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Casemiro

Real Madrid have confirmed Brazilian midfielder Casemiro will return to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer after spending one year on loan at Porto.

Casemiro’s loan deal included a clause that forced Los Blancos to pay Porto seven million euros should they want to bring the player back. Florentino Perez will finally pay that price, following the Brazilian’s superb season at Portugal.

The club has published an official statement that confirms the news:

Real Madrid C. F. has exercised the option to salvage federative rights on the player Casemiro, after FC Porto stated that his buy back clause had been activated.

Real Madrid have lacked a defensive midfielder this season, since Asier Illarramendi, Lucas Silva and Sami Khedira have not earned Carlo Ancelotti’s trust. Rafa Benitez believe’s Casemiro can play that role and has recommended his return.

Casemiro has made 28 league appearances for Porto this season, scoring three goals. In the Champions League, he has played eight games and scored one goal, helping his side reach the competition’s quarter finals.

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Real Madrid have agreed a deal with Italy and PSG midfielder Marco Verratti, according to reports.

Spanish sports daily AS says Los Blancos and the player have reached an agreement over a contract but the 10-time Champions League winners need to discuss a transfer fee with his club.

Reports suggest Real could pay as much as 50 million euros to make him Rafa Benitez’ first signing since being installed as the new boss at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real are in need of a new midfielder with Sami Khedira set to leave the club on a free transfer. The German World Cup winner decided not to renew his contract at the club and will depart after five years. Reports suggest he is close to a deal with Juventus although Arsenal and Chelsea are thought to still be interested.

There is also some doubt over the future of Asier Illarramendi who has failed to nail down a regular first team place since arriving at the club from Real Sociedad two years ago. La Real are believed to be interested while Liverpool are keen too.

Should Verratti sign for the club, it could be the first of some high profile signings this summer as Madrid look to rebuild and win major trophies next season. David de Gea is another name linked with the club and is expected to arrive this summer.

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Real Madrid players past and present have dominated in a poll to see who is considered the greatest player to grace the Champions League.

The poll, conducted by Mastercard, asked football fans around Europe who they thought was the best player to feature in the competition since it took on its current guise in 1994. And unsurprisingly, it was Barcelona’s Leo Messi who topped the poll overall, taking 27% of the votes.

The next four players in the list all wore the famous white jersey during their playing careers. Real Madrid Castilla boss Zinedine ZIndane was second, gathering 12% of the votes. The Frenchman’s most famous contribution in the competition was the stunning volley he scored in the final in 2002 against Beyer Leverkusen to secure Real’s 9th main European title.

Current Los Blancos striker Cristiano Ronaldo was third in the list on 11%. The 30-year-old set a new competition record in the 2013-14 season when he netted 18 goals in a single campaign, including the fourth goal in last season’s final against Atletico de Madrid.

Former Real and Brazil striker Ronaldo polled 7% of the vote to secure fourth spot. The 38-year-old once scored a memorable hat trick against Manchester United at Old Trafford and left the field to a standing ovation. Ex-United and Real midfielder David Beckham was fifth with 4%.

 

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Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has said he thinks Juventus are in the Champions League final on merit and deserved to beat Real Madrid en route.

The Seria A champions take on La Liga winners Barcelona in the final on Saturday evening in Berlin, with former Real striker Alvaro Morata aiming to fire his way to glory and cheer up Real fans wishing their side was in the showpiece event.

Morata broke Los Blancos hearts last month, scoring a goal in each leg to knock the 10-time winners out. That semi-final exit cost Carlo Ancelotti his job at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the Italian was replaced by Rafa Benitez.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, del Bosque said he would have liked a Clasico final, but Juve deserved to be in Berlin.

“From a Spanish point of view, I’d have liked to have seen a Clasico final between Barça and Madrid,” Del Bosque stated.

He added: “Having said that, Juventus very much deserved to reach the final, and the fact that both finalists are aiming for the treble is a measure of this great match between two teams which are different in style, but united by greatness. Juventus? They’re a team which in particular is very well organised, very efficient.

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Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has said he thinks Rafa Benitez will struggle at Real Madrid because his direct management style could upset many of the egos in the squad.

One of the major tasks facing the new boss is managing a world class squad with many famous faces and winners of big trophies.

And speaking to UK radio station talkSport, Murphy, who played for Benitez at Liverpool for a brief period, said the new boss is respected in the game but has a direct style that could ruffle a few feathers.

“My gut feeling is it might end in tears, just with the type of players and egos he is dealing with at Real Madrid,” he said.

And he continued: “My understanding of him all those years ago, the type of personality he is, he is going to have to eat a bit of humble pie and bite his tongue at times with the type of squad he has inherited.

“The lads I spoke to for many years after [I left], the likes of Carra [Jamie Carragher], Stevie [Gerrard], they were always respectful of him because he knew his football, he knew how to organise, and the results showed that. He knows his football, but it was his way or the highway most of the time.”

