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It’s a quiet week for Real Madrid, with their next game taking place at the weekend against Elche.

Meanwhile, the Champions League dominates the sporting headlines this week. And today Marca and As both look back at the Barcelona win over Manchester City, and also have plenty of pre-match coverage of the clash between AC Milan and Atletico de Madrid.

Marca has quotes from Cesc Fabregas following the Catalan giants’ 2-0 win over the Citizens, thanks to goals from Leo Messi and Dani Alves. Before the match, former Real Madrid manager had said City were taking on the worst Barcelona side in “many, many years”. But Fabregas responded to those comments last night, saying that “some people need to keep quiet for the next few days”. His comments no doubt welcome by those tired of Mourinho’s mindless drivel.

In news surrounding Real Madrid, AS and Marca run stories on how the fans are starting to believe in the Los Blancos academy again. Jese’s emergence this season is perhaps the biggest breakthrough since Raul and many believe he can go all the way to the top. Madridistas are pleased to see the youth being given a chance, with the likes of Daniel Carvajal and Alvaro Morata also seeing plenty of game time this season too.

Elsewhere, Karim Benzema is looking to break his own personal goalscoring record this campaign. His previous best was 31 goals with Lyon the season before he joined Madrid. He current stands on 18 goals this campaign and is the side’s top scorer in 2014 so far.

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David Beckham is an ambitious man.

Sure, some may have criticized his decision to move from Real Madrid to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 at a time when the American league was significantly weaker than it is now, but he did see out the end of his career at a storied European club by winning Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain.

Now, his ambition is focused on ownership and management. As part of a deal in his original contract with the MLS, he will be launching a club in Miami by 2017, and Beckham is hoping to make Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo his first superstar signing, according to a Sunday story in the Metro.

It is hard to believe that in only three years time, the current Ballon d’Or winner will have had his fill of embarrassing other European clubs, but the Metro reported that Ronaldo loves the United States and is looking to finish his career in the MLS. He would not be the first world-class player to go Stateside in his twilight years — Thierry Henry continues to impress for the New York Red Bulls.

The Metro quotes an unnamed MLS source as saying that the former England midfielder wants Ronaldo to start his team off in dynamic fashion.

“Becks understands the need for a big, big name in the team when it gets going,” the source told The Sun. “… It is a long way off yet — we’re talking 2017 — but it clearly demonstrates the ambition of the Beckham franchise.”

Beckham himself is no stranger to the impact of a storied veteran. His arrival at the Galaxy in 2007 helped spur a revolution of interest in America and brought significant financial gains for the MLS. On top of that, he won two MLS Cups and two Supporters’ Shield trophies.

Perhaps the Portuguese could continue Beckham’s work to improve the sport even further — after all, ESPN FC reported in 2012 that soccer is the second-most popular sport for Americans aged 12 to 24 and is growing.

Ronaldo already shares a good deal of similarities with Beckham. Both wore the number 7 shirt for Manchester United, both moved from United to Madrid, both put in dazzling individual performances for countries that repeatedly and painfully underperform on the world stage, both are stunningly handsome with equally stunning significant others, and both display a charming penchant for being fathers.

Time will tell if the current Madrid star takes another step to follow his spiritual predecessor.

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Reports claim that this summer, Real Madrid may attempt to sign Monaco winger James Rodriguez.

Los Merengues have long admired the gifted Colombian player whom many teams have expressed interest while he played for Porto before joining Monaco, one of the best teams in Ligue 1.

Dmitry Rybolovlev, Monaco’s wealthy owner, had invested big bucks by signing great players including the 22-year-old Monaco player. Other players to have signed for the club include Real’s former defender Ricardo Carvalho, and ex-Atletico de Madrid forward, Radamel Falcao.

However, Rodriguez may be the target in the transfer process since Real plans to include him into their attacking unit – although there may need to be departures from the current squad to make it possible.

Although Real coach, Carlo Ancelotti had disclosed that he regretted Mesut Ozil’s transfer to Arsenal last summer, Los Merengues are hoping to improve their attack and acknowledged Rodriguez as the key answer to their problem.

