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Spanish football is in mourning after the team was knocked out of the World Cup at the first hurdle. A 2-0 defeat to Chile ensured the current holders would be on the plane home earlier than they expected – but much of the press reaction is of pride for the last six years and the huge success the national team gave to everyone.

Looking at Real Madrid news in particular, Los Blancos have announced they will play their final pre-season game in Warsaw on August 16 against Fiorentina. The game will take place four days after Carlo Ancelotti’s men play Sevilla in Cardiff in the European Supercopa, and falls four days before the second leg of the Spanish Supercopa, when Madrid will host city rivals Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real have good memories of playing Fiorentina in Warsaw. It was the scene of the club’s second European Cup win in 1957, when di Stefano and Gento were the heroes.

Elsewhere, AS says Juventus will hold another meeting with Real’s directors over the possible transfer of Alvaro Morata. The forward is set to leave the club in search of first team football but the process so far has been long drawn out.

And finally, Manchester United are expected to make a bid of around 45 million euros for Sami Khedira as they look to strengthen their midfield ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

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Improving on a season in which Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey and the Champions League will be a difficult one.

But it’s something that Los Blancos midfielder Asier Illarramendi has said the squad wants to do in the new season.

Los Blancos defeated bitter rivals Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final in April, Gareth Bale scoring a sensational late winner. The following month, they secured the long-awaited Decima, the club’s 10th European crown, beating city rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1 in extra time in Lisbon.

As a result of the successes this campaign, Carlo Ancelotti’s men will fight on six fronts next season – La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League, World Club Cup, Spanish Supercopa and European Supercopa.

And in an interview with AS, Illarramendi said the team wants to improve year on year. Anything less would be falling below the levels expected at a club the size of Real Madrid.

The midfielder, a summer signing from Real Sociedad last year, said: “We all want more and of course, I do too. The balance of the season for the team has been very positive.”

And he added: Can we do better than what has been achieved this year? We have won two trophies, including La Decima, which we’ll remember for a long time. I am very happy about that. But improving what the team has achieved this year will be very difficult.”

 

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Karim Benzema has been touted as possible future captain of Real Madrid by the team’s assistant manager Zinedine Zidane.

Although not being part of the first team regularly Iker Casillas has remained club captain, but when not on the field in league fixtures the opportunity has been open to other members of the squad.

Benzema has stepped up his game in recent months under the tutelage of Los Blancos legend, and fellow Frenchman, Zidane, who he has formed a close bond with the since his return to the club in a coaching capacity.

Having been constantly linked away from the Santiago Bernabeu in recent transfer windows, Benzema’s dramatic improvement in form helped the side to La Decima with five goals in eleven Champions League appearances this season.

Speaking to L’Equipe, Zidane said: “As has happened with the French national team, he could inherit the captain’s armband at this club. I hope he rises to the challenge next season.

“I’d like it if Karim took the initiative at Real Madrid, I want Karim to speak to the group rather than have others do it for him.”

Benzema is currently representing his national team, France, at the World Cup in Brazil and continued his good end of season form with two goals and an assist in France’s first group game against Honduras.

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Real Madrid have set their eyes on talented British 19-year-old Raheem Sterling, sources have told Realmadridnews.com.

The Liverpool winger has had a superb season at Anfield Road, scoring ten goals in 34 appearances and becoming a key player for the Reds to complete their best season of the last few years, even though they blew their title chances at the end.

Sterling played a brilliant game with England in the first match of the World Cup against Italy, and has caught the attention of Los Blancos technical directors, who have been eyeing him for the last few months.

Sterling’s contract with Liverpool expires in 2017, but the North-England side have offered him an extension worth 6.5 million euros a year – he’s now making slightly more than two millions per season.

Los Merengues are looking to reinforce their attack and Sterling could be a much cheaper addition than his team-mate Luis Suarez. The British forward could leave Anfield Road for less than 30 million euros, although Liverpool will not be willing to let him go easily.

Real Madrid directors see Sterling as a player for the future, and they would be open to negotiate a move that would include a one-year loan to Liverpool, in order to cheapen the deal.

Sterling could become the fifth Englishman to sign for Real Madrid, following the steps of Laurie Cunningham, Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and David Beckham.

* Get all Real Madrid news in our Twitter account.

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Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has dismissed reports he will move to Real Madrid and insisted he is happy playing his football at the Etihad Stadium.

The Argentina striker, who used to play for Real’s city rivals Atletico de Madrid prior to signing for the Premier League champions, has long been linked with a return to the Spanish capital.

Much of that has to do with off the field issues – with his former partner moving back to Spain with their child after becoming unhappy living in Manchester. Reports have suggested Aguero would like return to be closer to his child.

Los Blancos were linked with a move for the forward last season shortly after selling his compatriot Gonzalo Higuain to Napoli, but a bid was never made. Carlo Ancelotti is believed to be on the lookout for another forward in the close season, particularly with Alvaro Morata on his way out of the Santiago Bernabeu.

And Aguero was reportedly one of the top striker targets, along with Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.

But speaking to Cadena Cope, the forward said: “There’s lots of talk about Real Madrid and Barcelona. It’s always the same every year. But the truth is that I’m going to stay at City. I’m very happy and I’m going to continue there.”

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Spain take on Chile in their win or bust encounter tonight so much of the focus in the press is on the game. Will Iker Casillas redeem himself after a horror show on Friday?

In terms of Real Madrid news, we start with club president denying any involvement that he or any member of the club had any pact with members of the Qatar 2022 World Cup bid.

