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Premier League champions Manchester City are keeping tabs on Luka Modric’s situation at Real Madrid, according to reports in the UK.

A number of media outlets, including the Daily Star have suggested City may make a move for the 29-year-old should Los Blancos sign Paul Pogba from Juventus.

The France midfielder has long been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu with reports suggestion Florentino Perez will launch an 80 million euro bid to get his man this summer.

Should the 10-time Champions League winners complete that deal, they would almost certainly have to offload a couple of players to balance the books and meet the tougher Financial Fair Play rules in place.

Modric, who played in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur before his arrival in the Spanish capital, has established a great understanding with Toni Kroos in the heart of the midfield at the club. He also played a key role in the side’s success in the Champions League and Copa del Rey last season.

City are believed to be keen on strengthening their squad this summer in a bid to catch up with Chelsea. The Manchester side have looked weak at times this season as they have failed to compete as much as they’d have liked in the title race.

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Contract talks between Real Madrid and defender Sergio Ramos are in neutral, according to sports journalist Jose Luis Guerrero.

The AS reporter claimed no discussions have taken place over a new deal for the past six months and with his contact not set to expire until 2017, there is no immediate hurry to tie it up just yet. Los Blancos want to secure his on a long-term deal however when the time comes to sitting down and talking to him.

On his part, Ramos has shown no indication that he is thinking his future lies elsewhere, and has indeed stated in the past that he would like to retire at the club. With Iker Casillas rumoured to be leaving the club at the end of this campaign, Ramos would be the perfect man to lead the club forward as captain.

According to Guerrero, the only issue between the player and the club is the share of the prize money won for lifting the 2014 Champions League. Ramos wants a bigger slice of the pie for playing a significant role in winning La Decima it’s said.

Although it is expected Ramos will eventually put pen-to-paper on a new deal, the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal are thought to be monitoring the situation.

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World Soccer magazine has included 13 Real Madrid players in its list of the 500 most important footballers of the planet.

Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo, Toni Kroos, Isco, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez, Martin Odegaard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema are the 13 players included.

Los Blancos are the second team with most representatives in the list, following Bayern Munich. The German side have 16 players in the list, while Barcelona and Chelsea draw with Madrid with 13.

Yet, Los Merengues total number should actually be 15, since Casemiro and Denis Cheryshev have also been included. Both have a contract with Real Madrid despite playing on loan at Porto and Villarreal.

Given that both are expected to return to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, Los Blancos could top the list next year beating Bayern Munich, as they are about to sign other two players who have made it in the Top 500: Augusto Batalla and Danilo. The Argentinian goalkeeper has a verbal agreement with Los Merengues, while the Brazilian defender is expected to be the first signing of the summer transfer market.

World Soccer defines these Top 500 as “a list of the world’s most talked-about players – the most newsworthy players who, by definition, are the most important.”

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Real Madrid are keeping close tabs on Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno, Spanish sports newspaper Marca has revealed.

According to this newspaper, Los Blancos have been eyeing the German footballer since January, following his great performances with his club.

Los Merengues directors were also eyeing Leno during last Friday’s Germany Under-21 match against Italy, and Marca claims the reports they brought back are very positive.

Iker Casillas is set to leave the club this summer and Los Blancos are studying different options to replace him. The first choice is David de Gea, but other names have been linked with Los Merengues, like Petr Cech and Leno.

Real Madrid scouts believe Leno could become one of the best goalkeepers in Europe and they could have recommended his signing.

The German keeper’s contract with Leverkusen ends in June 2018 and his buy-out clause is 18 million euros. Negotiations wouldn’t be complicated, but Florentino Perez prefers a more experienced player.

Leno joined Leverkusen from Stuttgart’s youth teams in 2011. Since then he has made 164 appearances in four seasons, becoming an undisputed starter for Roger Schmidt.

At 23 years old, he is one of the most promising goalkeepers in the Bundesliga and has already played 28 games for Germany national youth teams.

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Real Madrid midfielder Isco has said he doesn’t like being compared to Andres Iniesta and wants to write his own piece of footballing history.

Iniesta is a household name in Spain, and scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final, the first time La Roja has ever won the trophy. He has, of course, played a key role for many years in the heart of Barcelona’s midfield and helped the Catalans to a number of trophies.

Speaking at a press conference, Isco said he was honoured to be likened to Iniesta, but added he wants to be his own player and develop into one of the best in the world by his own right.

“It is an honour that people are comparing me to Iniesta because of everything that he has achieved,” Isco said.

“But, and I have said this before, I do not like these kinds of comparisons. Andres is Andres and I am Isco. I am a different person and player. I want to etch my name into the history books myself, both at club and international level.”

The Los Blancos player went on to say he enjoys playing with the Barcelona man in the Spain midfield.

“I get on with Iniesta very well. It is very easy to get along well with him, just like with all players at the national team.”

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Real Madrid striker Chicharito Hernandez has confessed he’s been feeling frustrated for the past two years due to the lack of chances of first team action.

The Mexico international arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu from Manchester United last summer expecting to get more minutes of play. However, Carlo Ancelotti is not counting on him and that is making him unhappy.

