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Real Madrid and Derby County have reached an agreement to complete the loan of Los Blancos wonderkid Omar Mascarell for one season.

The 21-year-old midfielder played for Real Madrid Castilla last season, making 38 appearances and proving to be one of the most promising young players on Los Merengues reserve squad.

After Castilla got relegated to the third division, Real were looking to loan Mascarell to a team where he could develop his game.

Derby County has finally been the chosen destiny for Mascarell to gain experience.

“Derby County is a great option for me. I can come here, grow as a person and grow as a footballer,” the youngster confessed.

“It is a very important year for me, the most important thing is having Steve McClaren coaching me. He wants to play good football,” Mascarell added.

Derby manager Steve McClaren admitted “we’re delighted that we have been able to bring Omar Mascarell to Derby County on a season-long loan deal. He is a talented young player and I have monitored his progress for a number of years after first coming to my attention whilst in Holland at Twente.”

* Get all Real Madrid updates on our Twitter account: @realmadridnewsw

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Real Madrid have announced that striker Karim Benzema has extended his contract until June 30th 2019.

The 26-year-old’s previous contract expired in June 2015. Him and the club have been in talks since September 2013, and they have finally signed the new deal today at the Santiago Bernabeu’s offices.

Benzema was earning 4.5 million euros a year and Real Madrid have now increased his salary, although he will not get the 9 million he initially asked for.

Los Blancos published the following statement on their website: “Real Madrid C.F. would like to announce the extension of Karim Benzema’s contract with the club until 30 June 2019, to include the next five seasons.”

The Frenchman joined Madrid from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer of 2009, in a 35-million-euros transfer. Since then, he has played 235 matches, scoring 111 goals.

He has helped Los Merengues win one Champions League, one Liga, two Copa del Rey and one Supercup of Spain.

Benzema was crucial for the conquest of La Decima last season, as he played in 52 games and found the net 24 times, five of them in the Champions League.

* Get all the latest Real Madrid news on our Twitter account: @realmadridnewsw.

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Spanish sports daily As claims today that that Manchester City and Real Madrid are set to start a fight for signing Monaco’s striker Radamel Falcao.

“Duel for Falcao,” As titles on its front page. “City interfere in Real’s bid for the Colombian, but he prefers to play in Madrid,” they point out.

The Madrid-based daily also highlights the fact that “Karim Benzema signed a new contract until 2019.”

That is Marca’s main focus today, as they title “Exultant and undisputed.” “Benzema renews until 2019 in his best shape,” they explain. “A number 9 forever,” they claim.

“He returned from holidays working hard and Ancelotti counts on him for the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla,” Marca added.

The most sold Spanish newspaper also emphasizes Benzema’s words after announcing his contract extension: “I still want to win many titles with Real Madrid.”

Finally, Marca brings to its front page a study by Sports Illustrated that has put Cristiano Ronaldo as the second best sportsman in the world.

“The most complete footballer,” they title. “Taking into account speed, agility, strength and resistance, Sports Illustrated has established this podium: 1.LeBron 2.Ronaldo 3.Bolt,” Marca reports.

* Get all the latest Real Madrid news on our Twitter account: @realmadridnewsw.

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Real Madrid are trying everything in their attempt to see Xabi Alonso play the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla on August 12th. Representatives from the club will travel to Nyon this week seeking for a reprieve as they will argue the case to UEFA’s Appeals Body.

The Basque midfielder was given a one-match ban for running down the touchline to join the celebrations of Gareth Bale’s goal in the Champions League final. Alonso was suspended from playing the final in Lisbon and was seeing the game from the stands.

Los Merengues submitted a document to UEFA a few days ago, arguing that the punishment had been too harsh. Real maintain that a fine or a Champions League ban would be more appropriate, firstly because Alonso didn’t actually venture on to the field of play, and secondly, because it doesn’t make sense for the suspension to be served in a different competition to the one in which the offence took place.

The Committee will hear Los Blancos representatives and make their decision either on Thursday or Friday. Real are confident Xabi Alonso will be able to travel to Cardiff and play the first final of the season.

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Diego Lopez

Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez is close to completing a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu with firm interest from both AC Milan and Monaco.

The 32 year-old kept Iker Casillas out of the starting-eleven in La Liga last season but the signing of Keylor Navas could end the Spaniard’s involvement at the club.

According to Sky Sport Italia the Italian side AC Milan are favourites for the player’s signature while Monaco continue to monitor the situation in the background.

Milan want to take Lopez on loan for the season but the former Villarreal shot-stopper is keen on securing a permanent switch away from Real Madrid this summer.

The Rossoneri are looking to find a solution with coach Carlo Ancelotti happy to lend his former side a hand in convincing Lopez to make the switch to Serie A.

However should negotiations collapse then Monaco could be in the goalkeeper as they have the capacity to top anything Milan could be offering in terms of wages.

A resolution could be found by the end of the day with Milan displaying a great degree of optimism over the proposed move.

Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156

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Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is set to reignite his interest in Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, according to reports.

The Blues boss has missed out on a deal for Atletico de Madrid defender Joao Miranda, and is known to be a long time admirer of the French defender. It was in fact the Portuguese boss who signed Varane for Madrid when he was in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Mourinho has gone on record in the past saying he thinks Varane is the best young defender in the world, telling Sky Sports: “I think he is the best young central defender in the world. Already I think he’s the best.”

Now, the Chelsea boss is eying a 20 million euro bid for the player, who found it tough to get first team minutes at the Santiago Bernebeu last season. Having recovered from an injury plagued start to life in the Spanish capital, he is believed to be concerned about a lack of playing time, being the third choice behind Sergio Ramos and Pepe.

Varane is also thought to be keen on improving his contract at the club, of which no talks have taken place yet.

The youngster played a key part in helping France to the quarter finals of the World Cup in the summer.

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Madrid sports newspapers put their focus today on Keylor Navas unveiling at the Santiago Bernabeu. “The goalkeeper got very emotional when Florentino Perez gave him Real Madrid’s shirt,” Marca highlight.

“Costa Rica got mad with his signing, and 7.000 people attented the event,” the Madrid-based daily points out.

Marca emphasizes the fact that Los Blancos need to get rid of one goalie to solve their problem. “Three men and one destiny,” they title. “Iker Casillas, Navas, and Diego Lopez trained together yesterday waiting for a solution,” they add.

The most sold Spanish newspaper also highlights Navas words in his unveiling: “I’m not here because I won the lottery.”

Meanwhile, the other main Madrid sports paper, As, brings to its front page Navas statement on Casillas and Lopez: “Iker and Diego are my models,” he confessed.

“Keylor’s unveiling was broadcasted live in Costa Rica at the wee hours,” they point out.

As also reports that Angel di Maria got back to training yesterday while the club negotiates his exit, possibly to Paris Saint-Germain.

* Get all the latest Real Madrid news on our Twitter account: @realmadridnewsw.

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Real Madrid are prepared to listen to offers for midfielder Xabi Alonso, according to reports in Spain.

El Confidencial claimed Carlo Ancelotti and his coaching staff have been concerned by the veteran player’s level of fitness in pre-season and fear he won’t reach the level he has achieved in the past. The 32-year-old appears like he has lost weight and has looked weaker in Los Blancos’ games so far compared to previous games.

With the midfield now well stocked at the Santiago Bernabeu following the arrivals of Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez, Alonso could find his time in the Spanish capital coming to an end.

Reports in Marca and AS have also claimed the club is looking out for another central midfielder, and have identified Luis Gustavo as a potential signing. Should that be the case, the Spain international would have his chances of first team football limited.

The former LIverpool man, who signed for Madrid in 2009 in a 35 million euro deal, would have no shortage of suitors in Spain and the rest of Europe. The Basque midfielder signed a two-year contract extension in January, but had been attracting the interest of his former club Real Sociedad as well as Premier League side Chelsea before that.

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New Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas has said his aim is to be the number one goalkeeper at the club.

The Costa Rica international, who starred at this summer’s World Cup, arrived in a 10 million euro deal from Levante and was presented to a delighted Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday afternoon.

After an introduction by Florentino Perez, who described Navas as “one of the best goalkeepers in the world”, the shot stopper too to the stage to say some words to the Madridistas in the stadium.

And he made his intentions clear – he wants to end the Casillas vs Lopez debate once and for all by becoming the club’s number one.

“Good afternoon. I’d like to thank God to help me achieve my boyhood dream to reach these heights,” he told reporters.

“I’d like to thank Costa Ricans and Madridistas. I can’t wait to start, I want to give my all and start for the biggest club. “I’ll give my all in every training session and every game. I will do everything in my power to be a success here. Hala Madrid,” he concluded.

The Costa Rican’s arrivals will likely spell the end for one of the two keepers at the club – Lopez has been linked with a switch to Monaco while Casillas’ future is also in doubt.

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Colombia forward Radamel Falcao will not be leaving Monaco for Real Madrid, according to the Ligue 1 side’s boss Leonardo Jardim.

The former Atletico de Madrid striker has played just one season in France and has been linked with a return to the Spanish capital – this time to Los Blancos. Falcao missed the World Cup this summer due to a knee injury picked up in a cup game in France last season, and has only just made his comeback.

With the sale of Alvaro Morata to Juventus, Real manager Carlo Ancelotti is thought to be on the lookout for a new striker to cover for Karim Benzema – the only one in the squad who can play the number 9 role. Young forward Jese Rodriguez, who show much promise last season, is not expected to be back until November from the knee injury he suffered earlier this year.

But Monaco boss Jardin said: “At this point Falcao is our player and he’s with us 100 per cent and we don’t want to let him go. It’s a pity we lost James but we can count on Falcao staying. Regardless of what people say, he’s our player. He’s in the final stages of his recovery and he’ll be with us this season.”

 

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