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Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema has said Barcelona need to stay in La Liga, even if Cataluna votes for independence.

Earlier this week, the president of the Spanish league, Javier Tebas, suggested both Barcelona and Espanyol would need to quit La Liga if the region votes ‘yes’ for independence on November 9.

But talking to reporters ahead of France’s friendlies against Portugal and Armenia, Benzema said politics should not affect the current set up of La Liga and that if Luis Enrique’s team pulled out, the league would be much weaker and Los Blancos would lose a great rival.

“We need Barcelona to stay in the League. That’s what football is all about – two great teams like Madrid and Barca playing against each other. If they need to leave La Liga then that would be a problem so I hope things stay as they are,” he stated.

Sticking to the Madrid vs Barcelona theme, Benzema was also asked who he thinks is better between Ronaldo and Leo Messi, to which the Frenchman gave a very diplomatic answer.

“I can’t compare the two as they don’t have the same style of play. Both are great players and are without question among the best on the planet. In my case, if I wanted to reach their level I’d have to improve my statistics and win individual titles as well as collective ones,” he replied.

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Radamel Falcao has said he joined Manchester United in the summer because the Red Devils rather than Real Madrid were prepared to gamble on his fitness.

The Colombian forward missed a large part of last season with Monaco and the World Cup in Brazil with a serious knee injury. But after making a return to fitness, the striker joined the Old Trafford side in a sensational deadline-day loan move.

Los Blancos had long been linked with a move for the former Atletico de Madrid man with talk of his return to the Spanish capital peaking after Alvaro Morata left the club for Juventus meaning Carlo Ancelotti was on the lookout for a new forward.

But in an interview with radio station Onda Cero, Falcao said any talk of the Madrid move is now in the past and he appreciates the gamble United took on him.

“I would rather not to talk about that. It is already past and I have to look to the future. I have to look to Manchester United. I am very happy here,” he stated.

And he added: “There were many talks and speculations (about Real Madrid) but Manchester United were the ones that gambled on me when it was very difficult to do so (because of fears over his fitness). I really appreciate that. I am in one of the best clubs in the world.”

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Iker Casillas came clear on his past and current situation at Real Madrid in an exclusive interview with Canal+. The goalkeeper replied sincerely to all of Inaki Gabilondo’s controversial questions, and his agent later tried to censor part of the interview, sources from the television revealed.

More precisely, Carlos Cutriopia asked Gabilondo to cut the part in which Casillas was asked about Florentino Perez’s attitude when the keeper was left apart by Jose Mourinho. The Spanish international cofessed he felt “isolated.”

Here are some of the most controversial answers Casillas gave in the interview:

On his wife Sara Carbonero being the cause of his problems with Mourinho: “Some people used Sara’s as an excuse to launch attacks on me. From that moment, I started having problems. They started saying I was leaking information to my partner so she would spread it.”

On him being called a mole: “I think it’s a bit unfair that they call me a mole. I understand people have started this movement and I have to accept it. I want to think that the manager [Mourinho] and the president didn’t think I was a mole. They know I have a fluid relationship with many journalists because I know them since I was 16. But that doesn’t mean I’m not able to separate the profesional relation from the friendship.”

His conflict with Mourinho: “Maybe I should have replied Mourinho, but I opted to remain silent for the good of the club. I didn’t want to fuel the fire. Oddly enough, after those press conferences in which he spoke about me, we would not talk. It wasn’t a good relationship and each of us went our separate ways. I would come [to the training ground] everyday when I was injured, but when I recovered Karanka said I wasn’t fit for competition. That’s when I felt they had a problem with me.”

On whether he felt abandoned by Florentino Perez: “I felt isolated. I asked to make some trips like Manchester or Barcelona, because I liked to be with the team. I didn’t feel abandoned by the president, but I felt isolated.”

His relationship with Arbeloa: “Arbeloa and I disagree on our vision of the team. Our relation is not the way it was five, six or seven years ago, but it is a kind, polite and respectful relationship. We’re not as close as we used to be, but there’s no problem.”

The fans’ critics: “The fans are sovereign, but I have a heart and it hurts. Having spent 15 years at Real Madrid, you know the fans are demanding. Two years ago certain things happened to me, I don’t know if it was sorcery, but things didn’t go as I was used to. Yet, last season, when I played less, it was the best season of all.”

His relationship with the fans: “A few months ago I felt awful. I was the problem everybody tried to eliminate, like a disease. However, when I walk down the streets, I feel the people’s affection.”

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Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos will be sidelined for the next two weeks after suffering an injury in his right calf.

The 28-year-old centre-back had to be replaced by Raphael Varane at half-time last Sunday against Athletic Bilbao, when he felt a sharp pain in his leg.

Medical tests have confirmed Ramos has suffered a micro-tear and will miss at least three official games.

The Andalusian had been picked by Vicente del Bosque for the Spain squad that will face Slovakia and Luxemburg this week, but Ramos will miss both games.

It is probable that he could recover on time for Los Blancos’ next La Liga clash at Levante, but the club’s doctors have recommended him to rest in that game, thus having 16 consecutive days of recovery.

This means that Ramos would make his return on the 22nd of October, when Los Merengues will travel to Liverpool to face the Reds in the third date of the Champions League.

The defender is eager to take part in that game, to try and wipe out the memories of 2009, when the Madridistas lost 4-0 at Anfield Road.

* Get all the latest Real Madrid news by following our Twitter account @realmadridnewsw

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Gareth Bale has urged Cristiano Ronaldo to resist the opportunity to return to Manchester United next summer and stay at Real Madrid.

The 29-year-old forward has made no secret of his desire to one day return to Old Trafford, where he enjoyed six successful seasons playing under Sir Alex Ferguson. And talk in the UK press says the Red Devils could go in for the star next summer in an attempt to bring him back to the north west of England.

