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Spanish midfielder Javi Martinez has reiterated he is very happy at Bayern Munich although rumours indicated that he will move to Real Madrid this summer.

Martinez has consistently stated that he appreciates his time with the Champions League winners. Yet El Chiringuito journalist Francois Gallardo has declared that Javi is looking for a way to secure a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

“There is an international player who has told his club that he wants to play for Real Madrid,” Gallardo told the programme. “He’s already been sounded out in the past by Real Madrid, and also Barcelona. It’s Javi Martinez, and he’s hoping to play for Real Madrid.”

Martinez moved to the Bavarian giants in the summer of 2012 and enjoyed a hugely successful first season at the club, winning the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League. He continues to play a key role in the midfield under Pep Guardiola, who took over from one-time Real Madrid manager Jupp Heynckes last summer.

Martinez has scored four goals in 56 appearances for Bayern Munich. He will be hoping to secure his place in the Spain squad for the World Cup this summer. He has won 14 caps for his country and was part of the squad for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and the European Championships in 2012.

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Cristiano Ronaldo says Real Madrid aren’t obsessing over La Decima with the Champions League round of 16 now just weeks away.

Los Blancos face Schalke in the first knockout stage of the competition and will already have their sights on this years final after falling at the semi-final for three successive seasons.

Ronaldo could help the club make history by winning their 10th European Cup this season and admits he and the players are focused on taking the crown off current champions Bayern Munich.

“Winning the 10th Champions League cannot be seen as an obsession,” the 29-year-old told Sky Sport Italia.

“The fans, players and everyone else has expected that achievement for a while. Real Madrid always think they can win and, of course, it is a goal for all of us.”

The Ballon d’Or-winning forward does however believe his side have a great chance of winning the competition this year, hoping manager Carlo Ancelotti can lift the trophy for the fifth time in his career.

“I am convinced that this year may be we won,” Ronaldo added. “We have a great team, a great coach in Carlo Ancelotti, who we got lucky getting. Hopefully he proves he can win it with us also.”

Ronaldo starts his three-match league suspension when Real Madrid host Villarreal this Saturday knowing that a win could see them temporarily go top of La Liga.

 

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Real Madrid’s pursuit of Sergio Aguero seems to have been thoroughly halted, according to new reports this week.

The Argentine forward had been linked with Madrid in rumours for much of the season, but The Daily Mirror reported that Manchester City officials sent a resounding “no” to Madrid by informing Los Blancos that Aguero is not for sale at any price.

Citing Spanish reports, The Mirror wrote that City executive Ferran Soriano reached out to Madrid president Florentino Perez to explain that the forward is a big part of future plans and will not be leaving anytime soon.

Aguero arrived from crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid in 2011, and since then he has established himself as a key player in a dynamic City side, and one can make a fair argument that he is solely responsible for their Premier League title in 2012 — after all, football fans around the world will always get goosebumps watching his last-second winner against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season.

Aguero is thought to have settled in Manchester as the Citizens challenge again for the Premier League and look to make headlines with their first appearance in the Champions League knockout stages.

In fact, City bosses view Aguero as “unsellable” and intend to increase his presence in marketing campaigns, according to the Mirror.

Los Merengues could use a star forward to provide some competition for the streaky Karim Benzema and the up-and-coming youngster Alvaro Morata, especially after Gonzalo Higuain left in the summer, but they may now be forced to look elsewhere.

A few rumours have appeared lately that Madrid defender Pepe is headed for the exit door, but Perez’s allegedly echoed Soriano in saying that the Portuguese is not for sale.

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Fabio Coentrao, with his wife and daughter

Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao has announced his wife Andreia Santos is pregnant, and the couple will have their second child by April.

The player has officialy announced it through his Twitter account. “It is with great pleasure that I share with you I will be a father for the second time! My family and I are very happy,” he tweeted together with the above picture.

This is good news for Coentrao after some difficult months due to injuries, and it will surely help him recover the happiness some journalists had claimed he had lost.

The left-back has joined Real Madrid’s baby-boom, with Xabi Alonso and Iker Casillas and their respective partners welcoming children into the world. Sergio Ramos and Pepe are two other soon-to-be fathers in the squad.

In fact, the Portuguese centre-back celebrated these news by putting his thumb in his mouth when he scored against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final.

* Follow Laura Martinez on Twitter at @lauram_ti

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Karim Benzema has spoken of his delight at equaling former Real Madrid and Brazil forward Ronaldo for the number of goals scored for Los Blancos.

Playing in his 215th match for Real Madrid against Villarreal on Saturday evening, Benzema scored a brace, taking him to 104 goals in a Madrid shirt. Ronaldo reached the same number in 177 appearances for the club.

Talking to reporters after the game, which Madrid won 4-2, Benzema said he was happy to move alongside Ronaldo in the scoring charts, and that he will always give his best for the team.

“Forwards always have difficult periods, but you’ve got to work to get out of it. I’m enjoying a great moment of form and I’m really confident. Ronaldo is the best player of all time and I’m thrilled to match him. I’m doing well and I’m going to try to stay this way,” he stated.

The French striker also went on to discuss the strength in depth among the forwards currently at the club, and stressed everyone will have to play their part in the latter stages of the season. “There are a lot of forwards and the competition is good for the team and for everyone. We have a great team and we’re ready to face the rest of the season. We need to play games like this to have even more confidence,” he went on.

