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Thibaut Courtois does not have an agreement to join Real Madrid, the goalkeeper has said.

The 22-year-old Belgian shot stopper has been on loan at city rivals Atletico de Madrid from Chelsea for the last three years, and is due to return to Stamford Bridge next season.

But with the futures of Diego Lopez and Iker Casillas up in the air come the end of the campaign, Los Blancos are thought to be on the lookout for a world class keeper to challenge whoever of those two remains at the club.

Reports in recent weeks have suggested Carlo Ancelotti will focus his attention on Courtois, who has put in eye catching displays while at the Vicente Calderon. The youngster has helped the club lift the Europa League and the Copa del Rey, while he has performed outstandingly between the sticks as Atletico have emerged to challenge Barcelona and Real in the race for La Liga this season.

Radio station Cadena Ser reported that the keeper will return to Chelsea next season, but has an agreement in place to join Real Madrid in 2016. But speaking to AS, Courtois denied those claims.

“It is all fake,” he was quoted as saying. “I have no agreement with any other clubs. The World knows that I have a contract with Chelsea and Atletico are very happy with me.”

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Today is the tenth anniversary of the 11-M tragedy in Madrid, the worst terrorist attack in the history of Spain and one of the biggest in Europe.

That March 11th of 2004 was the day after Real Madrid had knocked Bayern Munich out of the last-16 round of the Champions League. The joy of having moved into the next round by beating the Germans disappeared quickly.

Los Blancos issued a statement showing their “deepest condolences and solidarity with the family and friends of all those affected by such terrible terrorist attacks.”

“The people reponsible of these attacks must be monsters or the devil. We cannot be tolerant with this intolerance,” said Carlos Queiroz, Los Merengues manager at the time.

“The victory we want badly is living in a country without violence,” captain Raul Gonzalez stated. “We are living very tough days and football must stay in the background,” he added.

This last statement by Raul was referring to the fact that Real Madrid had to play at the Santiago Bernabeu only two days after such a brutal tragedy. Los Merengues earned a 1-1 draw against Zaragoza in a match that will be remembered for the sadness of the crowd, who was not willing to enjoy the game day as usual, since they all had in their minds the victims of the 11-M.

* Follow Alvaro Heralta on Twitter at @medialunablog

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Real Madrid scarves

Real Madrid have topped the ranking of football clubs by revenue for the ninth consecutive year. Los Blancos lead the Deloitte Football Money League with 533 million euros in the 2012-2013 season.

The ranking, which is published by the accountancy firm Deloitte in February of each year, saw Barcelona come second for a fifth year in a row, with a total 494 million euros.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s victories in the Champions League, the Bundesliga and the German Cup allowed them to move to the third position, overtaking Manchester United. The Germans earned 443 million euros last season, while the Red Devils made 424.

Paris Saint-Germain has moved up from tenth to fifth. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Juventus and AC Milan complete the top-10 in that order. Real Madrid’s city rivals Atletico sit 20th in the ranking with 120 million euros.

The Deloitte Football Money League only takes in account the revenue generated from football operations, and it doesn’t include the clubs’ debt. Both Real and Barcelona would surely drop a few positions if that was taken into account.

Los Blancos gross debt would be around 242 million euros, according to a report unveiled last summer by the Spanish Football League (LFP).

* Follow Alejandro Gonzalez on Twitter at @alejandrognieto

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Former Real Madrid player Clarence Seedorf has affirmed in an interview with Spanish radio station COPE that Los Blancos could step up to be the dominant force in world football if they continue to play the way they’re doing.

The current AC Milan manager has arrived at Madrid with his team to face Atletico in the second leg of the Champions League last-16 round.

Seedorf praised Real’s growth since the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti: “Madrid and Bayern Munich are the teams that played the best football at the moment. Real Madrid have grown as a team, and Bayern already had a solid structure. It would be a shame to face Real in the quarter-finals, I would like to meet them farther in the competition, let’s say in the final. I think Real can become a dominant force in football.”

Seedorf suggested that Barcelona’s era could be over, comparing their situation with that of Milan a few years ago. “Leo Messi has shown what he’s capable of, but when the team doesn’t work, individual performances are not enough. Barcelona have done great things in the last few years, it’s like the great era Milan had,” he told COPE journalists.

* Follow Alejandro Gonzalez on Twitter @alejandrognieto

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Winning the Champions League will be a tall order, and there is still a long way to go in the competition, Asier Illarramendi has said.

Los Blancos are all but guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals of Europe´s top continental club competition having defeated Schalke 6-1 in the first leg. Two goals apiece from Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale blitzed the German outfit and left them with little but pride to play for in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti´s side are gunning on three fronts at the moment and top La Liga by three points and meet Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey next month. Despite going 29 games unbeaten in all competitions, Illarramendi says there’s a long way to go before Real can be considered to have had a successful campaign.

Speaking at a promotional event, he told reporters: “Clearly, we and all the fans hope we can bag the Champions League trophy this season. However, there is still a long way to go. We must continue like we did against Schalke and hopefully all goes well. With the help of the fans, maybe we can get to the final and win.”

Fellow midfielder Casemiro also had his say on the state of affairs in the Champions League, and urged the Madridista fanbase to stay calm as the competition gets to the later stages.