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Real Sociedad boss David Moyes has said he wanted to sign Gareth Bale for Manchester United when he was in charge of the Old Trafford club.

The Scot spent nine months in charge of the Premier League but never really had the trust of the fans or the players to lead the club forward and was replaced by Louis van Gaal. He was linked with a number of high profile signings when he first took over, including Gareth Bale, who was playing for Spurs at the time.

Bale signed for Real in the summer of 2013 for a 91-million euro transfer fee and wrote himself into Los Blancos folklore by scoring a stunning goal against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final and the crucial second goal in the Champions League final against Atletico de Madrid.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Moyes revealed how he was keen to sign the Welshman, but he had his heart set on Madrid.

“Gareth Bale is an outstanding player. I was desperate to take him to Manchester United from Tottenham, but couldn’t quite get him. He had his heart set on going to Real Madrid. He was very much on my radar as soon as I went to United. He can score goals, can make goals, he’s got speed, he’s physically capable, and I think next year he will be a big star in Madrid,” he said.

 

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Former Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham has said he was sad to see Carlo Ancelotti leave the club at the end of the season.

The Italian was fired by Los Blancos after failing to win La Liga or the Champions League but he will be fondly remembered by Real fans for being the man to lead the club to La Decima – their 10th European crown last year.

In his two seasons at the club, Ancelotti won four titles. As well as that memorable Champions League win over Atletico de Madrid, he guided the team to success in the Copa del Rey, European Super Cup and World Club Cup.

Real announced on Wednesday that Rafa Benitez would take over from Ancelotti, with the new coach signing a three-year deal.

Beckham, back in Madrid to open a new store, spoke to reporters about the departure of Ancelotti and arrival of Benitez.

He commented: “I love Ancelotti. He works with passion. I think he’s a wonderful person, an incredible Coach, so I’m sorry to see him leave. I’m sorry because I think he’s given a lot to the team and the club. I’m sure he’ll have success wherever he goes.”

And he added: “Good luck to Rafa. Leading Madrid is something very special.”

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Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has welcomed new manager Rafa Benitez to the club.

The new boss, who left Napoli at the weekend to join Los Blancos on a three-year deal, returns to the club where he started his coaching career.

At his first press conference as manager, the new boss refused to discuss the future of individual players. When asked about the future of Casillas, who has been linked with a move away, Benitez refused to talk about the situation – with some seeing it as a snub to the player who has given 17 years service to the 10-time Champions League winners.

But Casillas was keen to welcome his new boss, and via social media, sent a message to his followers.

It read: “Welcome home @rafabenitezweb! It’s an honour to have you back and excited to get to work as soon!”

Real have been linked with a move for Manchester United shot stopper David de Gea, and some bookmakers in the UK suspended betting on whether a deal will happen this summer. Casillas insists he wants to stay and silence his critics, who have been growing louder in recent months, but the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal are believed to be monitoring his situation closely.

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Former Inter Milan and Italy defender has wished Real Madrid fans luck following the appointment of Rafa Benitez as the new manager.

Benitez signed a three-year deal and takes over from Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabeu after the Italian was fired last week for failing to lead Los Blancos to the league title or win the Champions League.

The new boss, who enjoyed successful spells at Valencia and Liverpool, was in charge of the San Siro side for only six months – and didn’t make a lasting impression on Materazzi – the player for theatrically went to ground in the World Cup final in 2006 when Zinedine Zidane was sent off for his infamous headbutt.

Speaking to Goal.com: “I expected Napoli to have an ordinary season. I was sayng that even when it seemed that things were going well. He’s going to Madrid, so good luck to him, but above all, good luck to Real Madrid supporters.”

Other than his spell at Inter, Benitez has had a hugely successful career as a manager. He won La Liga and the UEFA Cup with Valencia before heading to Liverpool where he lifted the Champions League and FA Cup. He had also picked up trophies at Chelsea and Napoli, the club he left to join Real.

 

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Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has said he can’t believe the situation Iker Casillas is going through at Real Madrid.

The club captain’s future is unclear as Los Blancos have targeted David de Gea as his long term replacement at the Santiago Bernabeu. The 34-year-old has taken a fair amount of stick from fans and the media over his form of the past year, and he had to play second fiddle for the two season previous to this.

Although Casillas insists he wants to stay in the Spanish capital, a host of clubs have been linked with making a move for him should his future lie elsewhere. Besiktas have already made him an offer, according to some reports, while the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool would be keen on his services.

Speaking to El Mundo Deportivo, Pique, an international team mate of Casillas for many years, said as an outsider, he can’t understand why anyone would want to sell him.

“I don’t know exactly what is happening. From the outside I look on with a bit of disbelief, not knowing why that is the situation,” he said.

And he added: “I have a very good relationship with Iker. I don’t know what the solution is but it doesn’t change the fact he has been a great goalkeeper, and an example as captain of a great institution in Real Madrid.”

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