Page 425

By -
0

The father of Keylor Navas has said his son is very happy at Real Madrid and has dismissed speculation linking him with a move away.

The Costa Rican keeper has only made seven appearances all season since his arrival in the summer, and reports in the press in the UK have suggested Liverpool could be interested in him as they look for a replacement for error-prone shot stopper Simon Mignolet.

But speaking to La Nacion newspaper, Freddy Navas said his son was happy in the Spanish capital and would fight for his place in the team.

“Everything that’s been spoken [about my son leaving Madird] is a lie,” he said.

And he continued: “Keylor’s told me he doesn’t want to leave Real Madrid, he’s very happy [there]. He’s a fighter who wants to work hard and succeed at the club. He knows he has to fight for the title [of No 1]. It’s a process that he’s accepted very well. Some people, through the Press, want to undermine him, but he’s very strong.”

Navas earned himself a big money move to Madrid after some stellar performances for Levante last season and followed it up by starring for Costa Rica in the World Cup as the minnows made it to the quarter finals in Brazil.

By -
0

Spanish sports newspaper Marca has claimed Real Madrid are preparing a bid for 23-year-old Porto defender Danilo Luiz da Silva. The young Brazilian is having an amazing season at the Portuguese club and has caught the attention of Los Blancos.

Real directors are willing to let Alvaro Arbeloa go next summer and have started looking for a younger right-back who can replace Daniel Carvajal when necessary.

There have been rumours of Madrid eyeing Juventus’ Stephan Lichtsteiner and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Tony Jantschke, but Danilo is the first man who actually fulfils Los Blancos requirements.

He is a young talented player with three years of experience in European football and one of the biggest prospects of Brazil. He is seen as the Dani Alves of the future, and in fact he has already made 11 appearances for Brazil’s national team.

The main problem, as usual, is that he would cost more than 20 million euros, according to Marca. There is little chance Florentino Perez will agree to spend that amount in a defender who will spend most of the time sitting on the bench, given that Carvajal would presumably remain as the starting right-back.

Yet, Perez could try to include Casemiro in the deal. The midfielder is now playing at Porto on loan from Los Blancos, and the Portuguese side are willing to keep him. Including him in the transfer could cheapen the deal at least by 10 million.

Danilo has made 51 appearances for Porto, scoring three goals. Before that, he spent two years at Santos, where he scored ten goals in 87 games.

By -
0

Carlo Ancelotti has hinted his next job after Real Madrid could be in the Bundesliga as it is a competition he enjoys and is on the same par with the leagues in England and Spain.

In an interview with German newspaper Bild, the Italian talked about a range of issues in German football as well as the upcoming Champions League tie with Schalke later this month.

Ancelotti, whose Los Blancos side face Borussia Dortmund, Schalke and Bayern Munich en route to winning last season’s Champions League, said he would have no worries about the language barrier should he one day manage in Germany as compatriot Giovanni Trappatoni had experienced plenty of success there without mastering the language.

“If Giovanni Trapattoni can manage in Germany and learn the language then so can I,” he joked.

“The Bundesliga has grown rapidly. The level is the same as England and Spain and this is why Germany won the World Cup. The technology has improved, I like it, the whole set-up,” he admitted.

Turning his attention to the upcoming Schalke game, he said the matches would be closer than last year, when Real won 9-2 overall.

“We will be without James Rodriguez, Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Luka Modric, while Schalke’s style has changed into the style of an Italian coach, Roberto Di Matteo. Like all Italian coaches he has tried to give the side a sound defensive footing.”

By -
0
Marco Reus

Real Madrid target Marco Reus has signed a contract extension with Borussia Dortmund closing the door of a possible exit.

The German midfielder’s contract was set to expire in 2017 and included a clause that would allow Los Blancos to sign him for only 30 million euros.

However, Reus has agreed to a new deal that extends his relationship with Dortmund until June 2019. Plus, sources from the club have confirmed there is no buy-out clause included in the contract, so any possible transfer would have to be accepted by the German side directors.

“Dortmund is my city and Borussia is my club. I’m happy to stay and look forward to a successful future with the support of this marvelous fans. There’s much to do, and I want to play my part,” Reus said after announcing his contract extension.

Dortmund Sports Director Michael Zorc confirmed “Reus could have signed for a bigger team, but he has proved his heart beats for his hometown.”