 

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The big news dominating the sports pages in Madrid this morning is the epic match that took place between Real Madrid and Barcelona yesterday. But not on the football field.

Real’s basketball team showed their football colleagues how it should be done, claiming the Copa del Rey trophy with a nail-biting 77-76 win over their Catalan rivals. Let’s hope the footballers can draw inspiration from the success and follow it up with their own Copa del Rey victory (along with La Liga and the Champions League!)

In footballing news, Karim Benzema has been discussing his delight at drawing level with Brazil legend Ronaldo for the number of goals scored as a Los Blancos player – 104. And he says he still watches videos of the former Real striker to improved his technique and finishing.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo was busy at the weekend despite not playing due to his three-match suspension. AS has pictures of the 29-year-old out celebrating his birthday with a group of friends. With two games of his suspension left to serve, now is probably a good time to kick back and relax while he can.

And in early team news ahead of the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Tuesday, Raphael Varane looks set to make his long awaited return from injury.

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Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has said he loves hearing the Santiago Bernabeu faithful sing his name.

The Croatia playmaker put in another masterful performance in Los Blancos’ 4-2 win over Villarreal on Saturday evening, a win that took them to the top of La Liga. Goalscorers Karim Benzema (2), Jese and Gareth Bale grabbed the headlines, but it was Modric who pulled the strings in midfield.

Modric endured a slow start to life in Spain when he moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid in the summer of 2012. But his goal against Manchester United in the Champions League was a turning point for him, and since then he hasn’t looked back, becoming a key part of Carlo Ancelotti’s team this season.

Speaking to journalists after the game, Modric said he is feeling settled in the Spanish capital and it is always amazing to hear the stadium sing his name. “I’m very honoured that the fans chant my name. It’s incredible and I feel really good here. But like I’ve said before, the most important thing for me is that the team is playing well and winning. We’re going to work hard to keep it up,” he said.

Having picked up three more vital points in the race for La Liga, Modric said the team must switch their attention back to the Copa del Rey and finish off the job against Atletico de Madrid on Tuesday evening.

He said: “It’s not sentenced. We have to play like the tie is at 0-0. We need to play like we did in the first leg. We have to start out confident from the start and keep Atlético from playing their football. We have to score a goal there.”

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Another game, another goal for Jese Rodriguez. And that’s how the young Real Madrid forward says he wants to continue.

The 20-year-old has been in sensational form in 2014 so far, netting vital goals in the Copa del Rey and La Liga as Real Madrid remain unbeaten since the turn of the year. The striker has shown he is capable of turning up for the big occasion too, scoring at the Nou Camp, the Mestalla, and San Mames this season alone.

Speaking after he scored another in the team’s 4-2 win over Villarreal on Saturday evening, Jese said he wants to keep helping out, whether it’s from the start or coming off the bench.

“I am happy with the job that I’m doing. The coach and Zidane are also pleased with me. My aim is to help the team. I have to do well, work hard and keep going like this,” he said.

Discussing what Los Blancos have to do to ensure the secure the La Liga title this season, Jese said winning matches at home and keeping the Santiago Bernabeu as a fortress is vital.

“Villarreal played very well. We knew that they would make it difficult for us. But we have to win every match at home; it has to be our fortress. The team are playing well, both in defense and attack, and we have to keep going,” he told journalists in the mixed zone.

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Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s players work harder for each other when Cristiano Ronaldo is missing, according to boss Carlo Ancelotti.

The Portuguese striker sat out Saturday’s 4-2 win over Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu, serving the first of his three-match ban for a red card received against Athletic Bilbao. Nonetheless, Los Blancos put in a devastating display, with goals from Jese, Gareth Bale, and two from Karim Benzema.

Speaking at his press conference after the match, Ancelotti said he was pleased with what he saw, and noted the work rate of his players increases when Ronaldo is absent.

“Cristiano not being there motivates the others because he is indispensable for us. Without him, the others do more work. The team is doing well, we have to be focused and do things well. All matches are tough and the players have a lot of matches in their legs and it will not always be easy to play well,” he said.

Ancelotti had words of praise for a number of his players, and told reporters he was happy to see Bale score and provide an assist. Questions have been raised in recent weeks about the Welshman’s injury record, and his manager has had to defend him on numerous occasions.

“He had a good match, like everyone did. It was not easy and I understand that after the effort against Atlético Madrid, it wouldn’t be easy. Bale played well and got a goal and an assist,” Ancelotti stated.

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Real Madrid defender Marcelo has said he will never let racist chants get the better of him and affect his performance or hurt his family.

Reports this week suggested some sections of the Atletico de Madrid supporters had racially abused Marcelo as he came onto the pitch to warm down after his side had won 3-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final. There were also claims that the Brazil left-back’s son, who was also on the pitch, was subject to racist chants.

Taking to social media to respond to the racist abuse, Marcelo said it would never affect him or his family.

In a statement, he said: “I want to thank you all for the support you have given me today. And even though this is not the first time it happens I can promise you that we are stronger than any kind of racism. This will never affect me of my family.”

Neither Real Madrid or Atletico de Madrid have commented of the subject since the reports broke. La Liga clubs can be fined up to 60,000 euros and be forced to play games behind closed doors should their fans be found guilty of racist chanting.

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