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Cristiano Ronaldo is more likely to leave Real Madrid before Gareth Bale, according to former Wales boss John Toshack.

Bale’s future in the Spanish capital has been in some doubt after he received plenty of criticism from fans and media last season for some under-par performances. Despite the fact the 25-year-old says he wants to stay, it hasn’t stopped reports suggesting Manchester United and Chelsea are ready to pounce to take him back to the Premier League.

But speaking to BBC Sport, Toshack said Bale is still settling in Spain and fans have yet to see the best of him. He added that Ronaldo is more likely to leave sooner that the former Spurs man.

“My own opinion is that we will probably see, for one reason or another, Cristiano move from Madrid before Gareth. You need time to adapt and obviously, for the money they paid for Bale and at the age that he is, he’s still got a lot to do,” he said.

He added: “I hope Gareth will get the opportunity to play in an area of the field where he can do most damage. I’m not so sure playing out wide is Gareth’s best position, but I think Cristiano has got a bit do with that. Ronaldo was always a right winger, but likes to play on the left side and I think Gareth suffers a bit for that.”

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Real Madrid have identified Germany and Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Berndt Leno as an option in goal should David de Gea’s transfer fail to materialise, according to reports.

The Manchester United man has been subject of intense speculation in recent weeks with Real wanting to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu having identified him as the long-term successor to club captain Iker Casillas.

But reports this weekend said United would hold out for a world record fee for a goalkeeper, more than the 38 million Juventus paid to sign Gianluigi Buffon, if they are to let de Gea leave. He has just one year left on his current deal at Old Trafford.

The news has prompted reports that Real are looking at a plan B and see Leno as a viable option. The 23-year-old featured in all of Leverkusen’s Bundesliga fixtures last season and has missed just two games in the last three campaigns. He recently helped Germany Under 21s to the semi final of the European Championships where they fell to defeat against Portugal.

The goalkeeping situation at Real is one of the major points for new boss Rafa Benitez to deal with, as the futures of Iker Casillas and Keylor Navas are also unclear.

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Real Madrid defender Pepe has said the side is ready to have a spectacular season and put the club back on the trophy trail.

Los Blancos enjoyed a 22-game winning run last season as they looked to be heading towards the title, but some poor form at the turn of the year saw Barcelona catch up and eventually overhaul them in La Liga. Carlo Ancelotti’s men were defeated in the semi-final of the Champions League too, with old boy Alvaro Morata coming back to haunt Real with two goals over the two legs.

The Italian manager has now been replaced by Rafa Benitez and Pepe told Marca he is looking forward to a successful campaign ahead.

Speaking to the Madrid-based daily, he stated:”I can’t wait for pre-season to start; I’m looking forward to returning to Madrid, linking up with my team-mates again, meeting Rafa Benitez and getting down to work.”

The Portugal defender added: “I’m really motivated because I’m convinced a spectacular season is in store for us. If we all work our guts out and pull together in the same direction, success will come, I have no doubt about that. We respect all our opponents, but we have a huge amount of quality in our squad.”

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Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes Real Madrid man Sergio Ramos is using the Red Devils to earn himself a bumper new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Rumours abound this week suggested the Spain international was unhappy at the 10-time Champions League winners over their refusal to put him in the group of highest earners such as Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Iker Casillas.

Some media outlets claimed United had made a 40 million euro offer for the World Cup and European Championship winner but had seen it rebuffed by Real. The two sides are believed to already be talking over a deal to take David de Gea from Old Trafford to the Spanish capital this summer.

Speaking in a video on his website, recently retired Ferdinand said he didn’t think the Ramos talk was anything other than the defender’s representatives driving up his bargaining power over contract talks with Florentino Perez.

“Ramos to Manchester United? It ain’t happening. He ain’t going to Manchester United,” Ferdinand said.

He added: “He’s at Real Madrid with, I think, a new contract coming up. Maybe the agent is putting [rumours] out saying he wants [to leave] so Real Madrid come back in with a bumper offer and he signs on the dotted line. Happy days.”

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Former Real Madrid player and Mexico international Hugo Sanchez has claimed Chicharito Hernandez should not return to Mexico this summer after spending last season playing for Los Blancos.

The 27-year-old is set to return to Manchester United after his loan deal with Los Merengues has finished. Yet, Louis Van Gaal has no room in his squad for him, and the Mexican will have to leave.

One of the options is returning to Mexico, but Sanchez has advised him not to do that. “There are many contractual restrictions in Mexico. The best thing to do is to stay away from Mexican football slavery and fly to professional leagues, to be really treated as a professional,” Sanchez wrote on his column for Mexican newspaper El Universal.

Chicharito will have plenty of offers to leave United this summer after his great performances for Los Blancos in the last third of the season. However, some current Red Devils footballers want him to stay.

Spanish international Juan Mata has supported Chicharito during a trip to Mexico. The 27-year-old confessed he wants the Mexican in his team: “I would always have Chicharito in my squad. He’s a striker that guarantees goals, and that is the most important thing in football,” he posted on Twitter.

