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Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has done little to quash reports he is keen on a move to Real Madrid.

The former Atletico de Madrid shot stopper has been identified by the Los Blancos hierarchy as the man to replace Iker Casillas between the sticks in the long-term at the Santiago Bernabeu and some reports say the 10-time European champions will make an effort to sign him in the summer.

De Gea, who has cemented his place in the Spain squad in recent months, told La Sexta he is happy at Manchester United but added it’s difficult to know if Real will make a bid for him or not.

The 24-year-old, who is currently sidelined with a dislocated finger picked up on international duty, said: “It’s hard to say if Real Madrid will make a bid because of all the rumours that appear in the Press. If you took seriously what is constantly written about you, then you’d almost believe you were going to a thousand clubs.

“I feel wanted in Manchester, so the best thing to do is pay attention to where you are at the moment, and I feel loved at United.”

De Gea joined United in 2011 for 20 millions euros and was the Player of the Year last season.

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Spain manager Vicente del Bosque believes Real Madrid have what it take to retain the Champions League trophy they won last season.

Los Blancos defeated Atletico de Madrid in Lisbon in May to win their 10th Champions League – La Decima. And the side is aiming to become the first to retain the trophy since it took its current name and format in the early-1990’s.

Speaking at a publicity event earlier this week, del Bosque, himself a former Los Blancos manager, told journalists he believes Carlo Ancelotti has at his disposal everything he needs to lift the trophy once more.

“Real Madrid’s history is so long. There were bad moments but now they are going through bright times. They have a great team for the future and the club’s togetherness is making things work out,” he stated.

And he added: “They are a complete team that have performed extraordinarily in their recent games. They are in position to repeat their Champions League triumph.”

The World Cup and European Championship winning boss was then asked to wade in on the Ronaldo versus Messi debate, but gave a diplomatic answer, telling reporters they are both fantastic examples for anyone studying the game.

“Messi and Ronaldo are both fantastic examples,” he remarked. “For those who like football, we like them both and, if people like one over the other, that’s normally up to the team they support. Both of them are fantastic.”

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Former Real Madrid defender Ricardo Carvalho has hailed his international team mate Cristiano Ronaldo as almost perfect and believes he should win the Ballon d’Or.

The Los Blancos forward won football’s most prestigious individual award in 2008 and 2013 and is one of the favourites for the award again when it is announced in January. He fired Madrid to success in the Copa del Rey and Champions League last season, and has made a blistering start to this campaign, scoring 23 goals in 17 matches in total.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Portugal’s friendly against Argentina at Old Trafford, 36-year-old Carvalho, now plying his trade in the French league with Monaco, said Ronaldo is the best in the world right now.

“I think he is the best. For us Portuguese, everyone is expecting that Cristiano can win the third Ballon d’Or,” he stated.

“We are so proud of him. He is doing a great job during these past six or seven years. He is improving all the small details, making so many goals. He wants always more, even in training. Maybe next he can break his own records. He is looking always to try his best.”

He went on to add that while Ronaldo dedicates every training session to improving himself as a player, it is hard to see how much more he can improve.

“It is difficult because when you see him, he is almost perfect, he is strong, good in the air, he is fit always. It is difficult to say what he is missing.”

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Former Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria has said in an interview that he doesn’t regret leaving the club because he’d won everything he wanted to.

The 26-year-old left the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer to sign for Manchester United in a 75-million-euro deal and he has shown flashes of his brilliance at Old Trafford so far. When he first left the club, many Madridistas were upset to see such a key member of the Champions League winning side depart.

Speaking to French football channel, Telefoot, the winger said he achieved all he wanted to in the Spanish capital, with La Decima being the highlight.

“I am very happy in Manchester even if it is different from Spanish football. I have no regrets about leaving Real Madrid. I won everything I wanted to there: League, Cup and the Champions League,” he stated.

The Argentinean also went on to hint that he could be interested in playing in France one day and revealed a move to PSG was only denied this summer because the Ligue 1 side ran into financial difficulties.