The 25-year-old has scored 70 goals in 169 Bundesliga appearances. Since his return to Dormund for Borussia Monchengladbach in 2012, he has recorded an impressive 34 goals and 25 assists in 72 games.

By -
1

Alvaro Morata could return to Real Madrid in the summer if reports in the Spanish press are to be believed.

The young forward was only sold to Juventus in July  for 22 million euros after growing impatient at the lack of first team chances at the Santiago Bernabeu. He had fallen behind Jese Rodriguez as back up to Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.

But AS reports that Los Blancos want to take up an option to sign him again at the end of the campaign after being impressed with his improvement in Italy. After a slow start to life in Turin, the 22-year-old has netted seven goals and forced his way into the starting line up ahead of fellow Spaniard Fernando Llorente.

Real have a repurchase option for the next two summers – for 30 million euros this year and 35 million euros next year, and also have first refusal on Morata for the first two of his five year contract at the Old Lady.

Whether Juventus would be willing to part with their man after such a short amount of time is another matter, with coach Massimiliano Allegri saying on numerous occasions that he believes Morata can go on to become a star of the game in the future.

By -
0
new bernabeu

Real Madrid have been dealt a blow in their plans to redevelop the Santiago Bernabeu after the city’s supreme court of justice ruled the project should be halted with immediate effect.

Los Blancos have unveiled plans to update the stadium and add a number of new features including a shopping mall and hotel, as well as adding a retractable roof to over the famous ground.

The project, which is expected to cost upwards of 350 million euros was being funded largely by IPIC, an Abu Dhabi-based investment group. Club president Florentino Perez was overheard recently saying the group would get the stadium naming rights in return.

For now though, any plans will have to be put on hold until the club and the city council work together to resolve the issue.

A statement on the club website read: “Madrid’s Supreme Court of Justice has annulled the agreement of November 15, 2012 issued by the Governing Council of the Municipal Community of Madrid, which approved the modification of land-use plan related to the Santiago Bernabéu.

“Following this ruling, Real Madrid will work with the City Council and the Community of Madrid in resolving those aspects that are necessary to make the redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium viable.”

By -
0
Jose Mourinho signing for Chelsea

Former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has admitted it was a tough decision to leave the club almost two years ago and he only did so because Chelsea came calling.

The Portuguese spent three years in charge of the Santiago Bernabeu side, with his highlight being the La Liga win in the 2011-2012 season in which Los Blancos set a new record for the number of points amassed and goals scored.

But Mourinho’s time in charge of the 10-time Champions League winners is largely considered a failure. He fell out with most of his own squad in his final year in charge, as well as plenty of opposition players, managers and officials.

And he also failed in his main objective in three seasons – to lead the club to La Decima – which current boss Carlo Ancelotti did at the first attempt.

But speaking to BT Sport, the Chelsea manager, trophyless since 2012 despite considering himself rather special, said it was a tough choice to leave the Spanish capital.

“I don’t think leaving a big club like Real Madrid is an easy option. Normally people that leave Real Madrid because the club wants people to leave, not from their own initiative,” he said.

“So for me to leave Real Madrid and the team that I was building there, only for a club like Chelsea with a project that people explained to me, with that objective of going to the end of my four years contract and possibly go over the four years of my contract. I’m happy to be a part of this new Chelsea, and hopefully I can stay for many years.”

By -
0
Florentino Perez, Real Madrid president

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has said the recent success enjoyed by Real Madrid has blinded some people in and around the cub, and then players, coaches and fans need to pull together now and recreate that famous spirit.

Los Blancos win four trophies in 2014 – the Copa del Rey, Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World Cup – one of the best years in the club’s history.

But they have begun 2015 in indifferent form, winning just five of their last 10 games and losing twice already to rivals Atletico de Madrid, with the latest defeat being a 4-0 humiliation on Saturday afternoon in La Liga.

Perez called in at the Valdebebas training ground on Sunday morning and read the riot act to the players and coaches. And on Tuesday he spoke to reporters and fans and urged them to get behind the team.

“Success has confused us. It’s time to stand together and lift ourselves,” he said.

He added: “This shirt is worth more. This is Real Madrid, remember. We have millions of fans around the world. We must recover our team spirit, without it we are lost. We have to raise our game. We already did so in the first half of the season. If we reunite ourselves, the situation can return to normal.”

