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Real Madrid midfielder Isco has said he wants to see the side hit top form again as they enter the crucial second half of the season.

Los Blancos won 22 games in a row in all competitions before the turn of the year. But since the start of 2015 they have been in somewhat indifferent form by their standards. They lost in the league to Valencia and were also dumped out of the Copa del Rey by rivals Atletico de Madrid – something Realmadridnews.com editor Alejandro Gonzalez says could help them in the long run.

Los Blancos remain top of La Liga and in the Champions League but Isco says they are still to hit their best form this calendar year. They face Real Sociedad in their next league match and will be looking to avenge for the shock 4-2 loss they suffered at the start of the season.

Speaking to Marca, he stated: “More than wanting revenge, we want to start feeling good again. There are three important points up for grabs in front of the home fans and we want to win to maintain our dominant position in the league.”

“The league and the Champions League are very important. Real Madrid need to be there fighting for both titles. It’s great trying to retain the Champions League, and we’ll work very hard to try and manage it,” he added.

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Real Madrid have added a new name to the list of left-backs that could replace Fabio Coentrao next summer. Los Blancos are interested in signing Valencia’s defender Jose Luis Gaya according to Spanish sports newspaper Marca.

The 19-year-old is the last pearl of Valencia’s youth program that has produced other outstanding left-backs, such as Barcelona’s Jordi Alba and Bayern Munich’s Juan Bernat.

Gaya has consolidated himself as the Che’s starting left-back and he has been a key for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team great season so far, scoring two goals in 21 appearances.

The Spaniard made his first team debut in 2013 but didn’t have many chances until Bernat moved to Munich last summer. Since then, he has caught the attention of many European clubs.

According to Marca, Real have been following him since September. His low buy-out clause is one of the main advantages. Gaya has a running contract with the Ches until 2018, but he would only cost Madrid 18 million euros.

However, Valencia are trying to extend the youngster’s contract and include a new 80-million buy-out clause. Florentino Perez will need to move fast if he wants to secure Gaya’s transfer, otherwise they could convince him to stay.

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Real Madrid unveiled Lucas Silva on Monday as the new Los Blancos signing. The Brazilian midfielder will wear the number 16 on the back, so he will face the challenge of ending the curse that has traditionally affected that jersey at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Nevertheless, Gabriel Heinze is the only footballer that has managed to succeed at Real wearing that number. The Argentinian was a key piece in the Madrid squad that won the 2007/08 La Liga. He’s the exception that proves the rule.

Alfonso Perez (1994/95) was the first man to wear the 16 in the last two decades. However, with Los Merengues he never played at the high level he would later show at Betis and Spain national team. Jaime Sanchez would be the next (1997/98). The Spanish midfielder was never a regular starter and his career at the club was short.

Samuel Eto’o would be next, wearing the 16 during the 1999/2000 season. The Cameroon international, a teenager back then, didn’t have many chances to prove his quality before leaving Madrid.

After Eto’o, Flavio Conceicao was next to give number 16 a try. The Brazilian arrived at the club in the 2000/01 season causing great expectation after his success at Deportivo de La Coruna, with whom he won La Liga in 2000. However, despite paying 24 million euros for him, Conceicao passed unnoticed in his three seasons with Los Blancos.

Thomas Gravesen would be the next brave man to choose number 16. The Danish international arrived, just like Lucas Silva, in the winter transfer market of the 2004/05 season. Despite his vigour on the field, he’s most reminded for the funny images he left than for his good performances.

Fernando Gago also arrived in January, more precisely in 2007, and he wore the number 16 shirt in his first season. The Argentinian was unable to succeed with Los Blancos despite spending five seasons at the club.

The curse would have a two season break in the two seasons Heinze spent in Madrid (2007-09). It seemed like young and talented Sergio Canales would confirm the end of this hex, but he never shone at Real like he had at Racing de Santander.

Hamit Altintop would go next, but despite being one of Jose Mourinho’s favourites he didn’t succeed either. Casemiro was the last player to wear the number 16 jersey, yet he didn’t have many chances last season. Will Lucas Silva put an end to this curse?

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Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a two game ban for his sending off at the weekend against Cordoba.

The 29-year-old received his marching orders after he kicked Cordoba defender Edimar towards the end of the game. The game was level at 1-1 in the 82nd minute, but luckily for the Ballon d’Or winner, team mate Gareth Bale popped up to score from the spot in the 89th minute to give Los Blancos the three points.

Ronaldo apologised for his actions and Edimar said the incident was quickly forgotten. Former Manchester United team mater Bebe, on loan at Cordoba from Benfica, called on the authorities to go easy on him. But others, such as Barcelona’s Neymar, suggested he should be given a longer ban for setting such a poor example to youngsters around the world who look up to him.

In the end it was confirmed he will sit out two games, starting with the visit of Real Sociedad this weekend. He will also miss the trip to Sevilla.

Carlo Ancelotti will feel he has enough in his squad to cope with the absence of Ronaldo, although they will no doubt miss his presence. The striker has scored 36 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions this season.

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Former Real Madrid star Luis Figo has announced his intention to stand for the FIFA presidency.

Sepp Blatter has held the role for three terms and has announced his intention to carry on when the elections take place later this year. Other candidates who have put their name forward include former Newcastle winger David Ginola, Prince Ali Hussein of Jordan, and Michael Van Praag the head of the Dutch FA.

Speaking to the press on Wednesday about his decision to challenge Blatter for the leadership or the world governing body, Figo said he was tired of the image FIFA was giving today and how there is no solidarity in the game anymore.

“I care about football so what I’m seeing regarding the image of Fifa, not only now but in the past years, I don’t like it. Last year was a World Cup year, I was in Brazil, I saw the reaction of the fans regarding the image of Fifa,” he said.