Ronaldo remains an iconic figure at the club, and a group of United fans recently arranged for a small plane to be flown over the Madrigal stadium as Real took on Villarreal with a trailing banner urging him to return ‘home’.

Speaking from the Wales training camp where he is preparing with his team mates for Euro 2016 matches against Cyprus and Bosnia-Herzegovenia, Bale said Ronaldo should stick around in the Spanish capital and keep winning trophies in the famous white shirt.

“He’s shown what a world-class player he is year after year scoring the goals. Obviously he’s a player we wouldn’t want to see leave. Of course, (I) want to see him stay at Real Madrid,” the 24-year-old forward said.

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Real Madrid are planning a summer bid for Javier Pastore, FIFA agent Francois Gallardo has claimed at Spanish sports television show El Chiringuito.

The Argentinian international has fallen back in the pecking order at Paris Saint-Germain, and would welcome a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti is a known admirer of the 25-year-old. In fact, it was the Italian who signed him for PSG when Pastore was playing at Palermo. The Argentinian moved to Paris in a 40-million-euros deal, playing one season under Ancelotti, in which he scored 16 goals.

“Real Madrid are eyeing Pastore. He played in the Champions League last week and was important for PSG to beat Barcelona. He’s got an exquisite technique, and he’s pure elegance when playing in midfield. Real Madrid are keeping tabs in case any player leaves next summer. He could also join Barcelona,” Francois Gallardo has explained.

Los Blancos’ boss would approve Pastore’s signing, but the Spanish club would have to bid high to convince PSG’s directors. Some sources have claimed the Ligue 1 side would settle for 25 million euros, but others have stated they won’t accept less than 40.

Plus, Madrid will have many competitors in case Pastore decides to leave his current club. Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona have also shown an interest in signing him.

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Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez has said he wants to emulate Angel di Maria at the club and make history for Los Blancos.

The Colombian’s arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer prompted the sale of di Maria to Manchester United for 75 million euros. The Argentinean was a key player in the side that won the Champions League last season – the club’s 10th European Cup crown.

His sale angered some Real fans at the time but James’ has slotted well into the first team and has become an important member in Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

But the 23-year-old told Madrid daily, AS, that there is room for improvement and he wants to create history at the club like di Maria did.

“As for Di María, he is a great player. He made history here and I have a lot of respect for him. I have only just joined, but I want to make history with Real Madrid as well,” he stated.

And the World Cup’s top scorer this summer stated: “I am comfortable here and I want to do everything the coach tells me to do. I just want to help so we can win. The feeling is that everything went perfectly, although we’ve already had good games. We are all playing well. We have dangerous players up front and we are strong at the back.

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Daniel Carvajal has said Real Madrid are close to hitting top form after taking part in the 5-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at the weekend.

Los Blancos made it six consecutive wins in a row thanks to a hat trick from Cristiano Ronaldo – his 26th for the club since joining in 2009 – and a brace from Karim Benzema. The win moved the side up to fourth in La Liga and keeps the pressure on those above them.

Speaking to journalists after the match against the Basque outfit, Carvajal said the players were pleased with the win and added it was one of the best performances they have put in so far this season.

“We are very happy with the result and three points. It was one of the team’s best matches, very complete. We were compact and we enjoyed ourselves. We’re close to our optimum level. We play as a unit even though we are a very direct team,” he said.

The Spain international also spoke about the support from the crowd helping the team overcome a tough start to the campaign.

“Ancelotti has asked for depth from the full-backs and we’ve contributed a lot. The crowd cheer all the players on and that gives us the confidence to carry on. We found it really difficult at the start but, despite the defeats in La Liga, we are getting better and better and the results are coming,” he added.

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Former Spain manager Jose Antonio Camacho has defended Iker Casillas once again from his critics.

The Real Madrid club captain has come under constant fire from certain sections of the press for some under-par performances. With the Los Blancos defence still looking shaky and conceding a lot of goals from set pieces, the 33-year-old seems to be in the spotlight constantly.

His reputation took a beating in the summer after Spain’s disastrous defence of the World Cup trophy they won in South Africa in 2010. They lost their opening game against Holland 5-1 and followed that up with a 2-0 loss to Chile. Casillas was then dropped from the final group game against Australia.

A favourite question that keeps cropping up in press conferences with Carlo Ancelotti and a number of the Real players is whether Keylor Navas should take Casillas’ place in the starting line up at the Santiago Bernabeu.

But ex-La Roja boss Camacho said pundits and fans should get of Casillas’ back and support him instead.

“To me, Casillas looks upbeat,” the 59-year-old told reporters. “He’s talking to his teammates and performing well in goal. If you whistle at a player, you make him make mistakes. The fans are there to cheer you on during the game.”

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has said people are tired of his face after being a key member of the side for the last 15 years.

The 33-year-old has been jeered by a small section of his own fans at times this season as they want Keylor Navas to start in goal ahead of the World Cup winner. His reputation took a hit during the summer as Spain crashed out early from the World Cup, while Los Blancos also conceded some silly goals early on in the campaign.

But speaking to journalists after taking part in his side’s 5-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, Casillas became philosophical and said people just want change.

“It’s important for people to be with the team. The players have more confidence when they feel wanted. And the players respond to the fans’ appreciation. I can understand that people are tired of my face because I’ve been here for 15 years. But this is my own doing. I’ve taken a small place in the history of Madrid,” he said to reporters.

Speaking about the game itself, Casillas said he was delighted with another clean sheet and three points.

“The clean sheet is important because we’ve been on a run of conceding goals and I feel like we’ve got the support of the people. This is what everyone wants. Athletic didn’t stop and the result could have been different,” he said.

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