 

By -
0

Former Real Madrid player Michel has said he believes legendary playmaker Zinedine Zidane is being prepared for the top job at the Santiago Bernabeu for when Carlo Ancelotti eventually leaves.

The Frenchman was assistant to the Italian last season – one of the most memorable in the club’s history as they won the Copa del Rey and Champions League. But he switched roles in the summer, taking over the Real Madrid Castilla job as he makes his first steps into being a manager himself.

Speaking to Elite Sport, Michel, who made over 400 appearances for the club during his playing days, said he believes Zidane is being groomed to succeed Ancelotti. He admitted he would love to be Real boss one day, but doesn’t see that day coming soon.

The 51-year-old stated: “I won’t be the next candidate. It’s not that I don’t feel qualified, nor that I’d not want it, but it doesn’t depend on me or results. Plus, I think the club is preparing for Zidane to be the next coach.”

Whatever the case be in the future, Michel said Ancelotti is the right man at the helm now because of his calm nature.

“Ancelotti is an ideal coach for Madrid. He doesn’t want to be the protagonist. He moves very well in these waters.”

By -
1
The Collins Column

Wow, it’s been a while since I write a blog on this column. Apologies for that – I’ve been in the midst of a big move half way across the world and things have escaped me on the blog front.

Don’t worry though. What’s been going on at Real Madrid hasn’t escaped me and having seen the humiliation at the weekend at the Vicente Calderon, I think the question needs to be asked – Did Madrid peak too soon?

Last time I wrote in my column, Los Blancos were about to embark on a 22-game winning run in all competitions, setting a new club and Spanish record. There were plenty of highlights in there – but the best performances were probably the win at Anfield in the Champions League, and also the way they swatted aside Barcelona in La Liga.

Picking up trophies is also fun, so it was enjoyable to watch Los Blancos win their fourth trophy of 2014 in December when they lifted the Club World Cup.

Since the turn of the year though, Madrid’s form has been somewhat erratic. Just five wins in 10 games – with two defeats to Atletico thrown in there – in La Liga and in the Copa del Rey. They also started 2015 on a bad note by losing to Valencia at the Mestalla.

When Madrid were on their glorious run in the autumn, it was always at the back of my mind – have they hit top form too soon?

It’s an old cliche but a true one all the same – the football season is a marathon, not a sprint. And Madrid, to me anyway, seemed to be exerting a lot of energy early on when they could have held back more in reserve for the second half of the season. The Club World Cup took it’s toll – while they were in Morocco, rivals Atletico and Barcelona had their feet up for the winter break and were preparing for the second half of the campaign.

Rather ludicrously, and entirely led by the sponsors’ demand to keep putting the stars in the limelight – Madrid then went on a mid-winter jolly to Dubai. Billed as a warm weather break, they played a friendly against AC Milan which they lost. That sort of long distance travel was totally uncalled for – why not allow the players a few days at home with their families?

Los Blancos haven’t been helped on the injury front either. Ancelotti actually has a fairly small squad of outfield players, and he certainly has his favourites when it comes to picking the team. And Los Blancos have suffered all season with a host of injuries – perhaps exasperated by the fact many of them didn’t get a proper break in the summer following their World Cup adventures.

Luka Modric has been on the sidelines for a while, but his replacement Sami Khedira has also been hampered by injury. Asier Illarramendi doesn’t seem to have the trust of Ancelotti, so James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos have been played to the point of exhaustion. And now the Colombian is set to miss the next two months with a broken toe.

In defence, Pepe has been suffering his own fitness issues, while stalwart Sergio Ramos is now in the treatment room until March with a hamstring problem.  All of these fitness problems have taken their toll and Madrid seem to be paying the price now.

In addition, Gareth Bale has suffered a loss of form this campaign and with the fans starting to get on his back, he’s feeling the pressure perhaps. Ronaldo’s silly red card against Cordoba perhaps revealed his own frustrations with his own slight dip in form and the side’s overall downturn.

The good news for Los Blancos is that they have their destiny in their own hands. Despite the defeat to Atletico, they remain top of the table. With three winnable games coming up, and players like Modric and Pepe expected back soon, now is the chance to find some form and confidence, and focus once again on the prizes – La Liga and the Champions League.

1...424425426...733Page 425 of 733

www.gambleaware.co.uk or www.gamcare.org.uk
Please gamble responsibly