“There are fans across Europe who are hoping their team can win the Champions League, but I would tell ours to remain calm,” the Brazilian said. He added: “I think we’ve started well in the last 16 against Schalke but, as the coach said, we’re taking it game by game. It will be very difficult, but we’ll try to win it.”

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The Champions League returns this week with Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid in action while Los Blancos have to wait until next week to finish off the job against Schalke.

But there is plenty of news about the nine-time European Cup winners in the Madrid Press, and the focus is very much on their position in La Liga. Barcelona’s shock defeat to Valladolid on Saturday was their third league defeat in six matches and leaves them four points behind Real.

And should they lose when they visit the Santiago Bernabeu in 12 days time, that will surely be the end of their hopes for the title. Marca runs a piece looking at the history of the Clasicos at the Bernabeu. And Los Blancos have gone on to win the league on seven of the eight times they have beaten Barcelona at home past the half way point of the league season while they are top of the table.

Elsewhere, AS and Marca are both looking at the the incredible heading ability of Cristiano Ronaldo. The 29-year-old has scored 29 headers for Real since he joined the club, against 17  different teams. He says his goal against Manchester United was his best headed effort, but check out Marca and vote for yourselves!

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Zinedine Zidane was full of praise for his son, Enzo Fernandez, who was called up to represent France at Under-19 level.

The young midfielder, who currently plays for the Juvenil A youth team, was born in France and became a Spanish citizen in 2006. In 2009 he played for the Spanish Under-15’s.

But Enzo has since had a change of heart and instead chose to represent France, something that his father was pleased to hear.

“I am proud that he can wear the French jersey for the first time,” Zidane told RMC. “He wanted it and he deserves it, it is not only because he is called Zidane, because he does beautiful things on the pitch.

“In any case, he is delighted to be picked and I am as proud as my father was when I was first selected,” the Los Blancos assistant coach concluded.

The 18-year-old is a tall, well-rounded midfielder who enjoys taking part in all areas of the game and will still be eligible to represent Spain in the future.

Enzo has three younger brothers including Luca who played between the sticks for Real Madrid in the Al Kass International Cup in Doha, Qatar.

Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156

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Spanish radio station Cadena SER has claimed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has told Atletico Madrid directors that he has reached an agreement with Real Madrid to join Los Blancos when his contract with Chelsea expires.

Atletico have failed in their attempts to sign the keeper on a permanent deal. The Belgium international is currently in his third season on loan with the Colchoneros, but Jose Mourinho has revealed that he wants him back at Stanford Brigde next summer.

Courtois replied the Portuguese saying he would not move to a team where he will be the second goalkeeper. At Chelsea, the youngster will have to compete with Petr Cech for a place in the starting eleven. Despite his efforts to postpone his return to London, Courtois will be forced to join the Blues after Brazil’s World Cup. Yet, he could have his revenge ready.

Journalist Jose Ramon de la Morena has announced that the 21-year-old has signed a pre-contract agreement with Los Merengues to move to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2016, as soon as his contract with Chelsea has expired.

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has also been linked with a Real Madrid switch, but sources have told Florentino Perez’s favourite to become Iker Casillas sucessor is Thibaut Courtois.

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Real Madrid legend Emilio Butragueno was left impressed by Real Madrid’s comfortable win over Levante and the form they have displayed since Christmas.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo and an own goal from Nikos Karabelas ensured Los Blancos took all three points and move clear of rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Butragueno told reporters post match that he thought the performance was good but that Madrid could have scored more.

“We have kept up our very good track record and there are a lot of good signs,” claimed the 50 year-old.

“I thought we could have scored more goals without giving up the protection between the goalkeeper and the defence.

Real Madrid now find themselves at the top of the league with three points separating them from their Madrid rivals.

“The team is very good, dominating from the first minute and we started both halves well. I think the result is a little short though,” he continued

“It’s true that we have a very strong team and we are much more relaxed than before.”

Angel Di Maria was credited with the assist for the first goal and has thrived since becoming a more central player.

“The 4-3-3 has given us security and Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric are moving the ball well with Angel Di Maria, who has taken to the centre of midfield very well.

“The important thing is to win. If our rivals slip further, even better. We are doing very well because at Christmas we were five points behind and now we’re three and four ahead.”

Carlo Ancelotti made a number of changes in defence, making three switches from the back four that started against Atletico Madrid, and Butragueno singled out one player in particular.

“It’s always good to see Raphael Varane in the starting XI.

“He never makes mistakes, reads the play very well, is elegant and athletic, and that’s great because we need his knee to respond well to the end of the season.”

Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156

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Gareth Bale has warned Real Madrid teammates that they need to focus on Malaga’s game after Los Blancos defeated Levante and increased their lead in La Liga to three points.

The Welshman was one of the players that replied the journalists’ questions after the game, and he showed his happyness for having taken the three points home.

“It was an important match, because Valladolid had beaten Barcelona. We had great motivation to earn three points, so we are very happy with this win. We’re in a good position in La Liga, but there are still many difficult games left. We need to keep playing well and stay in good shape,” Bale told the reporters.

When asked about El Clasico against Barcelona, that will take place in less than two weeks, the Welshman pointed out “we cannot think about El Clasico yet.”

“Now we only have to think about next Saturday’s Malaga’s match. We need to take it game by game. That has been our mentality so far and that’s what we’ll have to continue doing,” he concluded.

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