Page 454

By -
0

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has won the LFP Manager of the Month award for November, having won the award in October.

Real have won all four matches in that time, conceding just two goals whilst scoring an incredible 15 at the other end, almost averaging four a game.

And the Italian has been rewarded for keeping up the champions of Europe impressive form in the League, with Real sitting at the top of the league.

The LFP commented on the former PSG and AC Milan boss’ achievements, saying “Looking at the numbers, there’s no doubt that Ancelotti’s work during this month of the competition has been impeccable.”

Real have not lost since being beaten at the Bernabeu by city rivals Atletico in the league, and the LFP echoed that achievement.

“With him on the bench, Real Madrid have achieved their best streak of consecutive wins in all competitions (17), leaving behind the numbers of José Mourinho and Miguel Muñoz.”

Real Madrid are in action against Celta Vigo today at the Bernabeu in La Liga, before Tuesday’s game against Ludogorets in the Champions League. Los Blancos could pull five points clear, at least until Sundays derby between Espanyol and FC Barcelona at Camp Nou.

 

By -
0

Cristiano Ronaldo believes Real Madrid boss should win the Manager of the Year award at FIFA’s annual ceremony in January, according to a high profile reporter.

Spanish journalist Manu Sainz, who is close to Ronaldo, said the Portugal captain is backing his club boss to be recognised when the winners are announced in the new year. The Italian, who guided Madrid to the Champions League, Copa del Rey and European Super Cup is up against Joachim Lowe and Diego Simeone on the three-man shortlist.
Ronaldo, 29, is in the running for the Ballon d’Or award and is joined in the final three by Leo Messi and Manuel Neuer. He’s the overwhelming favourite having scored 17 goals in the Champions League last season and beginning this campaign with 26 goals in his first 20 games.

Ancelotti’s task is slightly harder as he goes up against La Liga’s winning boss and the man who lead Germany to World Cup success in Brazil.

But Sainz said Ancelotti has Ronaldo’s full backing. He said: “Ronaldo believes that Ancelotti winning the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, and building a team capable of winning 17 consecutive games should be enough for the Italian to win the prize ahead of Simeone and Joachim Lowe.”

By -
0
Marco Asensio

Real Madrid have announced in their website that they have reached an agreement to bring 18-year-old playmaker Marco Asensio to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Mallorca man has signed a six-year contract with Los Merengues, and he will remain at the second-division side at least until next summer.

Los Blancos have published the following statement:

Real Madrid C. F. and R. C. D. Mallorca have reached an agreement for the transfer of Marco Asensio, who will join our club for six seasons. The player will remain at R. C. D. Mallorca until the end of the current season.

In the last few hours, there had been rumours of difficulties in the negotiations, as Mallorca had reportedly considered that Madrid’s 3.7-million euros offer was too low.

However, the talks have come to a good end, although it has not been revealed whether Los Blancos have finally paid Asensio’s 4.5-million buy-out close.

Many European clubs have targeted Asensio, including Barcelona. The player confirmed early this week that he had decided to join Real Madrid, and he was expecting Mallorca to agree terms with Los Blancos.

Negotiations have finally come to a good end and the 18-year-old will join the Santiago Bernabeu club at the end of the season. If Mallorca get promoted to La Liga, he could return there on loan. Otherwise, he will most likely sign a loan contract with another La Liga side.

By -
3

Real Madrid are close to signing Brazilian midfielder Lucas Silva in a 15-million-euros deal, Spanish newspaper Marca has revealed.

The 12-year-old was first linked with a Los Merengues move a couple of months ago, and Florentino Perez has finally decided to go all in for the young playmaker.

The Cruzeiro man has confirmed he’s in talks with Los Blancos: “I don’t know if they want me to move to Madrid in January or at the end of the season, but it would be interesting to stay here for the Libertadores Cup and join the team in the pre-season,” he told Brazilian television SportTV.

Cruzeiro’s president Gilvan de Pinho Tavares has claimed they are waiting for Los Blancos offer. “We haven’t received a final offer, we’re waiting for an official bid. We have already established Silva’s price: 15-million-euros,” Tavares said.

Other European giants have shown a strong interest in bringing Silva. Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger has recently sent scouts to eye him, but he might have arrived late.

Silva has had an outstanding performance in the Brasileirao, leading Cruzeiro to win their second consecutive league title and scoring one goal in 25 appearances.

By -
0
Florentino Perez, Real Madrid president

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is keen on tying Jese Rodriguez down to a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu, according to reports.

The 21-year-old forward made his comeback in the first team on Tuesday night after nine months out with a serious knee injury. And he marked the occasion with a goal as Los Blancos defeated Corenalla 5-0 to set up a clash with Atletico de Madrid in the next round of the competition.

Jese has a contract at the Spanish giants until 2017 and earns a reported salary of around two million euros a year. But the Spanish press claim Perez has been so impressed with the striker that he wants to tie him down to another long-term deal until 2021. The club president is also keen to include a 200 million euro buyout clause to ward off any potential admirers.

Should Jese be rewarded with a new deal, it will continue Real’s policy of tying down the younger players to long contracts. Defender Nacho Fernandez was the latest to sign a new deal at the club.

Jese has made a name for himself at the club last season but his season was curtailed by a cruciate ligament injury picked up in the Champions League match against Schalke.

