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Jupp Heynckes has said Toni Kroos’ decision to move to Real Madrid over Manchester United was better for his career.

The former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid manager told sports magazine Kicker that he tried to persuade the 24-year-old to stay at the Allianz Arena but when it became clear Kroos wanted to leave, he advised him to join the Spanish giants.

Since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer, off the back of winning the World Cup with Germany, Kroos has slotted into place with ease and has helped Los Blancos to the top of La Liga and the next stage of the Champions League.

Heynckes said Kroos and Madrid are the perfect match for now, and the likes of Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo would be thrilled to be playing alongside him.

“Right now there is no better footballer in the world in his position and he plays the midfield role so cleverly,” Heynckes said.

“I’d rather he’d stayed at Bayern and I advised him to, but we spoke on the telephone during the World Cup and he told me the move was perfect. For him, on a personal level, it’s another step that suits him.

“The top players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale know that they are even better when Toni is in the team.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo has said the atmosphere in the dressing room at Real Madrid is one of the best he has experienced in recent years.

Los Blancos are on a fine run of form at the moment, at broke the record for consecutive wins at the weekend – their defeat of Malaga at La Rosaleda was their 16 in a row. The Champions League holders will be confident of extending that record in coming games with matches against Cornella, Celta Vigo and Ludogorets coming up before they take part in the World Club Championship later this month.

Speaking at an event in the Spanish capital on Monday, the 29-year-old, who has 26 goals to his name in just 20 games this season, said he was happy with how things are going. But he warned against complacency, saying the side hasn’t won anything yet.

“The team is confident and we want to keep going like this. It’s the best dressing room that I’ve been in in recent years,” he stated.

“We hear people saying that this is the best Real Madrid side in recent years, but that’s something we’ll only know if we win something important. Right now we’re in very good shape, because we are on a run of 16 consecutive wins.”

“Real Madrid is like a second family. We work together every day. I’m very happy and my team-mates are feeling great. The coaching staff are also a very important part of that dressing room.”

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Jese Rodriguez has dedicated his goal to Real Madrid staff and supporters who have been a pillar of strength as he worked his way back from a knee injury.

The young forward impressed many with some eye-catching displays last season before a cruciate ligament injury curtailed his progress. His hopes of making Spain’s World Cup squad were dashed and he’s spent the last nine months working on his recovery.

The 21-year-old netted the fifth goal on Tuesday night as Los Blancos eased past Cornella in the Copa del Rey – their 17th consecutive victory. And speaking to reporters after the game, Jese was keen to thank those working at the club and the Madridista fans who have messaged him and supported him throughout his recovery.

“I’m very happy for the victory and my return. It’s been eight months of suffering,” he admitted.

And he continued: “Thanks to the coach and the president. They’ve helped me a lot, and I love the fans very much for their support. I’ve especially missed playing with the team and being around my teammates. I also dedicate [my goal] to the Santiago Bernabeu and my physio for my recovery.”

James Rodriguez grabbed a brace in the 5-0 rout at the Santiago Bernabeu, while Isco and a Borja own goal completed the scoring.

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Real Madrid have announced the signing of Dutch wonderkid Mink Peeters, who will join Los Blancos Under-19 team.

The 16-year-old attacking midfielder arrived to Madrid a few days ago and has been training at Valdebebas. Yet, Los Merengues have not confirmed the signing until today, when they have added Peeters’ profile to the club’s website.

Florentino Perez had targeted three young talented players he wanted to sign before 2015, and he has already got two of them. 18-year-old Spaniard Marco Asensio was the first to confirm his agreement with Los Blancos, and 15-year-old Norwegian Martin Odegaard should be the third, after Peeters.

Peeters started his career at PSV Eindhoven. He moved to Ajax Amsterdam in the summer of 2013, where his good performances have caught the attention of Real Madrid’s directors.

He’s also a key member of the Netherlands national under-17 football team that is causing great impression in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying round, having won all their matches so far.

Peeters is a left-footed playmaker with solid skills and great talent. In Real Madrid’s website, he defines himself as “a quick player, with good vision and I can beat players.”

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been named on the three-man shortlist for FIFA’s Coach of the Year award, it has been announced.

He is joined by Diego Simeone, manager of city rivals Atletico de Madrid, and Joachim Loew, the German boss who lead his country to World Cup success in the summer. The winner of the award will be announced at a ceremony in January at FIFA’s headquarters in Switzerland.

Ancelotti enjoyed a glorious first season in charge of Los Blancos last year and will go down in the history books as being the man who lead the side to the coveted Decima – the club’s 10th Champions League crown. He masterminded the success in Europe, with Los Blancos seeing off Bayern Munich in the semi-finals and Atletico in a memorable final in Lisbon.

The Italian also guided the Spanish giants to success in the Copa del Rey. The defeated their neighbours Atletico in the semi-final stage before beating Barelona 2-1 in Valencia. It was a game in which Gareth Bale paid back a large chunk of the transfer fee shelled out on him, scoring a sensational winner in the dying minutes.

At the start of this campaign, Los Blancos also lifted the European Super Cup – Ancelotti’s third trophy in just 12 months at the club. And the club is going strongly now, winning 16 matches in a row to sit top of the table and progress to the next phase of the Champions League.

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Carlo Ancelotti has said Real Madrid Castilla boss Zinedine Zidane is doing a great job after six home-grown players featured in Los Blancos’ 5-0 win over Cornella.