And he added: “Something has to be changed. Change in leadership, in governance, in transparency, in solidarity. Now is the time for that.”

The former World Player of the Year has the five letters required from five national associations, meaning he is a serious candidate for the top job.

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Real Madrid star James Rodriguez has said there is no club in the world bigger than Los Blancos.

The Colombian midfielder signed for Real in the summer from Monaco is a 75 million euro deal. Since his arrival, he has played a key role in helping Madrid to first place in La Liga, scoring 10 goals in 32 appearances in all.

He has picked up two trophies since he arrived in the Spanish capital – the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

Sitting down to speak to FIFA on their official website, he told them Real is the biggest club in the world and he’s only seen why since he joined.

“It’s one thing looking in from the outside, but when you come here you understand the real scale of things – it’s something else entirely. I always considered it a big club, but now I’m on the inside, I can tell you it’s the biggest club in the world, no question,” he said.

And he went on to add that he wants to keep improving as a player while he is with Los Blancos.

“You’re always thinking of making strides and I dreamed I’d get to where I am today. But now that I’ve achieved this and got to play for a club as big as Real Madrid, all I can think about is continuing here for many years.”

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The latest Real Madrid transfer rumours include Harry Kane becoming one of the options to reinforce the striker position, David Luiz being the first choice for replacing Pepe and Iker Casillas eyeing a move to the Major League Soccer.

Spanish website Defensacentral.com has claimed Los Merengues have added Kane to the list of strikers they will try to sign when Chicharito Hernandez leaves next summer.

The 21-year-old Tottenham Hotspur man has caused a great impression this season scoring eight goals in 18 appearances. Florentino Perez hopes to take advantage of his good relationship with Daniel Levy in order to bring the Britishman to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Daily Express has stated David Luiz is Carlo Ancelotti’s first option to reinforce the defence, providing Pepe will not extend his contract with Los Blancos. The British newspaper claims Los Blancos could offer up to 67 million euros for the Paris Saint-Germain centre-back, although it seems very unlikely that Perez is really willing to spend that amount in a defender.

Meanwhile, Iker Casillas has confessed in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that he would like to play in the MLS and American newspapers have already started speculating on the teams that are interested in signing him. New York City, Los Angeles Galaxy and Toronto FC are reportedly the most likely destinies should Casillas decide to leave Madrid next summer.

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Real Madrid Castilla boss Zinedine Zidane has said Los Blancos defender Raphael Varane is the future of Real Madrid and he’ll on to be a great player.

The 21-year-old defender has featured 24 times for Real this season, netting twice, but there have been rumours for some time that he wants a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu to secure more regular first team football.

The Frenchman, who signed from Lens at the age of 18 in 2011, missed large chunks of last season with a knee injury. But when fit he has failed to dislodge Carlo Ancelotti’s favoured partnership of Pepe and Sergio Ramos in the heart of the defence.

In an interview with Marca, Zidane, who is credited with finding Varane and recommending the club to sign him, said he had no doubt his compatriot would go on to achieve great things with the 10-time Champions League winners.

“There are a lot of players out there but I’m really happy for Varane. He’s a fantastic player and is Real’s future,” he stated.

He went on to urge the defender to be patient, saying his time would come. “He has to be patient. Always staying patient is hugely important” the 1998 World Cup winner added.

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Iker Casillas has revealed he would love to play in the MLS when he eventually leaves Real Madrid.

The keeper has established himself as the number one again at the Santiago Bernabeu having played second fiddle to Diego Lopez for 18 months prior to his summer move to AC Milan.

At 33, Casillas should still have plenty of years ahead of him at the top of his game, but he admitted he has thought about life post-Real Madrid and would jump at the chance to cross the Atlantic.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, he said: “I have no problem of saying that I would like to play in the U.S. I would be unable to leave Real Madrid and join a competing team but I could leave to have an adventure, maybe not at that level in Europe, but something innovative and different in a growing league like MLS. I would like to experience a different kind of football and put into perspective all the time I’ve been at Real Madrid.

Speaking about his time spent sitting on the bench, he stated: “It has been a tough year and a half. Only those close to me know about the suffering and the happiness I’ve gone through. This experience makes you stronger mentally and makes you focus on the things in life that really matter.

“I’ve been playing 40 or 50 matches each season for years and then I had an injury – that makes your game go down a notch.”

“You understand that there are others who deserve to play and you can’t do anything but wait for your opportunity.”

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Real Madrid have issued a statement to deny any wrong doing over the signing of foreign players under the age of 18.

World governing body FIFA has launched an investigation into the club and are looking at the 51 players the club has signed or clubs who have collaborations with the 10-time Champions League winners.

But in a statement released by the Spanish giants, they insist they have played by the rules and protested their innocence.

Real Madrid defends the protection and the correct and healthy development of minors via its strict adherence, without exceptions, to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, and is in complete agreement with such investigations being carried out to this end,” the statement read.

It continued: “Real Madrid have responded diligently, supplying all the information required by the Committee within the established deadlines and in complete documentary detail.  Both Real Madrid and the RFEF, through which the informative investigation is being processed, have been left totally satisfied with the information supplied and have verified the strict adherence to the registration regulations in absolutely every case.”

Providing a breakdown of the players, Los Blancos revealed 23 of them were signed from other Spanish clubs and 10 had Spanish nationality. One player appeared twice on the list, while six were actually over the age of 18 when they signed. Two more players had received authorisation to put pen-to-paper on deals with the club while two more were signed prior to the new rules coming into force.

The news will worry Madridistas, as rivals Barcelona received a two-window transfer ban over signing foreign players under the age of 18. It was upheld after the Catalans appealed, effectively meaning they can’t sign anyone for 2015. Emlio Butragueno has said Real should be fine and won’t receive a punishment like that.

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