“The most important thing for me is to be given chances and to be trusted on. I have proved in my career that when I have been given chances I have answered pretty well and my statistics have been positive. In these last two years I’ve been feeling frustrated,” Hernandez told Central FOX in an interview.

“It is frustrating to be part of a team you’re helping and contributing to in the trainings, but having minimal opportunities of playing in the matches. You can’t collaborate for good or for bad. You’re out of the most important,” he added.

“Sometimes I lose confidence, but I try to motivate myself because losing all confidence in myself would be worse. I have a lot of people who are always at my side to support me,” Chicharito explained.

“I’m being very patient, giving a 100 per cent and taking all the positive things out of my situation,” said the Mexican, who has only played 590 minutes for Real Madrid this season.

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Zinedine Zidane says he would accept the top job at Real Madrid if it was offered to him.

The Frenchman, currently in charge of Real Madrid Castilla, is widely expected to take over from Carlo Ancelotti when the Italian leaves the Santiago Bernabeu, having worked under him last season before stepping up to continue his progression at Castilla.

Speaking in an interview with Canal+, the 42-year-old Real legend, confirmed he is eying the main job at the club one day – but added that in Ancelotti they already have one to the top managers in football and should do all they can to keep him.

Ancelotti has come under increasing pressure this season as Los Blancos have let their lead on La Liga slip and put in an unconvincing performance in the Champions League as the edged past Schalke. For now the Italian is safe, but some reporters in Spain believe he could leave in the summer.

Zidane stated: “If the post of Real’s coach was proposed to me, I would certainly agree. But there is a coach right now who is doing a very good job. And I’m in a structure and still learning.

“Am I ready for the job? You are never ready, and even if you’re not you still say yes. As a player, I didn’t forge my career in two years. Things happen gradually. In coaching, it will be the same.”

And he added: “l’ve learned a lot from Carlo and he knows what I think of him. He is the perfect coach for Madrid, despite what people say.”

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Luka Modric praised Real Madrid youngster Martin Odegaard after both met in a qualifier for the European Championship between Croatia and Norway.

The 16-year-old became the youngest player to start an international match in this competition, although he couldn’t prevent Norway from suffering a harsh defeat: 5-1.

Yet, asked about the Real Madrid Castilla player, Modric claimed he was “not surprised of seeing him start.” “You can see he’s a very talented player. He’s got great quality, but you can’t expect a 16-year-old to carry the weight of the team in his shoulders,” the Croatian explained.

“There are very few players who are better than him. He’s capable of facing any kind of pressure and he knows when to pass the ball. He can create space for himself and is particularly good with the ball,” Modric added.

Speaking of the game, Modric claimed Odegaard “played very well.” “I think he was Norway’s best player,” he said.

Asked about his future as a Los Blancos player, Modric argued the Norwegian could succeed at the Santiago Bernabeu: “I hope he will. He’s got everything needed to become a great player. It all depends on him. He’s got to work hard to reach the level required to play at Real Madrid.”

“He has trained with us [Real Madrid’s first team], he has shown great talent and hard work. He’s a good boy. A modest and quiet kid who’s good to have in the team. I hope he will become a key player for Real Madrid in the future,” the Croatian added.

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Gareth Bale has said he has nothing to prove and doesn’t need to answer his critics at Real Madrid.

The Welshman fired a double for his country in their 3-0 over Israel on Saturday in a win that saw them move to the top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group. The Welsh are looking to qualify for their first tournament since 1958.

The 25-year-old has appeared to enjoy his few days away from the Spanish capital, where he has come under fire from Madrid fans and the press for some below-par performances in their eyes. Two hooligans who called themselves ‘fans’ of the club were seen last week attacking Bale’s car as the forward drove home from the club’s training base after their loss to Barcelona.

Speaking to reporters are the game against Israel, Bale said he didn’t need to answer to his critics.

“I don’t need to answer the critics. I know, and everyone around me knows, what I can do,” he stated.

And he added: “There are ups and downs in football, you have to take it with a pinch of salt and all you can do is respond with your performances on the pitch, like that. I don’t feel I need to prove anyone wrong or right, I just need to play my football.

“I love playing for Wales. It’s a big honour and the most important thing is I focus on my football and I don’t listen to anyone else or what they’re saying. I’m just enjoying my football with the boys.”

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Premier League side Chelsea are expected to make an offer of 54 million euros for Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, according to reports in the British press.

Many of the Sunday papers, including the Sun, said Jose Mourinho will raid his former club this summer to take the Frenchman to west London. It was the Portuguese who signed Varane from Lens in 2011 and the pair remain close.

With Pepe expected to sign a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2018, the 21-year-old centre back may decide the time is right to call time on his career in La Liga and make the move to England.

He impressed many in his first year with Los Blancos but for 18 months after that he was plagued by a number of injuries. Having recovered though, Varane was hopeful of dislodging either Pepe or Sergio Ramos and establishing himself as in important part of the first team at the 10-time Champions League winners.

Those hopes have failed to materialise and Varane has thought about leaving in the past, with the Blues having a long-term interest in him. With the champions-elect looking for a long-term successor to John Terry, Mourinho may step up his efforts this summer to allow the pair a season in London for the captain to show Varane the ropes before his is expected to hang up his boots.

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