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Real Madrid midfielder Lucas Silva has said he is only thinking about staying at Real Madrid and hasn’t considered a loan move yet.

The Brazilian arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in January, and after impressing early on, found himself on the bench or left out of the side altogether.

Speculation has suggested the 22-year-old could leave the 10-time Champions League winners on loan for a season to allow him to settle into Spanish football and get used to life in Europe.

Sevilla and Deportivo La Coruna have been linked with the player, with Portuguese outfit Porto are supposedly interested too.

Speaking to Marca, Silva said his intention is to stay in the Spanish capital and play more minutes in the first team.

“I’m only thinking about staying at Madrid. I’d like to have more opportunities, find my place in the team and earn more minutes out on the field,” he said.

He added: “It’s always flattering when other clubs are interested in you. They are all big clubs. It means I’ve done something well in the past and when I’ve appear for Real Madrid.”

About his time at the club so far, Silva said he’s happy with how he’s settled in.

“I felt good. Very comfortable in the dressing room and with the players, the fans and with Ancelotti. At first I was playing games and I was confident. After that, the boss stopped picking me, but overall I was happy with how I did.”

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With more than a week to go until Real Madrid head to Australia as part of their pre-season preparations, it is clear to see Aussies are excited about the visit of the 10-time Champions League winners.

Madrid-based daily AS says tickets for the two games due to be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) are almost sold out already. Los Blancos take on Roma on July 18 and Manchester City on July 24, and the odds for both games will be on offer before kick off at Paddy Power.

Tickets for the Roma game cost as much as 147 euros, while spectators wishing to watch Real come up against former boss Manuel Pellegrini and his side can expect to pay up to 350 euros. The newspaper says both games should be sold out, with more than 100,000 expected through the turnstiles for both games.

Those figures would beat the current attendance record for a football game in Australia, surpassing the number set when Liverpool beat Melbourne Victory 2-0 in a pre-season friendly.

The MCG is an iconic stadium in Australia and one of the largest sporting venues in the world. It is mostly associated with cricket, but it is also used for Aussie Rules and rugby.

After their trip to Australia, their first to the country, Rafa Benitez and his side will continue their pre-season tour in China before heading back to Europe for a tournament in Munich.

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Zaragoza defender Jesus Vallejo has caught the attention of Real Madrid directors, according to Spanish sports newspaper Marca.

The 18-year-old has impressed many this season in the Spanish second division, leading Zaragoza to the final round of the promotion play-off and becoming the second youngest captain among all European major leagues.

In the last year, Real Madrid have focussed on signing young pearls to start building a team for the future, and Vallejo could be the next name in the list, following Martin Odegaard, Marco Asensio and Mink Peeters.

The young Spaniard would only cost Los Blancos five million euros and he could become the next Sergio Ramos.

Real scouts have been following him closely during the season and believe he will become one of the world’s top defenders in the near future. He has great quality with the ball and a strong personality in the field.

If Florentino Perez finally decides to bring Vallejo, the young centre-back will leave on loan, possibly back to Zaragoza or to a La Liga team where he could develop his game.

The Zaragoza-born defender played 33 games for his hometown team last season, scoring one goal. He was included in the league’s best XI of the season.

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Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez has developed into one of the best players in the world and proved any doubters wrong, according to new arrival Danilo.

The pair played together at Porto before Rodriguez moved to Monaco. The Colombian then signed for the Santiago Bernabeu side last year after starring at the World Cup in Brazil and finishing the tournament as top scorer.

He played a key role in the Real side last season, helping them to the European Super Cup and World Club Cup.

Danilo was reunited with the team mate when he signed for Los Blancos in a 32-million-euro move, and told Marca that he always knew Rodriguez would turn out to be a great player.

“I played alongside him at Porto for two years and I knew back then that he was a great player. Some people thought he was overrated and he has proven that he is not. He is one of Real Madrid’s best signings of recent years,” he said.

The Brazilian also spoke about Ronaldo, calling him the best player in the world at the moment.

“Ronaldo is the best player in the world right now. He has the Fifa award [the Ballon d’Or] to show as much. If I had to vote, I would vote for him.”

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Germany and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has said Los Blancos want to put the disappointment of last season behind them and win every competition they play in this season.

The team, led by Carlo Ancelotti, looked set to be marching towards the La Liga title thanks to a fantastic run of form in the autumn in which the set a Spanish record for the number of consecutive wins.

But at the turn of the year some poor form saw Barcelona overhaul them and go on to win the league. They missed out on major silverware after being beaten by Juventus in the semi-final of the Champions League.

Speaking at an event in Germany, where Kroos has opened a foundation in his name to help sick and terminally ill children, the midfielder said: “We were at the door or two titles. We have a team that aspires to win everything. It would be great to win something.”

He went on to discuss how happy is he to have chosen to play for Los Blancos after signing for the club following the World Cup last summer.

“My decision was to go abroad, especially after winning the World Cup, and to go to Madrid was perfect. I was 100 per cent convinced of it. I’m happy. The first year in Madrid was very good. I’m established in the team and I hope to win titles in the coming years.”

