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New Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira has said the Seria A side are as big as Real Madrid and he has not taken a step down.

The 28-year-old departed the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this summer on a free transfer after deciding not to renew his contract in Madrid. He spent five years in the Spanish capital, but was hampered by injury for the past two campaigns.

Khedira only made seven starts for Madrid last season as he also lost his place in the side to the likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez. He was subject to plenty of transfer speculation over the past few months but eventually decided to continue his career at Juve – the Seria A champions and the side that knocked Madrid out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage.

Speaking to reporters after being unveiled in Turin, Khedira said: “I wanted a fresh challenge and Juventus give me just that. They’re on the same level as Real Madrid. It will be a real honour for me to play in this league. It’s a tough championship and full of strong sides.

“I don’t consider the Italian league to be inferior. It’s a high-quality championship and tactically challenging. Juve have displayed their ability to compete with top European clubs. I’m here to reach another Champions League final.”

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New Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez has described Iker Casillas as a living legend and wished him luck on his new adventure in Portugal.

The 34-year-old goalkeeper ended his career with the Santiago Bernabeu club this week after agreeing a two-year deal with Porto.

He leaves having made 710 appearance for the club – the second highest – as well as lifting an impressive haul of trophies including five La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies, two Copas del Rey, the Spanish Supercopa, European Super Cup and World Club Cup.

While others have taken to the press to debate whether the keeper was forced out or not, or whether he was treated badly by Real, Benitez was keen to thank Casillas for his contribution down the years.

Speaking to Real Madrid TV in Australia, where Los Blancos are preparing for the new season, the manager commented: “Iker is a living legend at Real Madrid and the best goalkeeper in the club’s history. We all know how important he has always been. He has made the decision to leave and to go to another club.

“As coach, I have to respect that decision and wish him the very best of luck. I believe that he will remain in the hearts of all Madridistas and from here on I wish him success, I hope that everything goes really well for him and that he enjoys being at a great club and in a great city. There’s not much more to say, except to express my respect and admiration for him.”

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Real Madrid have topped the list of most valuable sports clubs in the world, published by business magazine Forbes.

According to the American-based publication, Los Blancos are worth 2.98 billion euros. They were followed in the list by the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees – both of which were valued at 2.93 billion euros.

La Liga champions and Champions League winners Barcelona featured fourth on the list with a value of 2.89 billion euros, while Premier League side Manchester United – who Real want to do business with this summer as they attempt to sign David de Gea – make up the top five with a value of 2.83 billion euros.

Looking more closely at the figures for Real Madrid, Forbes says the club posted revenues of 682 million euros over the past year, with profits of 156.3 million euros. Thanks to the way TV revenues are worked out in Spain, Real and Barcelona enjoy some of the highest broadcast revenues in sport around the world at 253 million euros.

Despite the impressive looking numbers, the latest Forbes list shows Real’s value has actually dropped 5% year-on-year. According to the publication, the weakening of the euro against the US dollar has a big impact on Real’s revenue, while the club also failed to lift La Liga or the Champions League last season.

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Kiko Casilla would find it impossible to turn down a move to Real Madrid, according to the goalkeeper’s current coach, Espanyol boss Sergio Gonzalez.

Casilla has been one of many keepers linked with the 10-time Champions League winners now they have sold club legend Iker Casillas to Porto. The favourite to take over remains Manchester United shot stopper David de Gea, but Los Blancos are looking at other options should they not be able to complete that deal.

Sergio Romero, a free agent after leaving Sampdoria, Victor Valdes, the ex-Barcelona man, and David Ospina, the Arsenal goalkeeper and brother-in-law of Real star James Rodriguez, are some of the names being linked with the club.

Real have already had a four million euro bid for Casilla turned down. The 28-year-old grew up in the Los Blancos youth teams but left to gain first team football and has firmly established himself as the number one at Espanyol.

And if Real come calling again, Gonzalez said it would be too good for Casilla to refuse.

Speaking to reporters, the boss stated: “There are offers that you have to weigh up but, when you have an offer of that level, it’s clear that you want to go there. You have to take it with your eyes closed.

“He is training with desire, as if nothing has happened, very attentive with his team-mates,” Casilla’s boss enthused. He does not want to force the situation. Espanyol are very lucky to have Casilla.”

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Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez has outlined his vision for the team this season, saying he wants his side to play attacking football and go out to win every match.

Los Blancos are currently in Australia as part of their pre-season tour where they will take on Roma and Manchester City in Melbourne. And taking time out to speak to Real Madrid TV, the new manager said the hard work starts now as Real look to get back on the troph trail this season.

“Pre-seasons are there to work, to get to know each other, and the conditions we have are good. The fact that it isn’t as hot as in other places means that you can really work hard and it’s a great help to us that the pitch is in the right condition to circulate the ball and for the kind of intensity with which we want to do things,” he said.

And he added: “We want to get to know the players and for the players to get to know us, and to try to bring Real Madrid an idea of play that’s in line with who Real Madrid are. This time together really helps in that regard.”

Speaking about the season ahead, the former Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Napoli boss said he wants his team to have a balance between attack and defence, but to be ambitious in their mentality.

“I want Real Madrid to be Real Madrid. I want us to be a team that go out to win every game, that take the initiative, are assertive, that attack as well as in recent years and that defend a little bit better, to achieve that balance that will enable us to win more games and have a greater chance of winning trophies.”

