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Denis Cheryshev will return to Real Madrid this month after a successful season on loan at Villarreal. The club wants him to start the pre-season with Los Blancos so Rafa Benitez can see whether his ready to stay as a member of the first squad.

However, Villarreal want him to return and sources from the Valencian side have revealed they have already requested Los Merengues a new loan.

Apparently, Villarreal contacted Cheryshev first and the Russian international agreed to spend one more season with Los Amarillos hoping to get the minutes of play he will not have at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 24-year-old winger has very few chances of becoming a regular starter, since Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese Rodriguez will be ahead of him. Plus, Real have recently announced the signing of another winger, Lucas Vazquez, who will return to his club after one year at Espanyol.

Cheryshev is a big self-confessed Los Blancos fan. In fact, he always wears the Real Madrid badge in his shinpads. However, he feels he might need one more year improving his game before he can make a real impact at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Should Rafa Benitez decide to send him on loan again, Villarreal will surely be the first option, as both parts were very happy with last season’s experience.

Despite suffering some injury problems, Cheryshev made 40 appearances for Los Amarillos, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists.

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Porto have made a formal offer for Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, according to Spain’s major broadcaster TVE.

The television station said the Portuguese outfit have presented Real with a formal written offer, and Los Blancos are keen to reach an agreement, paving the way for them to press ahead with the signing of David de Gea from Manchester United.

The report claims that Real would even be prepared to subsidise Casillas’ wages for the next two years should a move to Porto go through to ensure the 34-year-old doesn’t suffer any financial loss.

The club captain has spent 25 years at the club and 16 in the first team set up and has lead the side to a host of trophies in his time. He’s lifted the Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercopa, European Super Cup and World Club Cup with his side. The shot stopper has also lifted the World Cup and two European Championships with Spain.

The impending arrival of de Gea has put Casillas’ future in doubt, and although he has said he would like to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu until the end of his contract – in 2017 – his days in the Spanish capital look to be numbered.

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Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has said he was told he was too skinny to make it as a top level footballer when he was younger – something that spurred him on to put in the extra hours in the gym.

The Ballon d’Or holder came to prominence at Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United, who he joined as a teenager. The tricky winger was trim back then, but over the years has has spent hours in the gym bulking up to become known now for his sculptured physic.

It is said that Ronaldo is obsessive about doing press ups and sit ups, and completes up to 3,000 day.

Speaking in a promotional video, the 30-year-old said he has had to make a lot of sacrifices and has had to work very hard over the years to get to where he is.

“You have to work so hard. I do this every day. This is why I have been at the top level for many, many years. It’s not a coincidence. I do so much extra work outside of the pitch,” he commented.

He added: “When I was younger most people told me: ‘Cristiano, you are a very talented player but you are too skinny.’ So I put it in my mind that my body can improve. With dedication and hard work in the gym I improved a lot on that – at the end of the day it’s down to the person’s mindset.

“Athleticism also means a huge amount – these small details make a huge difference. So it’s very important to do this work and it’s going really well for me. That’s why I’m always in good shape all year round. I do that kind of work because I have to, it’s part of me.”

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Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta has said he can’t see rivals Real Madrid selling star defender Sergio Ramos.

The 29-year-old has been linked with a 40 million euro switch to Manchester United, a move that would bring an end to his decade playing in the Spanish capital. Reports have said the World Cup and European Championship winner is angry with club president Florentino Perez for failing to meet his wage expectations when in discussions about a new contract.

Ramos still has two years to go on his current deal with the 10-time Champions League winners and the club are keen to keep him at the Santiago Bernabeu. But for now, talks have ended, and it looks like United believe they can get their man.

Speaking to reporters about his international team mate, Iniesta, who scored the World Cup winning goal for Spain in 2010 said he can’t see Ramos leaving Madrid any time soon.

“I’ve always said that Sergio is one of the best centre-backs around. He’s already in a great team and to be honest, I can’t see Madrid letting him leave.”

Ramos elevated himself to cult hero status at Madrid by scoring two goals in the Champions League semi final against Bayern Munich in 2014, and netting the vital equaliser against Atletico de Madrid as Real went on to win La Decima.

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Karim Benzema

FA Cup holders Arsenal are planning to ramp up their efforts to sign Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema, according to reports in Spain.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger sanctioned the sale of German striker Lukas Podolski to Turkish side Galatassaray and is now expected to step up his efforts to take the French striker from the Santiago Bernabeu to the Emirates Stadium.

Spanish website fichajes.net suggests Arsenal will offer 23 million euros for the 27-year-old, who scored 22 goals for Los Blancos last season. But the 2014 and 2015 FA Cup winners face competition from Manchester United, who are looking to replaced Javier Hernandez, Radamel Falcao and possibly Robin van Persie.

Wenger has been a fan of Benzema for many years and has chased him on a number of occasions, even prior to his move from Lyon to Madrid in 2009. But the France international has always been a favourite of president Florentino Perez, who has been reluctant to sell whenever approached.

With new boss Rafa Benitez in place, Real could be about to undergo a summer transformation in their bid to get back on the trophy trail this season having watched Barcelona complete a clean sweep last season.

Los Blancos are in the market for a goalkeeper, most likely David de Gea, a defender, a midfielder and a forward.