The Monaco player plays in several attacking midfield positions in which in all of the matches this season, he had scored four goals  and had ten assists. Real can easily recuperate the position that Ozil had left with Rodriguez’s talent.

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Isco girlfriend Victoria Calderon

Real Madrid’s baby boom has totally exploded in the last few weeks, as Pepe and Fabio Coentrao have announced they will have a child this year. However, the Portuguese defenders won’t be the last of the list: Isco will become a father next summer.

The 22-year-old has revealed his partner is one and a half months pregnant and they will have their first baby by the end of August or the beginning of September.

The mother, Victoria Alarcon, is one most unknown Real Madrid WAG. The few things we know about her is that she’s from Malaga and she’s a very active Twitter user.

This will be the seventh baby in Real Madrid’s squad so far this year, since Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas and Karim Benzema have recently had a child, and Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Coentrao are also expecting one.

With so many babies around, will Florentino Perez open a nursery in Real Madrid’s training ground?

Leaving jokes apart, it looks like the good news in their private lives are also creating a better mood in the team and helping the players have a better attitude.

* Follow Laura Martinez on Twitter at @lauram_ti

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Real Madrid youth team coach and former Los Blancos player Ruben de la Red has said he believes Jese Rodriguez has the ability to one day become the best player in the world.

At an Real Madrid Under-16s event held this week, the former midfield, who had to retire from the game because of health issues, said the 20-year-old striker has what it takes to win the Ballon d’Or.

Jese has made a huge impression within the first team this season, scoring vital goals on big occasions. He has stepped in admirably for the injured Gareth Bale at times throughout the campaign, and will need to continue his impressive form while he fills in for the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo.

De la Red told reporters Jese has not reached his full potential yet, and he had full faith in him to go all the way. He also spoke highly of other academy products and stated the club is famous for producing world class players.

“Jese, Morata and Nacho are there now, but Real has always had academy players in its first team. Soldado, Juanfran, Javi Garcia and before them Raal Bravo, Pavon,” he said.

He also had words of praise for the work of Carlo Ancelotti who has come in and steadied the ship after the turbulent period under the ego-driven Jose Mourinho. “Ancelotti arrived at a difficult moment and managed to calm things down. You can’t ask for more than that,” he stated.

* Follow Paul Collins on Twitter at @pabmundo

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madrid press 18022014

The Champions League is back in the menu this week, and tonight sees a mouth watering clash between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium.

Marca says on its front page that the game is one not to be missed. And it runs a number of stories on the former Real Madrid players and staff looking to get one over their old adversaries tonight.

Former Los Blancos manager will be looking for his team to take a first leg advantage back to the Nou Camp in three weeks time, and he will rest his hopes on former academy product Alvaro Negredo, who is enjoying a productive first season in the north west of England.

Another former Real boss has been giving his opinions of the match. Never content unless he’s talking about or trying to insult someone else, Jose Mourinho says the current Barcelona team is the worst in years – perhaps another way of winding up Manuel Pellegrini in his war of words with the City manager.

With the Champions League the dominant theme this week, much is being made of Real’s hopes of landing the Decima. And one man who thinks they can do it is Arsene Wenger. Speaking to the press ahead of Arsenal’s showdown with Bayern Munich, he was asked about the Spanish clubs. And he picked out Real Madrid as the favourite for the competition, but added city rivals Atletico de Madrid could also be a dark horse.

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Former Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as a model professional and one of the hardest workers in world football.

In a wide ranging interview with Marca, the current Manchester City boss says he has no issue with anyone at the Santiago Bernabeu, and that his time there is now in the past and he has moved on. He also spoke of the future of Sergio Aguero – a target of Los Blancos.

When asked about what it was like to work with Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, Pellegrini said:”Ronaldo is a top player. World Class. What he has done at Real Madrid is incredible. I have had the good luck to have managed him. I saw an extraordinary professional player who was the first to arrive for training and the last one to leave. He never gave you a single problem. I only have words of praise for him. He’s a different person to what you first see from his exterior.”

Looking back on his time at the club – he was in charge for just one year before Jose Mourinho took over – he said he has no regrets.

