melbourne ahead of the game against Manchester City, Modric said: “Last season was extremely tough for me. I had two serious injuries and I want to put them behind me now. I don’t have any niggles and I’m training well. I am going to give it my all, as I always do, to repay the manager for the trust he’s placed in me and to help the team.”

He added: “We’re training really well. We have two sessions a day. It’s very hard work, but this is the preseason and we want to be in good shape for the year ahead. Training is a lot of fun because it includes a lot of ball work. We’re happy with the way training is going and I’m certain our fitness is going to increase. There’s a very positive mood around the camp.”

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Rafa Benitez has denied reports he has already had a falling out with star man Cristiano Ronaldo.

Spanish media had reported on a training ground incident in Australia, where Los Blancos are based for part of their pre-season tour, in which the 30-year-old reacted angrily to having a goal chalked off.

At a press conference in Melbourne, Benitez was asked about incident, and responded by praising the Portuguese forward, who hit a career best 61 goals last campaign.

“I have now had the opportunity to spend a few days with him, he is competitive, he likes to win and for that reason he is the best in the world, I want all my players to play like this,” Benitez said.

He added: “Seeing Ronaldo up close training, I can see that’s he doing very well.”

Ronaldo, the Ballon d’Or holder, is expected to take up a more central role under Benitez this coming season, allowing Gareth Bale to move out to his favoured left side. The pair will feature against Manchester City on Friday evening, and Benitez will continue to develop his new-look side in time for the new season when the team travels to China for the next leg of the tour.

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