The Champions League holders progressed to the next stage with a 9-1 aggregate victory and extended their winning run to 17 matches thanks to goals from James Rodriguez (2), Isco, Jese, and an own goal.

Fernando Pachecho, Nacho, Alvaro Medran, Jese, Javi Munoz and Diego Llorente all featured in the game at the Santiago Bernabeu.  And speaking after the game, Ancelotti said it was a great compliment to Zidane and shows what a good job he is doing.

“We finished the game with six youth academy players on the pitch. That is great for the club. Zidane is doing great work. He is very charismatic and the players listen to him. He is doing great work and the youth academy players are improving under him, and we are going to benefit from that, just like we did tonight. We get players that are ready to go like Medrán and Llorente. Muñoz was also very assured. The work carried out by the youth academy is important,” he stated.

When asked about the winning record, the Italian told journalists the team doesn’t think about things like that. Instead, they focus on one game at a time and believe they can win each one.

“We never thought about the record and we haven’t given it any thought since. We have another important game against Celta and we want to stay top of La Liga, which is our objective. We are happy that the run is still alive and we will work to keep it going as long as we can.”

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Jese Rodriguez made his long-awaited returned after nine months out injured and scored in Real Madrid’s goal fest against third division side Cornella.

Los Blancos eased into the last-16 round of the Copa del Rey thanks to goals from James Rodriguez (2), Isco, Jese Rodriguez and an own goal from Xavi Pelegri.

In a surprising start, Carlo Ancelotti men were surprised by Xavi Boniquet, who won a penalty off Alvaro Arbeloa. However, the Spanish midfielder sent his kick over the bar.

The reigning Copa del Rey champions opened the score a few minutes later, as James chipped the goalkeeper after catching a brilliant assist from Isco. In the next play, Colombian assisted the Spaniard, who finished with another chip.

Los Merengues were leading 3-0 with ten minutes to go in the first half as James got his brace taking advantage of some poor defending from Cornella and finishing into the bottom corner.

Real Madrid continued dominating after the break and they made it 4-0 when Chicharito Hernandez’s shot hit the bar and rebounded into Pelegri, who couldn’t prevent the own goal.

Jese Rodriguez came in from the bench in the second half after nine months on the sidelines and he closed the score with a shot into the bottom corner.

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Karim Benzema

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is in the best form of his career, and he continues to be linked with a move out of the Santiago Bernabeu.

Many European giants dream of signing the Frenchman. In fact, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal could be preparing a bid according to reports.

The Daily Express has claimed Benzema is Manchester United’s first option to replace Radamel Falcao, who will return to Monaco next summer. “Van Gaal’s first-choice signing is Benzema, who apparently forms no part of Carlo Ancelotti’s future plans at the Santiago Bernabeu,” the British newspaper claims.

Meanwhile, The Daily Star has stated Liverpool and Arsenal have joined the fight to sign the France international, provided that Ancelotti would let him go next summer.

This newspaper claims the Italian is “desperate to find a way of playing Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Isco, with Benzema one who could drop out if a system change would work.”

Benzema has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in the last 11 games, helping Los Blancos earn a record 16 victories in a row.

He has also been named La Liga’s player of the month of October by Spanish newspaper Marca, beating team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Benzema has been a key for Los Merengues to reach such a high level of performance and it seems highly unlikely that Florentino Perez, who has always had a preference for the Frenchman, would be willing to let him go.

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Real Madrid take on Cornella in the second-leg of their Copa del Rey clash at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight knowing that they should be safely through to the next stage barring a disaster.

Los Blancos hold a 4-1 lead going into the game against the Catalan minnows, and this should be as close to an exhibition match for Madrid mid-season as they can get.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men have won their last 16 matches in a row, a new club record, and should ease past Cornella tonight. The Italian has said he will make wholesale changes to his starting 11 this evening, allowing some of the fringe players and those needing match practice to get some minutes under their belts.

The biggest news for Madrid fans is the return of Jese Rodriguez. The young forward has missed the last eight months with a serious knee injury but has been given the all clear following the past few weeks training with the first team.

Sami Khedira and Asier Illarramendi will slot into the midfield, Keylor Navas will get a start in goal, while Mexican forward Javier Hernandez should get some game time as he looks to continue to impress his manager and secure a permanent deal at the club.

Probable line-up:
Real Madrid: Keylor Navas; Coentrão, Varane, Arbeloa, Nacho; Khedira, Medrán, Illarra, Isco; Bale, Chicharito

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Cristiano Ronaldo is on the three-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or award, it has been announced.

The Portuguese is joined by Barcelona striker Leo Messi and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Ronaldo is the favourite for the award having taken his game to new levels this calendar year. He netted 17 goals in the Champions League last season – a record over a single campaign – as Los Blancos went all the way and lifted the trophy, ending a 12-year wait for La Decima.

The 29-year-old also helped Los Blancos to success in the Copa del Rey and European Super Cup, and has started this season in even more sensational form, netting 26 times in just 20 games to date.

Messi, who has won the award four times in the past, recently became La Liga’s all time leading goalscorer. The 27-year-old also carried his side to the World Cup final and picked up the player of the tournament award along the way.

Meanwhile, Manuel Neuer played a key role for Bayern Munich as the Bavarians won the domestic double. He then went on to lift the World Cup with Germany in the summer. Should Neuer pick up the award in January, he would be only the second goalkeeper to win it after the Soviet Union’s Lev Yashin.

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