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Real Madrid will battle with French champions PSG to secure the services of hotshot striker Luis Suarez at the end of the season, reports in the UK press suggest.

The Liverpool striker has found himself back in favour at Anfield this season thanks to his outstanding record to date – 22 goals in 17 Premier League matches. At one stage last summer it looked liked he was leaving after he made it clear he wanted Champions League football.

Following talks with boss Brendan Rogers, the Uruguay forward has knuckled down, and recently signed a new deal at the club, citing the support of the fans behind his reason to stay. However, reports suggest the contract has a relsease clause of about 90 million euros.

Should Liverpool, who currently sit fourth in the league, fail to qualify for the Champions League, it may prompt some of Europe’s biggest clubs to move for Suarez, and both Los Blancos and PSG have the funds for such a signing.

Karim Benzema has lead the line for Madrid this seaon, with Alvaro Morata and Jese Rodruiguez coming in as central strikers whenever the Frenchman is absent. The addition of 26-year-old Suarez would boost Carlo Ancelotti’s already lethal frontline, and give the side a different attacking option.

 

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Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery has said politics plays too much of a part in the Ballon d’Or award, and that he should have won the prize this year ahead of Ronaldo.

Real Madrid’s 28-year-old forward picked up the award last Monday evening in recognition for his outstanding 2013 in which he scored 69 goals in 59 games for club and country. It was the second time the Portugal captain has won the award, having previously been named the winner in 2008 when still a Manchester United player.

Ribery played a key role in Bayern’s success in 2013, helping them to win the Bundesliga and German Cup, followed by the Champions League crown at Wembley in May. The beat Borussia Dortmund in the final, but perhaps more impressively, easily saw off Barcelona in the semi-finals with an aggregate score of 7-0.

Speaking to German newspaper AZ Munchen, Ribery said he should have won the award ahead of Ronaldo and Messi.

“I have won everything with the team and individually. Ronaldo won nothing (in 2013). I’m not sad, but it hurts the heart. Do not get me wrong, I am proud to have been there. I feel I deserved this title. There are so many politics,” he was quoted as saying.

He also criticized the FIFIA Team of the Year for featuring too many Madrid and Barcelona players and not enough Munich players considering their achievements as a unit.

Ribery stated: “When I see the top eleven that was chosen – there are only 3 Bayern players there. This is madness! Muller must be there, Alaba, Schweinsteiger, Robben. We won five titles, made history. Who has done that before?

“I’m sure, if Barcelona and Madrid stood in the Champions League final, the team would consist only of players of Real and Barca.”

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Champions League trophy

Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Bayern are currently “unstoppable”, and not even Manchester United or Real Madrid would be able to beat them.

The 46 year-old led the Black-and-Yellow to a 4-3 aggregate win over Mourinho’s Madrid in the semi final stage of the Champions League last season, including an impressive 4-1 win at the clubs home ground at the Westfalenstadion.

However Dortmund fell at the final hurdle, after a late goal from former Madrid man Arjen Robben scored the winner in a 2-1 for Bayern.

And Klopp believes that, despite their treble winning boss Jupp Heynckes being replaced by former Barcelona manager Guardiola, Bayern have strengthened even more, even buying Dortmund star Mario Gotze for £32m, and have announced that his former BVB teammate Robert Lewandowski will join Die Bayern when his contract expires in the summer.

Klopp said to A Bola “Real Madrid would have no chance of competing with Bayern. Bayern are currently unstoppable.. If the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United have no chance against them, how can Dortmund beat them?”

Bayern lead Dortmund by 12 points and have a game in hand, and Klopp admitted that even Barcelona would be beaten over two legs, like they were last season.

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Real Madrid press report 20-1-14

Madrid sports newspapers cellebrate today Barcelona’s and Atletico Madrid’s draws that leave Real Madrid trailing La Liga’s leaders by only one point.

