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Arsenal are waiting for the chance to sign Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, according to reports in both the Spanish and UK press.

The France striker is a long term target of Gunner boss Arsene Wenger, who was interested in taking him to the Emirates Stadium when he left Lyon back in 2009.

El Confidencial and Metro both say the FA Cup winners for two years running are looking to boost their squad with more firepower as the look to push on and compete with Chelsea and Manchester City in the running for the league title.

And they have targeted Benzema, whose future looks uncertain at the Santiago Bernabeu following the arrival of Rafa Benitez. The new boss favours a more defensive formation than Carlo Ancelotti, preferring to play one or two forwards. It could see Benzema slip down the pecking order behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

The 27-year-old’s future is further clouded by reports the 10-time Champions League winners want to sign Sergio Aguero from Manchester City this summer as they marquee signing.

Benzema has been a key part of the Real side in recent years and helped them to the Champions League triumph in 2014. He has also won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the European Super Cup, World Club Cup and Spanish Supercopa as a Real player.

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Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Bodo Illgner has said Rafa Benitez needs to tread carefully when it comes to rotating his line up or he could alienate some of the team’s biggest stars.

The new boss is famous for tinkering with his side and giving players rest when he feels the time is right.

But according to the German, that tactic could upset the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, who will not take too kindly to be told to take up their place on the bench.

Speaking to Sport1, Illgner said: “Ronaldo could become a problem for Benitez. He has to integrate him and Gareth Bale as part of the collective and maybe put them on the bench sometimes to allow them an essential break. In this case, Benitez has difficult work to do. He is known as a coach who likes to rotate but he has to do that in a smooth way. That will be his main challenge.”

The ex-West Germany keeper also gave his tuppence-worth on the sacking of former boss Carlo Ancelotti, saying he deserved another year at least.

“Ancelotti should have been allowed to continue working for another year because many things happened during a tenure that were not good for him. The sales of Xabi Alonso of Angel Di Maria were things that were not optimal for the structure of the team.

“But now Benitez begins again and can prove himself. Whether he fits in at Madrid, we’ll see in the coming months.”

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Former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van de Sar has said current custodian David de Gea should reject the overtures of Real Madrid and stay at the club.

Stories are appearing in the UK and Spanish press on an almost daily basis now with reports Los Blancos are ready to pay 25 million euros to take him back to the Spanish capital – where he used to play for rivals Atletico.

But speaking to Sky Sports, the 44-year-old – a Champions League winner in his time at Old Trafford – said de Gea should think about how much he has achieved in the north west of England already and what lies in store under Louis Van Gaal.

“You need a proper goalkeeper between the posts at Man United, whether that be David, Victor Valdes or a new signing. If he goes to Madrid, it will be a great challenge for him,” he said.

And van der Sar added: “He has massive support here for his performances over the last two years, player of the year, twice! He knows what he has here. I can’t look inside his head to see what is important for him and his family’s situation. But there are a lot of possibilities here at United.”

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Zinedine Zidane has revealed Real Madrid want to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, labelling his countryman as a ‘fantastic player’.

Pogba, who was part of the Juventus side to knock Los Blancos out of the Champions League this season as they went all the way to the final, has long been linked with a switch to the Spanish capital.

Stories have suggested in the past the 10-time Champions League winners could be willing to pay up to 70 million euros for him. If reports are to be believed, Los Blancos face stiff competition from the likes of Barcelona, PSG and Manchester City for the attacking player.

But there can be no greater endorsement from one of the world’s greatest players when decided where you future lies.

Speaking to RTL, the 1998 World Cup winner said: “He has everything. I think that he’s fantastic. What I like about him is that he has it all. He is a complete player who also has the ability to score goals because he likes to get forward. In terms of footballing qualities, he is extraordinary.

“A lot of clubs are interested in him and so are Real. It is natural that talented players are of interest to all the big clubs. For his continued growth it is important that he has a healthy environment and I hope that he will always have that.”

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Former Real Madrid forward Michael Owen says current Los Blancos star Gareth Bale is a world class player who will keep improving.

Bale, 91 million euro signing from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, enjoyed a spectacular opening season at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring a goal in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals.

But his second season in Madrid was tougher for him, with injuries holding him back and the Welshman coming in for some fierce criticism from the Spanish media and fans alike. Rumours have suggested the 25-year-old could be a target for some of the bigger Premier League clubs, although he maintains he wants to remain with Los Blancos.

Speaking to reporters after the Corazon Classic Match between Real Madrid legends and Liverpool legends at the weekend, Owen said Bale will keep improving.

“Real Madrid have a great team right now. Maybe they need a little more to be better than Barcelona at the moment, but they have a fantastic squad. “I thought that Bale had a decent start to his career at Real Madrid. He’s quiet and shy by nature, but I think that the more fit and confident he is, he’ll improve even more. He’s a world class player,” he commented.

He also added Rafa Benitez is a good choice as manager. “I spent very little time with Rafa at Liverpool, but I can say that is a very good coach,” he stated.

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Ex-Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos has said he didn’t agree with the decision to sack Carlo Ancelotti but thinks Rafa Benitez is a good replacement.