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The agent of former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has hit out at the club and called the way they handled his departure a ‘disaster’.

Santos Marquez to Marca and Cope that his client never wanted to leave the Santiago Bernabeu, unlike what the club says, but that he realised he had to go as he would never get any support from the Real Madrid hierarchy.

The 34-year-old signed a two-year deal with Porto this week, bring an end to a glorious and trophy-laden 25 years in the Spanish capital.

On Sunday, the World Cup winner broke down in tears in front of journalists as he said goodbye at a press conference in which no member of the Real board was present. Then, in a hastily organised event, he appeared with Florentino Perez on Monday once again at the stadium to wave to a few hundred fans who chanted his name and called on the president to resign.

Marquez said: “Casillas never decided to jump ship and leave Madrid. He was pushed. Casillas did not ask to leave, he has been annoyed and everything about his exit had been agreed behind his back. He has to go, so he accepts that, but at no point did Casillas want to leave.”

He added: “One factor was the whistles he received from the Bernabeu, but another is the [lack of] support from the club. He has never felt defended. Nobody – including Florentino – from the club said ‘I will sit with Iker Casillas and I will defend him to the death’. That never happened. Benitez has played hide-and-seek, he let me down. We were hoping to talk to the coach. It has not been fair to Iker, it hasn’t been the exit he deserves – it’s been a disaster.”

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Angel di Maria

Angel di Maria would like to return to Real Madrid, the club he left last summer in a 80-million-euro move to Manchester United.

The Argentinian midfielder has not adapted to life in northern England and misses Madrid, where his daughter was born, and he is willing to go back to the Spanish club.

British newspaper Metro has claimed Di Maria’s wife has also told her husband she wants to return to Madrid, and the player would be open to reducing his salary in order to come back.

Despite this rumours, French newspaper Le Parisien has stated Di Maria will soon sign a deal with Paris Saint Germain. The Ligue 1 side tried to sign the Argentinian last year but they suffered a sanction for violating the financial fair play rules and couldn’t bring him to the club.

Now PSG are free to buy Di Maria and they have reportedly offered Manchester United 60 million euros. President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is ready to offer him a salary no other club will be able to meet.

The 27-year-old has made 32 appearances for the Red Devils this season, scoring four goals. He had a big impact in the team in his first games, but he ended up being a regular substitute.

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Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez will begin his first La Liga campaign at the club with a trip to newcomers Sporting Gijon.

The La Liga fixtures for the 2015-16 campaign were announced on Tuesday morning, with the first round of games starting on August 22. Los Blancos will be looking to get back on the trophy trail this season having missed out last time to Barcelona and are aiming to wn just their second La Liga trophy in eight seasons.

As ever, Madridistas will likely look out for the Clasico fixtures first in the fixture list. Real host the champions on the weekend of November 8 while they will visit the Camp Nou on April 3/4 – round 31 of the campaign. Last season, Real beat their arch rivals at home but lost on the road.

Another set of fixtures to look out for is the Madrid derby. The 10-time Champions League winners lost both league fixtures to Atletico de Madrid last time out – with the 4-0 loss particularly damaged. Hours after that defeat in February, Cristiano Ronaldo and many of his team mate were seen out celebrating his 30th birthday – decision that not go down too well with the media and fans.

This season, Los Blancos visit Diego Simeone’s side on October 4 and host Los Colchoneros on February 28.

Benitez and his team will be hopeful of having wrapped up the title already but should it go down to the wire, Real visit Deportivo La Coruna in the final league fixture on May 15.

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Argentinean goalkeeper Sergio Romero has emerged as an option in goal for Real Madrid should other targets sign this summer.

Los Blancos are on the lookout for goalkeeping reinforcements after captain Iker Casillas left to join Porto after 25-years at the club.

The 10-time Champions Leagues winners have been linked all summer long with a move for Manchester United man David de Gea. So far, United have refused to sell their number one and he is currently on tour with the Red Devils in the USA. The Real directors are confident they can get their man – identified as Casillas’ long-term successor at club and country.

But should they be unable to pull off that signing, Los Blancos have been looking at other options. Kiko Casilla has been identified as a replacement for Casillas although Espanyol have said the keeper will not be sold for less than 4 million euros.

Now Madrid-based daily Marca has claimed Real are considering Romero as an option in goal. The shot stopper is currently without a club after leaving Sampdoria at the end of last season. Reports had said he was close to a move to Roma. but after a call from Madrid, he has delayed making a decision until things become clearer at the Santiago Bernabeu.

 

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Former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has said current Red Devils keeper David de Gea now has a clear path to Real Madrid after Iker Casillas left the club.

Los Blancos have been chasing the 24-year-old all summer but so far United have refused to do business.

Following the sale of club captain Casillas, who signed a two-year deal with Porto to bring an end to his 25-year career at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real are expected to ramp up their efforts to sign de Gea.

The shot stopper, a former Atletico de Madrid man, made the switch to Old Trafford in 2011, but is believed to be keen on a move back to the Spanish capital. Although United don’t want to sell, they could be forced to as the player only has a year left on his contract.

Bosnich, who spent two years at Old Trafford between 1999 and 2001, said he wouldn’t be surprised to see a deal go through soon.

Speaking to radio station talkSport, the Australian said: “I think he will join Real Madrid because of the fact Casillas has cleared the way. Real Madrid will want a world class goalkeeper and David De Gea is that. It is quite significant that Iker Casillas has left and I think that paves the way for David De Gea to go.”

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