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Zidane Reveals Salah Admiration

Mohamed Salah has been in incredible form this season, which has attracted the interest of Europe’s top clubs such as Real Madrid. However, the latest reports are suggesting that Liverpool currently have no interest in selling their star man, no matter how large any bids are that come in.

The Egypt international only arrived at Anfield last summer but has since been one of the best players in the Premier League. The player scored four goals in one game at the weekend, in a 5-0 success against Watford. This took his total to 28 goals in the league, which means he is the top scorer in Europe’s top five leagues.

As with any player, his fantastic form has led to plenty of speculation of a move away. The suggestion is that Real Madrid are the club that have shown the most interest in Salah, and he would fit perfectly into the style of play.

Club Record Bid?

Liverpool sold one of their top players in the January transfer window, as Philippe Coutinho left Anfield for Barcelona for a fee of around £142. In order to potentially lure Salah to the Santiago Bernabeu, it may take a club record bid.

However, UK publication the Telegraph has suggested that Liverpool will not consider selling their key man for any price. This is due to the fact that they are in a such a strong financial position after the sale of Coutinho and do not need to sell.

The Reds are expected to have a large transfer budget this summer and will be looking to add quality players to their squad, not sell them. What may change Liverpool’s mind is if the player himself demands a move, which he is showing no signs of doing at the moment.

At this point, Los Blancos may have to start looking at other potential targets.

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MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 18: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Girona FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 18, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo added another four goals to his tally in an extremely entertaining 6-3 win against Girona on Sunday evening. This made it 17 goals in his last eight matches in what has been a fantastic run of form in 2018.

The opening goal of the match came in the 11th minute as Ronaldo swept home a cut-back from Toni Kroos to put Real Madrid into the lead. The ball was in the net again in the 22nd minute as Lucas Vazquez fired home, but the flag was up for offside.

Girona then went up the other end and equalised six minutes later, as a free kick was whipped in for Stuani to head the ball home. It was 1-1 at half time, but Los Blancos started the second half very quickly, with Ronaldo putting the side back in front with a shot off the underside of the crossbar.

Ronaldo then turned provider just before the hour mark, as he rolled the ball across for Vazquez to tap the ball in. The Portuguese star then completed his hat-trick, as he followed in from Karim Benzema’s blocked shot.

Stuani then took the spotlight again temporarily, as he headed his second after Real’s defence switched off temporarily. There was no danger of the visitors getting back into it though, as substitute Gareth Bale scored a fifth goal for Zinedine Zidane’s side. Juanpe scored a third for Girona to make it 5-3 at this point.

It was Ronaldo who had the last word in the match though, as he slotted the ball in from Kroos’ pass in stoppage time at the end of the game for his fourth. This win has left Real Madrid in 3rd place in La Liga, and just 4 points behind Atletico Madrid in 2nd.

The international break is next, before a trip to Las Palmas.

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Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski during a Bundesliga match - Christof Koepsel/Getty Images For MAN

Reports suggest that Real Madrid have agreed a deal in principle to sign Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski. He has been heavily linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu in the last year or so and a transfer may be on the cards.

The speculation of a move was increased just last month when the player split with the agent he was with for 10 years and instead hired Pini Zahavi, a man who was been involved in plenty of big money transfers.

Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo has suggested that Lewandowski’s new agent has held two meetings with Real Madrid director Jose Angel Sanchez. The key part to all this is that the player himself is interested in the move.

Kane Deal A No Go

The report also suggests that the reason why a move for Lewandowski is going ahead is due to the fact that any move for Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has been turned down by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

This is not to say that the Poland international striker is a second choice as that would certainly not be the case. Lewandowski is world class and has scored an amazing 142 goals in just four seasons at Bayern Munich. He is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in world football and would be a good fit at Real Madrid.

If he was to join, it is expected that some big name players may need to move on. The obvious case here would be Karim Benzema. The Frenchman has been at the Bernabeu since 2009 and this summer may be the time to move on.

Though he has been around for a long time, he is only actually one year older than Lewandowski. The key thing to consider though is that Benzema has not been firing on all cylinders this season and has struggled with injury and consistency.

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Real Madrid Juventus match preview

Real Madrid have been given a tough task in the Champions League quarter final, as they face a two-legged tie against Juventus. The Italian side will be looking for revenge, after Los Blancos defeated them comfortably in the Champions League final in Cardiff last year.

It was a 4-1 victory for Real Madrid last June, after two goals from man of the match Cristiano Ronaldo, plus one each from Casemiro and Marco Asensio. This cancelled out an early equaliser by Mario Mandzukic.

The first leg of this year’s contest will take place on April 3/4 and the return leg will be a week later. Juventus will be the home side in the first leg, so Real will hope they can grab a few away goals to bring back to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Interesting History

Though Zinedine Zidane’s side got the better of Juventus last season, it was the ‘Old Lady’ that won in the semi-final back in 2015. Throughout history it is very evenly matched, as the sides have met 19 times with eight victories for Juve and nine for Real and two draws.