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Transfer speculation surrounding Sergio Ramos won’t affect what Nicolas Otamendi does this summer, according to his agent.

The Valencia centre back was thought to be close to a move to Manchester United last month, but since stories emerged the Red Devils want to sign Ramos, speculation has now switched to Otamendi making a move to the Santiago Bernabeu to replace the Spaniard.

But speaking to Cadena Cope, Eugenio Lopez said the two transfers are not linked and Otamendi will make the move that is best for him.

“Two months ago Nicolas already told [former Valencia president] Amadeo Salvo he wants to leave Valencia this summer. If there’s an offer from a club we consider a top club, and it benefits his family, Nico wants to go. There are many discussions with several clubs who want to sign Otamendi,” he said.

He added: “Before Sergio Ramos leaves Real Madrid – if he does leave – Otamendi will be already playing for another club.”

Otamendi, an Argentina international has also been attracting the interest of Manchester City, reports say. The 27-year-old signed for Valencia in 2014 and made 35 appearances in La Liga for Los Che last season. He has been capped 21 times for his country, scoring one goal.

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Former Real Madrid assistant boss Paul Clement has said Sergio Ramos is one of the best defenders he has ever worked with.

The Englishman, who left the Santiago Bernabeu to take over as manager of Championship side Derby County, has worked at a number of top teams around Europe including Chelsea, PSG and Los Blancos.

And he spoke to Sky Sports about the qualities that Ramos has, saying he will benefit Manchester United or Real Madrid – depending on the outcome of the current transfer talk. The Red Devils are said to have made a 40-million-euro bid for the star, with Ramos believed to be unhappy with the 10-time Champions League winners for hesitating over offering him a new deal.

“He is a wonderful player, one of the best I have ever worked with. So many qualities, a fantastic footballer, leader, competitor, athlete, a fantastic guy,” Clement said.

He added: “He is one of the best centre-halves in the world and I’ve worked with some good ones like John Terry, Thiago Silva at PSG, good ones in Pepe and Raphael Varane but Ramos is up there with the best I’ve worked with. Whether at Real Madrid or United, either club are going to massively benefit.”

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Getafe have officially announced the signing of Real Madrid youngster Alvaro Medran on loan from Real Madrid. The Spanish midfielder will play next season at the Southern-Madrid side in order to get minutes of play and gain experience.

Many La Liga clubs were interested in signing the 21-year-old, who spent last season switching between the reserves team and the first team. He made it in the first squad in many occasions, although in most of them he spent the whole game sitting on the bench.

Last season he played five games for a total of 132 minutes under Carlo Ancelotti’s management and even scored his first goal for Los Blancos first team in a Champions League match against Ludogorets.

Los Merengues directors new it was time for Medran to take a step forward in his career and decided he had to leave on loan. They have finally chosen Getafe, where many other Real Madrid youngsters have also been sent to grow their game, such as Daniel Parejo, Esteban Granero and Ruben de la Red.

Medran suffered a fibula fracture early in April and has been recovering since then, but he’s expected to be fit for the start of next season in August.

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New Real Madrid right back Danilo has said he knows he is under huge pressure to perform at the biggest club in the world after officially joining the club.

The 23-year-old arrives at the Santiago Bernabeu in a 32 million euro deal from Porto and will challenge Daniel Carvajal for the right back position in the team.

The Brazilian is currently recovering from a knee injury picked up on international duty that ruled him out of the Copa America but should be fit for the tour of Austalia and China later this month.

Speaking to Madrid-based daily, Marca, Danilo said he was proud to join the club he has always supported.

“I was always a Real fan. Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, of another dimension. I’ve spoken with Benitez on the phone. I told him how my recovery was going, we spoke a bit about the new challenge. It wasn’t much, but it showed me he was concerned about me and that made me very happy.”

He added: “Any player should feel very proud of his work if Real Madrid come calling, the biggest club in the world, of another dimension. To play for Madrid you have to be the best. And that has always been my dream.”

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Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez has identified Juventus forward Fernando Llorente as the man to bring in to increase his attacking options, according to reports.

La Sexta says the new Real boss wants a striker in a similar mould to Karim Benzema, the club’s only out-and-out striker to relieve the pressure on the Frenchman and give his side more options in the forward line.

Llorente moved to Juventus from Athletic Bilbao two years ago and enjoyed a superb opening campaign in Seria A, netting sixteen goals. But last season he found himself down the pecking order, pushed out by the likes of Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata. Juventus’ recent purchase of Mario Mandzukic, Simone Zaza and Paulo Dybala will limit his options further at the Champions League finalists.

The 30-year-old, who spent eight seasons in the first team at San Mames, scoring 85 goals for Athletic, has been linked with a switch to the Premier League with both Arsenal and Liverpool interested.

But reports say he would prefer a move back to his homeland if Juventus decide to sell him.

Real are expected to be busy in the transfer market in the coming weeks as the look to bolster their squad. They have already confirmed the arrivals of Casemiro, who returns from is loan at Porto as well as Danilo, the Brazilian right back. Espanyol winger Lucas Vasquez will also rejoin the club he grew up at.

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