“PSG had money problems and they could not buy players at the time. That’s the main reason why I did not end up in France. I’m in England now but you never know, there’s a lot of movement in football. You can never predict where you’ll end up. It could have been a good experience for me to go to Paris.

“There were a lot of clubs interested in me, including Monaco too. But Manchester United appeared and others did not. It’s true that they wanted me,” he commented.

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Real Madrid midfielder Isco has said there is more to come from him after netting a wonder strike for Spain on Saturday evening.

The 22-year-old is having a fine season for Los Blancos have stepped up to fill in for the injured Gareth Bale in recent weeks. And his form earned him a first start for Spain in the European Championship qualifier against Belarus, in which he scored a brilliant goal.

Speaking to the press after the match, Isco said he was pleased with how things are going at club and country level. And he put it down to being physically fit and in match shape.

“The improvement comes from feeling well physically. I’m fast and fine, and it shows on the field. When a player doesn’t play, he either stagnates or does what I did – works hard to regain his place,” Isco said.

He added that all he can do now is keep working hard and playing well to impress both Carlo Ancelotti and Vicente del Bosque.

“I feel good, I’m taking advantage of the opportunities and I don’t want to think that this is my best spell. Lately, it seems that people like me! My future is not up to me. I try to work and earn it every day. That’s up to the coaches. They are the best in the world I try to make it difficult for the coaches,” he commented.

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Real Madrid blog

Real Madrid will miss Luka Modric up to three months of action after the Croatia international suffered a groin injury during Croatia’s clash with Italy on Sunday. The 29-year-old has been a key piece for Carlo Ancelotti during the season, and his absence will be a blow to the boss and to the Los Blancos’ game plan. The Italian manager has plenty of options to replace Modric, but who would be the best choice?

Isco is in great shape and form, as he proved last Saturday with Spain. Very few players in Real Madrid squad are as decisive as the Andalusian at the moment. Playing him alongside Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez in a three-man midfield line could be an option for Ancelotti. Yet, that would require a bigger effort from the Spaniard and the Colombian in defence, and Ancelotti’s successful 4-4-2 system would have to be dismantled. Isco is not used to playing that far from goal, and his game could be affected. In order to better take advantage from Isco’s great shape, he needs to play in a more offensive position, thus using him as Kroos’ pair doesn’t seem like the best choice.

Sami Khedira and Asier Illarramendi are the most likely candidates to replace Modric. The German international was an important man for Ancelotti last season, but this year an injury and the controversy surrounding his contract renewal have changed his role in the team. Modric’s injury seems like a perfect chance for him to recover the coach’s trust and show that he can still be important for Los Blancos.

Picking llarramendi would have a lesser impact in the team’s display. Ancelotti has often used him to give Kroos and Modric some rest, so the Spaniard is no stranger to being pairied with the German in midfield. His presence would reinforce Los Merengues defensive system. Plus, it would allow Kroos to join the offensive more often, and we all know what are the huge benefits of that.

Other riskier options would be giving youngster Alvaro Medran a chance or testing James Rodriguez as Kroos’ partner. Both options seem very unlikely to occur. Medran has proved to have a brilliant future ahead, but he doesn’t seem ready to take on such a responsibility. Meanwhile, James has never played in that position, and despite his undeniable quality he would need a few games to adapt to such a different role.

Whoever he may chose, at least Ancelotti can’t complain of not having enough options. He might be short of substitutes in other positions, but his midfield line is one of the most complete in Europe.

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Borussia Monchengladbach defender Tony Jantschke has said he would only consider a move to Real Madrid amid interest from top clubs in Europe.

Reports in the press have suggested FA Cup holders Arsenal and Seria A side AC Milan are interesting in signing the German player, who has impressed for his club so far this season.

But speaking to the media about his future, Jantschke said he has a long-term deal at his current club and would only consider leaving if it were to switch to the Santiago Bernabeu.

“I don’t know anything about AC Milan and I am firmly conscious that I signed a deal with Monchengladbach until 2018. I have always said that I only have a weakness for one club therefore I would only respond to a call from Real Madrid,” he stated.