The Italian was relieved from his duties after failing to land La Liga or the Champions League and former Valencia, Liverpool and Napoli boss Benitez is now tasked with wrestling back those two major honours from Barcelona next season.

Ancelotti was a popular figure among players and fans with many sad to see him go. And Roberto Carlos, a legendary figure still at the Santiago Bernabeu, said he was not happy with the news. He added that with Benitez’ pedigree though, the club is in good hands.

Speaking to Marca, the Brazilian stated: “I didn’t agree with Carlo Ancelotti’s departure, just like I didn’t agree when Vicente del Bosque and Jupp Heynckes were sacked back in the day.”

He added: “You have to let coaches do their work, but it’s Florentino’s decision; he’s in charge. Benitez is in a fine period of his career and can do very well at Real Madrid. He’s a good choice; he’s a good coach and he knows the club inside out. I wish him the best: it’s not an easy job.

“The culture is based on winning all the time and if you go a while without winning a trophy, there’s a big crisis. That’s not just the case at Real Madrid, though: it’s the same at Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester United and City.”

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Former Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has said he didn’t leave the club for money and that claims he did hurt him.

The German World Cup winner signed on a free transfer for Juventus last week, ending his five-year stay in the Spanish capital. The 28-year-old has been hampered by injury for the past two campaigns and told  Welt am Sommtag that he needed a new challenge away from the cauldron of the Santiago Bernabeu.

“It hurt me when people said that. I can’t be accused of acting disloyally or improperly. Real Madrid offered me a mammoth contract that could potentially have seen me earn even more [than at Juve],” he stated.

And he added that he struggled to realise the size of the club when he joined in 2010, saying that people would recognise him all over the world, even when he looked to escape to the most remote destinations.

“Real Madrid is an even bigger club than it seems with thousands of supporters wherever you go. That obligation to win everything at all costs is something I had never experienced before.

“When I would search for holiday destinations, I would always think of somewhere very far away. But it didn’t matter what remote corner of the world I was in, people would always recognise me.”

 

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Real Madrid legend Raul says he will come back to the club one day but he doesn’t know in what capacity yet.

The striker is playing out the remainder of his career with New York Cosmos and admitted he needs to start thinking about the future when he hangs up his boots. Although he says he is unclear exactly what he will do, he revealed he wants to return to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Speaking to Marca, Raul said: “I’ll return to Real Madrid someday because the club are my home and where I enjoyed the biggest triumphs of my career.”

For now, the ex-Spain forward is happy to watch from afar and believes the appointment of Rafa Benitez is a good choice.

“The club have to make decisions, which need to be backed. We must thank the great work that Ancelotti did, but now we’re all very excited about a new era with a new coach.

“Rafa Benitez is a very passionate, methodical coach, who likes to have his entire squad ready to play. I’m sure he’ll create a very competitive and winning team, which is what all Madridistas want,” Raul commented.

And he went on to praise star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, saying: “Cristiano is amazing for what he’s achieved in just six years, scoring an average of over 50 goals a season, when it was hard enough for me to score 20. I hope he continues scoring a lot of goals for a long time and helps the team win more titles.”

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Former Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil has taken a dig at La Liga and other major leagues in Europe by claiming the Premier League is the best in the world.

The German international was a key member of Jose Mourinho’s Los Blancos team but was sold to Arsenal for 50 million euros in the summer of 2013. At the time, Madridistas were upset with the sale and criticised president Florentino Perez for sanctioning it.

Ozil, who has won two FA Cup trophies and a Community Shield in his two years with the Gunners so far, has become an integral part of the team, and has put in some mesmerizing displays in north London.

Speaking to German newspaper Bild, the 26-year-old was asked which league he prefers to play in having experienced the Bundesliga, La Liga and the Premier League.

And he responded by saying: “I would recommend any player to come to England. The Premier League is the best league in the world. Here there are not only two teams fighting for the title but three or four and every team can beat any other team.”

His comments may further rile Madrid fans who were angered when he was seen partying with Barcelona players following their Champions League win in Berlin earlier this month.

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Wales manager Chris Coleman believes Rafa Benitez should build his Real Madrid team around Gareth Bale.

The 25-year-old endured a tough second season at the Santiago Bernabeu and come in for some fierce criticism at times from media and fans alike. But his form for Wales has been superb and he scored another vital goal for his country in their 1-0 win over Belgium on Friday evening that puts them on the brink of qualification for next year’s European Championship.

Reports in Spain have said the new Real manager wants to build his team around the former Tottenham Hotspur man and is ready to tweak the formation so Bale gets to play in his favoured position on the left hand side of the field. Cristiano Ronaldo would move to a more central role in the hope he will score even more goals there.

Speaking to reporters, Coleman, who briefly managed Real Sociedad, said he agreed with Benitez’ plan.

“That was a good introduction for Bale to Rafa. I think Rafa’s been quoted as saying he will build his team around Bale and why wouldn’t he? He’s capable of anything but he also came off that pitch shattered because he worked so hard with and without the ball,” he said.

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