In domestic action this season, Juventus look like they may be on their way to a win in Serie A for the seventh year in a row. They have recently taken a 4 point lead at the top of Serie A, having overtaken Napoli. Real on the other hand had a poor start, which has left them 3rd and way off the pace at the top of La Liga.

The draw for the last eight also put two English sides together, as Manchester City will face Liverpool. The other ties are Barcelona v AS Roma and Bayern Munich v Sevilla. It could well be the case that three La Liga sides make it through to the semi final stage, which would prove the league’s dominance in Europe.

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Isco-RM-Girona-GI

Real Madrid v Girona will kick off at 7:45pm UK time on Sunday. Real Madrid will be looking to hold on to 3rd place in La Liga with a win here, and this is a tougher game than it may look at first glance.

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Real Madrid v Girona Preview

Real Madrid are likely to put out their strongest lineup possible, with three points a must to keep up the hunt for a possible 2nd placed finish. There are plenty of attacking options available, and Zinedine Zidane may decide to go for experience rather than youth on this occasion. Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio have been in fantastic form recently but may start from the bench.

Girona have been playing well recently and claimed a 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna last time out. There will be a couple of players missing for the away side, with Gorka Iraizoz and Carles Planas out injured.

Real Madrid v Girona Predicted Lineups

Real Madrid (4-3-2-1): Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, Casemiro; Isco; Ronaldo, Benzema

Girona (3-4-3):  Bono; Espinosa, Juanpe, Ramalho; Maffeo, Pons, Granell, Mojica; Portu, Stuani, Garcia

Real Madrid v Girona Predicted Betting Tips

  • Real Madrid have won 8, drawn 1 and lost 1 game out of the last 10.
  • Girona have won 6, drawn 2 and lost 2 games out of the last 10.
  • In the last 10 games, Real Madrid have scored an average of 2.9 goals and have conceded an average of 1.3 goals.
  • In the last 10 games, Girona have scored an average of 1.8 goals and have conceded an average of 0.8 goals.
  • There have been over 2.5 goals in 9 of the last 10 Real Madrid games.
  • There have been over 2.5 goals in 3 of the last 10 Girona games.

Real Madrid v Girona Prediction

Real Madrid have only lost once in their last 10 matches, and they have looked in good form over the last few weeks. Los Blancos beat Eibar 2-1 away from home last week with two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Girona are having a very good season, currently sitting 7th in the La Liga table. That is just 1 point off 6th placed Villarreal and a place in Europe for next season, so the visitors will have a lot to play for on Sunday.

Expect goals in this one, as there have been over 2.5 goals scored in 9 of Real Madrid‘s last 10 games in La Liga. The odds suggest most of those goals will be scored by Real Madrid, though the players will know this is not a simple task.

Free Betting Tips

Match Prediction

Real Madrid win 1/6 at Bet365.

Over/Under Prediction

Over 2.5 goals 2/9 at Bet365.

Result

Real Madrid to win 3-1 9/1 at Bet365.

  • Disclaimer: Odds correct at time of publishing

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(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho expects goalkeeper David De Gea to still be at Old Trafford next season, after constant speculation that the player may make a move to Real Madrid in the summer.

There have been several failed attempts for Los Blancos to sign the Spain international, including on one famous occasion back in 2015 when the move collapsed at the last minute as the paperwork was not submitted in time. De Gea has been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu for every transfer window since.

De Gea has made 305 appearances for Manchester United since he moved there from Real’s city rivals Atletico Madrid back in 2011. He has undoubtedly been one of the best goalkeepers in the world for the past few seasons and if he was to make a move, it is likely it would be a world record fee for a goalkeeper.

Mourinho Says No

Former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is De Gea’s current boss and he seems to think that the player will be going nowhere. Speaking to Spanish publication La Sexta, he said;

‘I see him here.

‘I do not know Real Madrid’s intentions but, if I were them, I would think of another player.’

De Gea’s current contract runs up until the summer of 2019 and Manchester United will be desperate to try and extend this for at least a few more years in order to fend off the interest from Real Madrid. A four year contract was signed after the failed move in 2015 and there is currently the option to add a further year to the deal.

He has won the Red Devils’ Player of the Year award for the last four seasons running and has been head and shoulders above other goalkeepers in world football. If a move for De Gea doesn’t happen, Los Blancos have a list of other targets.

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Gareth Bale

There are plenty of sides that have been linked with a move for Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale recently and English Premier League side Liverpool are the latest team to have been credited with an interest in the Welsh wizard.

The publication Sport have outlined that Jurgen Klopp’s side could be looking to make a move for Bale in the summer, who seems to have fallen down the pecking order a little bit at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Zinedine Zidane has plenty of options in attack, and Bale has had to compete with the likes of Isco, Lucas Vazquez, Marco Asensio, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema for a place in the starting 11. Bale has also had his fair share of injury problems this season, which have kept him out for a number of games.

Move Back To England On The Cards?