“I would have loved to have had a normal relationship with its president, to have been listened to. Naturally, I would have liked to have had more time there. It was a luxury to have managed the team. Now a closed book.”

He also denied Aguero, who formerly played for Atletico de Madrid, would be allowed to leave Manchester City.

“I don’t think that Agüero will go back to Spain. Manchester City is a great destination for the very best players, for him or for Yayá Touré. If he goes to Real Madrid, it won’t be Agüero’s team, it will still be Cristiano Ronaldo’s team. Same thing with Barça, Messi’s team,” he stated.

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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti claimed he is not surprised by Jese Rodriguez’s good performances, after the 20-year-old lead Los Blancos in their last 3-0 victory over Getafe.

“I’m not surprised because he’s a kid with a great personality. It’s not a surprise, he’s becoming more important every day. I hope he keeps playing like that because he’s providing us with good things,” the Italian stated.

When asked whether the team plays differently with Jese replacing Cristiano Ronaldo, Ancelotti said: “I don’t think so. We play the same tactics, although it’s true that Jese fills more gaps in defence. But the team is very similar and their performing really well.”

A journalist asked Ancelotti if the youngster will keep playing when Ronaldo returns after his three-match suspension. “Which factor will weigh more – the 100 million euros paid for Bale, or Jese’s recent fine form?,” he asked. “The answer is easy – I’m a football manager not an administrator,” Ancelotti replied.

The Italian also praised the Welshman’s performance against Getafe: “It’s a pity he couldn’t score that chance he had. I never ask them for goals, I ask them for sacrifice and Gareth has done it well. He hasn’t shown his quality but he has worked well for the team.”

Ancelotti was very happy with Los Blancos’ defensive solidity. “The team is more solid and confident. We play naturally and things are working out for us. We have to continue like this,” he stated.

* Follow Alejandro Gonzalez on Twitter @alejandrognieto

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Young Real Madrid striker Jese Rodriguez has said he is happy his goals are helping the team keep up with Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid in the race for the La Liga title.

The 20-year-old striker scored his third goal in as many games in the win over Getafe on Sunday, preserving Los Blancos’ unbeaten start to 2014. It was his eighth goal in total in a very productive first season in the main squad since being promoted from Real Madrid Castilla.

Speaking to journalists after the match, Jese said he feels he is in the form of his life right now, but he realises he still has a long way to go and much to learn from more experienced players in the Real squad.

“I am very happy about the goals I’m scoring, about helping the team and I have to go on like this. This might be the best moment for me so far, but I am not satisfied. I’m ambitious and I always want more,” he stated.

And he added: “I am dedicating myself to helping the team, making the best use of the game time the manager gives me. This is what I have to do, my job, and I am happy. The more goals I can score, the better, and I set myself a target of 10 goals this season, and that’s important, because at this club you never know if you’ll get a game, with the really big star players there are here. And I’m taking the fullest advantage. I have to carry on making it difficult for the manager to decide things.”

Jese’s performances have not gone unnoticed by Vicente del Bosque, who last week admitted he was thinking of taking the young star Brazil as part of the Spain World Cup squad.

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez has said all 11 players in the team helped secure yet another clean sheet in the 3-0 win over Getafe.

Goals from Jese, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric secured the three points that took Los Blancs up to second in La Liga, just behind Barcelona on goal difference. The shut-out at the other end was Madrid’s 11th clean sheet in 13 games in 2014 so far.

While the media and fans have been praising Lopez for his form, the keeper said everyone in the team was doing their part. And he said the early goal, after just five minutes, helped the team settle quickly into their rhythm.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Lopez said: “The team played very well right from the start of the game and the first goal made things easier for us in a ground that is always difficult. It was a fairly simple and effective game and one that we had to win.

“The team defended very well, all eleven players, and that made everything easier. We have to carry on playing like this and now we’re looking forward to the next game against Elche.”

He was also asked about Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence. The Portuguese had one more game to sit out through suspension, and Lopez said he’ll be pleased to see him back in the side.

“He’s the kind of player that has to be on the pitch. Fortunately, we have other players who make up the squad but you always notice a player like Cristiano.”

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