 

 

By -
0

Real Madrid’s director of institutional relations, Emilio Butragueno, has praised Jese Rodriguez for his performance and goal against Cornella.

The 21-year-old forward made his comeback in the Copa del Rey match on Tuesday night after eight months out with a serious knee injury.

The young striker impressed many during the second half, and capped his return with a well taken goal as Carlo Ancelotti’s men won 5-0 on the night and 9-1 overall to ease through to the next round as the look to defend the trophy they won last April.

Speaking to journalists about Jese, Butragueno said he’d been impressed with what he’d seen and it seemed like the striker had never been away.

“I must admit I was struck by Jese’s audacity and it didn’t look as if he’d been out for such a long time,” Butragueno stated.

And he added: “The 30 minutes he was on the pitch were very encouraging and Carlo [Ancelotti] has sent out a very positive message to the youngsters that the door is open.”

Jese made a name for himself last season with some eye-catching performances when he covered for Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo or Karim Benzema. But his season was cut short in March when he ruptured the cruciate ligament in his knee while playing for Los Blancos against Schalke in the Champions League.

By -
1

Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has been released from hospital after suffering a head injury during the Copa del Rey match against Cornella.

The 27-year-old midfielder underwent medical observation overnight on Tuesday in Madrid after he collided with David Garcia in Los Blancos’ 5-0 win. A statement on the club’s official website said he had been given the all clear and had left hospital.

It read: “Following neurological exams performed on Sami Khedira today in the Sanitas La Moraleja hospital, the player has been discharged.”

There was no indication if Khedira would be on the sidelines any longer and if so, how long for.

The German World Cup winner has just seven months left on his current deal at the Santiago Bernabeu and has been linked with a free transfer to a host of clubs across Europe. FA Cup holders Arsenal are the favourites for his signature, but his has also been linked with Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester United and AC Milan.

The midfielder has had a frustrating time this season, having suffered a number of niggling injuries. His compatriot Toni Kross, who signed in the summer, has also kept him out of the side having formed a formidable partnership with Luka Modric.

By -
0

Real Madrid youngster Javi Munoz has said he is delighted to have made his first team debut for the club after featuring in the win over Cornella.

The attacking midfielder came on for James Rodriguez just after the hour mark in Tuesday’s 5-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu, and showing plenty of skill and trickery in his half hour cameo.

Speaking to reporters after the game, the 19-year-old admitted he had butterflies in his stomach, but the nerves faded as soon as he stepped onto the pitch.

“I’m the happiest person in the world. I’m delighted to have made my debut for Real Madrid,” he told the club’s official website.

“It makes me feel really proud and I’ll keep on working hard to get more opportunities and I hope to play again many more times. I’ve come away with my shirt signed by all my team-mates. Also, [Madrid assistant coach Fernando] Hierro gave me the match ball.”

He revealed some of the more senior members of the squad had helped the young players settle as they prepared for their first match at the Santiago Bernabeu. And Munoz added he felt as if he’d been playing in the first team for years.

“They told me to be calm, though to begin with you feel nervous. But it’s very easy to play with these team-mates. It’s as if I’ve been playing with them my whole life.”

By -
1

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has said Real Madrid man Cristiano Ronaldo should win the Ballon d’Or.

The Portuguese forward is up against Leo Messi and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for the honour, which will be announced in January at the FIFA headquarters in Switzerland.

Ronaldo won the prize last season, and has taken his game to even greater heights in the last year, helping Los Blancos to win the Champions League, setting a new record for the amount of goals scored in a single season along the way. He also picked up winners’ medals in both the Copa del Rey and European Super Cup.

Speaking about who should win the award, Buffon failed to support the goalkeeping fraternity and back Neuer, instead claiming Ronaldo deserves it.

“It’s difficult for a goalkeeper to win. Lev Yashin was one of the best, but him winning the award (in 1963) was an exception. For a goalie to win the Ballon d’Or, he’d have to be really special compared to the others. And moreover, the award doesn’t always go to the best player, rather to the player who has won the most and who has been decisive in those victories,” he stated.

And he added: “Cristiano Ronaldo will probably win, because even if he hadn’t won the Champions League, he’s the most in-form player at the moment. His last two years have been fantastic and he deserves to be recognized for having maintained such a high level for all this time.”

By -
0

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has said he regrets not moving abroad during his career and had the chance to join Real Madrid in 2005.

Speaking to popular football magazine FourFourTwo, the former midfielder revealed he also had opportunities to join Bayern Munich and Juventus during his playing days but opted to stay at Old Trafford because he felt at home.

The Irishman spent 12 and a half trophy laden years in the north west of England, making 480 appearances as he lifted the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carling Cup among others. But a huge fall out with then boss Alex Ferguson lead Keane to leave suddenly in 2005, when he joined Celtic.

He did, in fact, have another offer from Los Blancos, but turned it down.

He told the magazine: “I was 34 and my hip was hurting me. Maybe I took the easier option by going to Celtic – it was certainly easier on my body. If I had my time over again, then maybe, but I enjoyed being at Celtic.

“My regret was that I should have gone abroad earlier in my career. I could have signed for Juventus or Bayern Munich – I had much better financial offers from them – but at the time I wanted to stay at United. I felt at home at Old Trafford.”

1...453454455...733Page 454 of 733

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