The rumour that Bale may leave Real Madrid in the summer has been around for a while. As well as Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and former club Tottenham Hotspur have all been linked with a move for the player too. With Neymar seemingly number one incoming target for Real, Bale may need to be moved on to create the funds.

Zidane has spoken of Bale’s importance to the team recently, and he has scored 11 goals in all competitions, but a move back to the Premier League at some point just seems inevitable.

This season is Bale’s fifth in La Liga and if he was to be sold it would be interesting to see how much of the £88million fee can be recouped. The injury problems Bale has suffered recently may get in the way of any bid, as some clubs may feel as if it is too much of a risk.

On the other hand, having plenty of clubs interested may cause a bidding war, which could be very beneficial for Real Madrid.

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(Photo credit should read GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP/Getty Images)

The latest rumours suggest that Neymar has told his father that he wants to join Real Madrid this summer, before the World Cup gets underway in June. The first game of the tournament takes place on 14th June, and Neymar will want to fully focus on leading Brazil to the trophy.

He is their main man and if a transfer does not happen before the tournament, his mind may be elsewhere during his games in the famous yellow shirt. The player only joined Paris Saint Germain from Barcelona last summer in a deal that reportedly cost around £200million.

Apparently the move has not been to the liking of the player, and he appears to be unhappy with life in France. Neymar has scored 26 goals so far in his first season in Paris, but a move back to Spain seems to be on the cards.

Negotiations Underway?

According to the newspaper Sport, based in Barcelona, Neymar has given his father the green light to start negotiations with Real Madrid. The 26 year old is currently out of action with an injury, having to undergo ankle surgery last month after an incident against Marseille in Ligue 1.

That injury is expected to keep him on the sidelines until May, with his participation in the World Cup a little bit in doubt, should he suffer a setback.

Some of Neymar’s former Barcelona teammates were reported to have said that he’d be open to a move back to the Camp Nou, but it appears Real Madrid are the favourites to claim the Brazil international’s signature.

Zinedine Zidane would of course love a player of Neymar’s quality in his squad and it would further strengthen an already great attacking line up. If he was to arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu, Gareth Bale would be likely to make way.

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(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

It has been rumoured for a while that Real Madrid may be looking for a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window. Keylor Navas has done a good job in between the posts but he needs competition for the number 1 jersey.

There is also the possibility that Navas may be moved on in order to create space in the squad for a new keeper. A number of options have been linked with moves to the Santiago Bernabeu, and it remains to be seen who is the main target.

David De Gea

It has been no secret that Real Madrid have been interested in signing Spanish international goalkeeper David De Gea for a couple of years now, and the player would have completed a move to Los Blancos a few transfer window’s ago had it not been for a faulty fax machine.

The Manchester United stopper is arguably the best in the world and would demand a big fee. There are also rumours that he may be set to sign a new bumper contract at Old Trafford.

Thibaut Courtois 

The Belgian keeper has been successful in the city of Madrid before, having had a good spell at Real’s rivals Atletico a few years ago. He helped current club Chelsea to the Premier League title last season though this term has not gone as well for him. If Real can find the money, the player may be interested in the move.

Karlo Letica

Far less well known than the other options listed, Hadjuk Split goalkeeper Karlo Letica has been linked with a huge move to the Santiago Bernabeu in recent days. He first joined Hadjuk Split 10 years ago as a youngster in the academy and this season made a breakthrough to become first choice.

Real Madrid will certainly move for a goalkeeper this summer and it will be interesting to see who ends up signing on the dotted line.

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EIBAR, SPAIN - MARCH 10: Ivan Ramis of SD Eibar duels for the ball with Gareth Bale of Real Madrid during the La Liga match between SD Eibar and Real Madrid at Ipurua Municipal Stadium on March 10, 2018 in Eibar, Spain . (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo has been in amazing form recently and this continued in a big way on Saturday afternoon, as his two goals saw Real Madrid to a very important 2-1 win away from home against Eibar. The game saw Gareth Bale’s return to the starting 11, though he did not have his best game.

After the fantastic success against Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League through the week, it was important that Los Blancos did not let their performance levels drop in this one. With a good run of form between now and the end of the season, a second placed finish in La Liga is not out of the question.

With a 12pm kick off UK time, Saturday’s match kicked off and the hosts actually started the match pretty well. This came to nothing though, and Real Madrid took the lead through Ronaldo on 34 minutes. Luka Modric, starting his first game since coming back from injury, found Ronaldo with a great pass and the Portuguese superstar found the net.

You would have been forgiven for thinking Real Madrid would then go on to win the game comfortably from there but that was not necessarily the case. Five minutes after the break, Eibar equalised through former Wigan Athletic defender Ivan Ramis, who headed home.

It looked as though it may end all square and was level right up until the 84th minute. A mistake at the back from Eibar allowed Dani Carvajal to put the cross in, which Ronaldo headed home, his 13th goal in his last 7 matches.

This turned out to be the winning goal in the contest too, as Real held on for a crucial three points. This has meant that Zinedine Zidane’s side are 3rd in La Liga on 57 points, one point ahead of 4th placed Valencia.

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