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Isco

Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport has claimed Champions League runners-up Juventus are interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Isco.

The Italians could lose Andrea Pirlo this summer, as the 36-year-old is set to complete a move to the United States, and they believe Isco is the perfect replacement for the playmaker role.

Isco’s market value is around 50 million euros, and Juve could be able to reach that amount should they sell Arturo Vidal or Paul Pogba this summer.

However, Juventus directors know it will be very difficult to convince both Isco and Florentino Perez. The Real Madrid president is a great admirer of the Andalusian, and will not let him go easily.

Moreover, it seems highly unlikely that Isco would accept an offer to leave the Santiago Bernabeu, unless one of the Premier League giants made an irresistible bid.

Rafa Benitez also considers the 23-year-old a crucial piece of his project for Los Merengues and he won’t support a transfer either.

Isco signed for Real Madrid on June 2013 on a 30-million-euro deal from Malaga. He has made 93 appearances for Los Blancos scoring 16 goals and providing 19 assists.

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Former Colombia goalkeeper Rene Higuita says current Real Madrid star James Rodriguez needs a rest after putting in some subdued performances in the Copa America.

The 23-year-old starred at last summer’s World Cup in Brazil, finishing the tournament as top scorer with six goals and grabbing the goal of the tournament with a supreme effort against Uruguay.

In the Copa America, it’s been a different story, with James failing to find the net so far as his nation reached the quarter finals. Ahead of their game against Argentina, Higuita said James looked exhausted after a long campaign for his club.

Speaking to reporters, the man famous for his scorpion kick save, said: “A player also needs a rest, and he has not had one, so he is more tired. That is my opinion, I do not know what James thinks. We are not machines and the players at European clubs have not had a break. The fans do not understand that.”

James joined Real from Monaco last summer in an 80-million-euro deal. He played 44 times for Los Blancos, establishing himself as a key man in the side. He helped Real win the European Super Cup and World Club Cup in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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FA Cup winners Arsenal have joined Liverpool in the race to sign Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi, according to reports.

Metro claims Gunners boss has a number of options he is looking at to fill the central midfield berth as the north London side look to mount a serious title challenge next season. Francis Coquelin has done a stellar job in the defensive role, but with Mikel Arteta and Matieu Flamini in the autumn of their careers, Wenger wants to bring in fresh legs.

Liverpool were thought be the favourites for Illarramendi, who has failed to progress as much as club officials hoped when they splased out 30 million euros on him to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu from Real Sociedad two years ago.

The Anfield side were reported to have bid 15 million euros for Illarramendi last week as they step up their efforts to find a long-term replacement for Steven Gerrard, who has ended his Anfield career to head to the MLS.

Illarramendi was signed as the ideal replacement for Xabi Alonso but has fallen down the pecking order at the 10-time Champions League winners. He has made 59 La Liga appearances in time time at the club, including 10 starts last season.

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Manchester City defender Vicent Kompany has said he wants his side to show they have bridged the gap between themselves and Europe’s top sides when they take on Real Madrid next month.

The Citizens will meet Los Blancos in a friendly in the Australian city of Melbourne as part of their pre-season preparations ahead of an important season for Manuel Pellegrini and his men as they look to win back major honours having missed out last time round.

Real and City met in the Champions League group stages in 2012/13 with Los Blancos getting the better of the sides then. And while City are now established as one of the leading Premier League sides, they have yet to make a mark in the Champions League.

Speaking to the Manchester City website, Kompany said while pre-season results aren’t that important, he wants to show City can compete with the big guns.

“You want to measure your level at that time. I wouldn’t take too much from the result but you always see some young players come through in those (pre-season) games, you see a different shape, different players standing up, so it’s always an exciting time, and for the fans as you see how the team is shaping up for the new season,” he commented.

And he continued: “Ever since I’ve been at the club we’ve always tried to make the gap between the top clubs like Real Madrid smaller and in some way achieved it, but it’d be nice now to bridge that gap.”

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Real Madrid have made an enquiry about Manchester United’s Robin Van Persie as the Dutchman looks to get more regular football ahead of the European Championship next summer.

Van Persie had an injury-hit campaign last season and was also left out of the side when back to full fitness but Louis van Gaal. The 31-year-old netted just 10 times in all, eight less than the previous year and 20 fewer than his opening campaign at Old Trafford.

And Goal understands that former Arsenal man is keen to secure regular first team football a year ahead of what is likely to to be his last major international tournament for Holland. Los Blancos are on the lookout for a striker as they look to replace Javier Hernandez.

Speaking to ELF Voetbal, Van Persie said he is aware reports of him leaving Old Trafford exist and his future need to be sorted out. He added the most important thing for him is ensuring his family is also happy.

“When I signed for United, I knew these kind of [reports] would appear. Next year is the European Championship. That tournament is going to play a big role in the choice I will make,” he stated.

And he added: “I have to be in my best form [for Euro 2016]. But most important is the wish of my wife and children. Whatever I do Bouchra, Shaqueel and Dina Layla are the highest of my priorities. They have to be happy.”

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