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Atletico de Madrid fans would never forgive David de Gea if he joins cross-city rivals Real Madrid from Manchester United, according to former defender Tomas Ujfalusi.

The pair were team mates at the Vicente Calderon together for a couple of seasons and helped Los Rojiblancos to the Europa League in 2010. Since his move to Old Trafford, de Gea has established himself as a fans’ favourite, winning the Player of the Year award twice in succession.

His fine form for the Red Devils has alerted Los Blancos, who are said to have identified de Gea as the man to replace Iker Casillas between the sticks at the Santiago Bernabeu. So far, no agreement has been reached, with United reluctant to sell their man.

Should the deal happen though, it would not go down well with fans of Los Colchoneros, who have remained fond of de Gea.

Speaking to the Daily Mail. the now retired Ujfalusi said: “No, no, no. They are not going to forgive him, for sure. “It’s also a surprise for me because he’s an Atletico Madrid fan – when he was young his heart was with Atletico Madrid. It’s not going to be easy for him to make this decision.”

He added: “I have to say De Gea he is better than Cech and Courtois.I was working with him for more than two years, and he was playing really well.”

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Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal is set to sign for Real Madrid, according to Chilean newspaper La Tercera.

The midfield enforcer has been a key member of the Chile side that went all the way in the Copa America and lifted the trophy after defeating Argentina on penalties in the final on Saturday evening.

And with the tournament now over, reports in his homeland say the 28-year-old just needs to sign the contract and the move will be final, with the two teams having already agreed a fee.

The newspaper says Vidal, also a target for Arsenal, will sign a five-year deal with the 10-time Champions League winners. Should Real complete the deal, Vidal will be seen as a replacement for Sami Khedira, who joined the Chilean’s current employers on a free transfer last month after failing to agree a new deal at Real.

Adding to the weight of the stories in the Chilean press, UK journalist Tim Vickery, an expert on South American football said he believes Arsenal will miss out on Vidal as it appears he is close to joining Los Merengues.

Speaking to radio station talkSport, he said: “You could see him doing well in the Premier League, but word in the Chilean press is that the only thing lacking for him to join Real Madrid is his signature on the paper.”

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Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has revealed he is not in discussions with any side – either his current club about a new deal or Manchester United over a transfer.

The vice captain of Los Blancos is at loggerheads with president Florentino Perez over a refusal to put him in the same pay bracket as the likes of Iker Casillas, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale when it comes to extending his deal at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 29-year-old has played for a decade in the Spanish capital and still has two more years to run on his contract. Media reports suggest he is also unhappy that the club did not deny claims that he had been offered to one of the Barcelona candidates standing for presidency at the Nou Camp this summer.

Attending a private event on Saturday, Ramos was asked by waiting journalists outside what he future held and how discussions were going. A serious Ramos said: “I’m not negotiating with anyone.”

The 112-cap Spanish international is believed to have been subject of a 40 million euro bid from the Red Devils. The transfer situation is complicated as Los Blancos are keen to sign David de Gea but the Old Trafford club are unwilling to sell their keeper.

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Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Jesus Fernandez has said current club captain Iker Casillas is far from finished as speculation continues to surround the star.

The 34-year-old has been criticised in recent seasons by the Spanish media and Madrid fans who have blamed him for some of the side’s higher profile defeats.

With talk about David de Gea making the switch from Manchester United to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer having been identified as the long-term replacement, rumours suggest Casillas could be departing after 16 years in the first team squad.

Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with the player, while this week his agent denied talks had already taken place with Roma, although the Seria A side are believed to be keen.

Speaking to Goal.com, Fernandez, who plays at Levante now but grew up in the Madrid youth teams and trained alongside Casillas, said the keeper’s future is far from over.

“No, he’s not finished! There are situations in everyone’s career. Casillas is a great keeper and has given a lot to Real Madrid. It is very difficult to lead a line as well as he has for so long, and he’s at a club where you are exposed to criticism as everything is magnified.  There may be people who were a little unfair with him, but eventually you have to decide between the player and the club,” he stated.

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Spanish internationals Alvaro Arbeloa and Asier Illarramendi are close to leaving Real Madrid in the summer transfer market.

Rafa Benitez has confirmed Los Blancos directors that he doesn’t count on these two players for his project and the club is already working on reaching a satisfactory deal for their exit.

Arbeloa has spent the last six seasons playing at the Santiago Bernabeu, where he arrived from Liverpool in a four-million-euro deal. The arrival of Brazilian right-back Danilo has left him without any choices of playing any minutes next season, and it was expected that he would seek for a transfer.

The 32-year-old could be set to return to the Premier League, as London side West Ham have shown an interest in signing him. He also has received offers from the Italian Serie A.

Meanwhile, Illarramendi could finally leave Real Madrid after two poor seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu. With Casemiro returning from Porto and Los Blancos pursuing the signing of another midfielder, there seems to be no room for the Spaniard.

Illarra was close to moving to Athletic Bilbao in the winter transfer market, but he refused to sign for the arch-rivals of Real Sociedad, his childhood club.

The 25-year-old cost Los Merengues 38 million euros and they expect to get some revenue from his sale. Liverpool, Arsenal and Juventus have shown a big interested in the Spanish midfielder. Basque sides Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad also want him.

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