According to France Football, Angel Villar, president of the Spanish Federation, held meetings with the team from Qatar, which in return for the Spanish support, promised to endorse Spain’s candidacy for 2018. The magazine said two other key figures were also involved – Perez, and Barcelona’s former president Sandro Rosell.

In a statement released to the press, Perez said: “It is absolutely false that there was a meeting in October 2009, or on any other date, with the delegation named in the report, nor with any other delegation, nor with the president of the Federación Española de Fútbol, nor with anybody in relation to Qatar’s World Cup candidacy.”

Elsewhere, the club is set to reward Dani Carvajal with an improvement contract after the right back made the slot his own over the past season. He currently earns around 1.5 million euros a year but will have a salary increase of around a million euros to reflect the fact he is now a first choice under Carlo Ancelotti.

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Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea could be set to pip Real Madrid to the signing of Germany midfielder Toni Kroos after reports suggested Los Blancos aren’t prepared to offer as high a salary.

Much speculation has surrounded the Bayern Munich man, who has just one year to go on his current deal at the Allianz Arena. Manchester United were believed to be interested at one stage as they look to rebuild after a poor season at Old Trafford, while Real’s interest has been around for some time as Carlo Ancelotti looks to boost his midfield options.

But according to reports in Spain, former Los Blancos boss Mourinho could get his man by offering 10 million euros a year as his salary. Although Kroos could be tempted by a move to Real Madrid, who have won the Champions League ten times in their history, the salary is thought to be significantly lower, at around seven million euros a season.

Pep Guardiola is keen to keep the 24-year-old, but Munich are not prepared to break their wage structure, even if they run the risk of losing the player.

Ancelotti is looking at Kroos as one of a number of midfield options. Reports in Spain have also linked him with moves for Ramiers, Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal and Marco Verratti.

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Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has said he has nothing to prove at the World Cup as he has already enjoyed huge success in his career.

Portugal were beaten 4-0 in their opening match against Germany on Monday, a game in which the 29-year-old was clearly not fully fit yet after suffering tendonitis problems in his knee in recent weeks.

But speaking before that match took place, Ronaldo, who scored 51-goals for his club this season, said he has nothing to prove in the world’s biggest football tournament.

Critics of the Ballon d’Or winner have said his record at the World Cup finals is poor, with only two goals to his name having played in both the 2006 and 2010 tournaments.

Talking to journalists before the disastrous start for his nation, Ronaldo stated: “I don’t think I have to show anyone anything.  Look at my statistics and my CV – I have nothing to prove. My career has been great so far and I just want that to continue.

“But I believe that one player is not a team. I am here to help the team. I am an additional player and I can make a difference, but I can’t carry the team on my back.”

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Real Madrid have been linked with a move for Benfica’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak. The Slovenian international has had a superb season with The Eagles, becoming a guaranteed starter and conceeding only 19 goals in 36 appearances with the first team.

The 21-year-old is one of the most promising goalies in Europe and Los Blancos have set their eyes on him as a future replacement for Iker Casillas and Diego Lopez, according to Portuguese sports newspaper A Bola.

The Lisbon-based daily claims Oblak has a 20-million-euros buy-out clause, but his real value could be around six million. However, Benfica would expect to make a good deal if they were to sell Oblak to Real.

Oblak arrived at Benfica in 2010 in a 1.7-million-euros move from Olimpija Ljubljana. Since then, he has played on loan at Beira-Mar, Olhanense, Uniao Leiria and Rio Ave.

Last summer he returned to Benfica to become the starting goalkeeper thanks to Artur Moraes’ injury. He caught the attention of many European clubs in the semi-finals of the Europe League against Juventus. In fact, he has been linked with a move to both finalists of the Champions League: Atletico Madrid and Real.

Thus, Oblak is a serious candidate to join Real Madrid in case either Iker Casillas or Diego Lopez leave the club this summer.

* Follow all Real Madrid news on our Twitter account.

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There was much Real Madrid interest in yesterday’s clash between Portugal and Germany with four Los Blancos players taking part.

And for Cristiano Ronaldo, Fabio Coentrao and Pepe, it was a nightmare start to the World Cup as they went down 4-0 to the 2010 semi-finalists, Sami Khedira putting in an impressive performance for Joachom Low’s team.

Much was expected of Portugal with Ronaldo, the Ballon d’Or winner amongst their ranks. And indeed it was the Portuguese who started brightly in the opening 10 minutes, with Hugo Almeida testing Manuel Neuer in the German goal.

The scare seemed to spark the Germans into life, and they were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute. Some lovely combination play between Thomas Muller, former Real star Mesut Ozil, and Maio Goetze ended when the latter was hauled down in the box. Muller dispatched the spot kick with ease.

Just after the half hour mark, Germany went two up when Mats Hummels headed home a  corner, giving Portugal a mountain to climb. And despite a brief spell of possession, any hope of a comeback was ended when Pepe inexplicably imploded and he earned himself a red card. His flailing arm seemed to catch Muller, and when the Bayern Munich man went down, the Real Madrid defender reacted angrily and nudged the German with his head. An act of stupidity that cost his team.

The game was settled just before the break when Muller neat turn and tidy finish put Germany 3-0 up. At that point, many thought Ronaldo should have been taken off for bigger challenges ahead in the final two group games. Despite claiming to be fit, he was clearly well below his best and hardly had a look in.

In the second half, Germany controlled possession and were largely untroubled, apart from a penalty shout when Ronaldo went down in the area. Things went from bad to worse for Portugal though. Fabio Coentrao’s World Cup may be over already after he was stretchered off with a hamstring strain. And on 72 minutes, Muller completed his hat trick to confirm the German’s superiority.

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