Arsenal are in desperate need of defensive signings, with the team stripped to the bare bones because of injuries to Laurent Koscielny and Matieu Debuchy. The sold captain Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona in the summer and failed to replace him properly, leaving them vulnerable at the back.

Jantschke has represented his country at all youth levels and is widely expected to earn a first ever call up to the national team in the near future.

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Luka Modric

The injury curse has struck Real Madrid once more after it emerged Luka Modric will miss the around four months due to a groin injury.

The playmaker pulled up in the 26th minute of Croatia’s clash with Italy on Sunday evening and although he tried to play on, he was replaced by Mateo Kovacic an went straight to the dressing room for treatment.

According to reports in Croatia, heavy rain in the past few days could have been a factor in how the playmaker picked up the injury. It is thought he will miss between three and four month action while he sits on the sidelines.

In the next month, Real Madrid face Eibar, Malaga, Celta Vigo and Almeria in La Liga, while they also go up against Basel and Ludogorets in the Champions League. Los Blancos also head to Morocco in mid-December to take part in the Club World Championship.

Los Blancos fans and boss Carlo Ancelotti will hope the side can cope without him until the spring. All being well, it is believed he could be back in February or March, meaning he should be able to feature should Real still be involved in the Champions League and Copa del Rey.

The news is a devastating blow for Carlo Ancelotti and the club as Modric and Toni Kroos have formed a perfect midfield partnership this season. A fit-again Sami Khedira could fill the void left by Modric, while Asier Illarramendi will also be hoping to get some game time in the next few weeks.

 

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Ex-Real Madrid assistant boss Aitor Karanka has defended Jose Mourinho’s decision to drop Iker Casillas for the final six months of his reign as manager.

Mourinho signed Diego Lopez in January 2013 and immediately dropped club captain Casillas. The decision prompted much debate in the press and among fans and was thought to have been one of the factors that split the dressing room towards the end of the Portuguese manager’s reign at the club.

But in quotes published by Marca, Karanka, now manager of Championship side Middlesbrough, said the decision was the right one, and something even Casillas admits was correct.

“Time always gives you more reasons. Mourinho was attacked and four months later they got another Coach and Ancelotti decided Diego Lopez would continue as the starter,” he stated.

And he continued: “A few weeks ago Casillas himself stated that Mourinho talked to him every day. He took Iker out of the team for the good of the team. He wasn’t fit and wasn’t at his best. Ancelotti proved us right.

“Mourinho was attacked from the moment he arrived but the Madrid fans appreciated his success. We missed the Champions League, which was a shame, but if anyone ended Barcelona’s supremacy, it was Mourinho. If it wasn’t for him, there would have been a repeat of Barca’s six titles.”

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Gareth Bale could have gone to Manchester United or Barcelona but chose to fulfill his dream and play for Real Madrid, his agent has said.

The Welshman moved to the Santiago Bernabeu last summer in a 91-million-euro deal from Tottenham Hotspur. And after a tough start to life in the Spanish capital when he was hampered by injury, Bale wrote himself into Madridista folklore by scoring the winner in the Copa de Rey final, and the crucial second goal in the Champions League final.

Speaking to Madrid-based daily AS, Jonathan Barnett said his client had bigger offers from both the Red Devils and Los Cules, but wanted to move to the 10-time European Cup winners.

“To complete it was a great honor for me because I met Gareth when he was very young and I was able to help make dream come true … He always wanted to play for Madrid. He could have gone to United and other clubs, but he wanted to Madrid,” he said.

“I know that at one time Barcelona were also interested in him, but he said he did not want to go there. There were two agents who called me,” he added.

He went on to say that he was confident the 25-year-old would one day go on to win the Ballon d’Or.

“I’m sure that he will be the best player in the world. He will win the Ballon d’Or. He’s 25 years old! I told the president and Jose Angel Sanchez and they laughed. They don’t laugh much now,” he stated.

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