“One point!” titles Marca on its front page. “The fight for La Liga gets exciting as Barcelona and Atletico drop points against Levante and Sevilla,” they point out.

The Madrid daily states that Leo Messi and Diego Costa, their teams’ top scorers, had a poor performance.

Meanwhile, As claims “an absurd penalty by Juanfran Torres costs Atletico the victory.” The second most sold Spanish sports newspaper also titles: “Keylor Navas and Caparros stopped Barca.”

As also reports that Raphael Varane has returned to normal training with his teammates after 60 days sidelined due to problems in his knee.

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Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane is back in full training after 10 weeks out with injury.

The centre-back sustained a knee injury while on international duty with France during the World Cup Playoff matches with Ukraine in November. It was a repeat of the injury that he suffered at the tail end of last season against Espanyol that saw the youngster miss the run in, as Los Blancos lost to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-final and the final of the Copa del Rey.

After the initial injury, Varane travelled to the USA with his teammates in the summer to take part in the pre-season tour, but was unable to feature in official matches until October due to discomfort in his knee.

He only made six appearances before the setback in November. Rather than have surgery, Varane has followed a strict rehab program with the club’s doctors and returned to first team training on Sunday. He could be in contention for Los Blancos’ Copa del Rey match against Espanyol on Tuesday night.

Varane was an impressive performer last season, and prior to his injury, had outsed experience teammate Pepe from the starting eleven at the Santiago Bernabeu.

 

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Real Madrid handled the La Liga match against Real Betis with professionalism and maturity, says Carlo Ancelotti.

The boss told reporters after the game he was pleased with how everyone performed and got the job done in Seville. The 5-0 win meant Los Blancos drew level at the top of the table, albeit temporarily. And Ancelotti urged his team to keep their focus in the coming weeks.

“The team played with quality and were focused throughout the match. Everything went well and we are happy. Matches are easier if that  happens. Things can always go wrong, but we prepared well and then played well,” he stated.

The Italian manager also had high praise for Luka Modric, Madrid’s stand out performer in recent weeks, and Gareth Bale, who got himself on the scoresheet for the first time since November 30.

“We had a lot of chances and the support given by the midfielders, especially Modric, was very good,” Ancelotti said in hie press conference. He added: “Bale played like the rest of the team; with quality and being very focused. Also, we defended well. Real Betis tried to play. When we scored the first goal the match changed, there were more spaces for us and it was difficult for them.”

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Real Madrid left-back Marcelo has urged his teammates to keep their focus and take each game as it comes if they are to be successful this year.

Los Blancos defeated Real Betis 5-0 on Saturday afternoon, with goals coming from Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Angel di Maria and Alvaro Morata. The result meant Carlo Ancelotti’s team drew level on points with Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid at the top of La Liga, for 24 hours at least.

But while fans of the nine-time European Cup winners may be celebrating being right back in the hunt for the title, Marcelo said the players need to keep winning and putting pressure on their rivals.

Speaking after the match in Seville, he told reporters: “I think that we are the ones that make matches easy or difficult for ourselves. We played before the others at the top and we know that we have to keep fighting, working hard and winning matches. We’re doing well, but we know that we cannot relax.”

The Brazilian defender also reached his own personal landmark yesterday, making his 250th appearance for Real Madrid, something he said made him feel very proud.

“It is a dream come true [to reach 250 appearances] but we have to keep moving forward to win titles. Our aim is always to keep improving,” he stated.

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Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata has played down rumours linking him with a move outside the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 21-year-old forward responded the journalists answers after scoring the last goal in Real Madrid’s 0-5 victory over Betis on Saturday.

Despite all the rumours that have been published, I’ve told the club I want to stay. I’ve told them this is my house, and although I’ll do it for few minutes, I want to keep playing at Real Madrid. I’ve never asked to leave in January,” Morata confessed.

“I know this is the best team in the world and you have to work hard, improve, and keep on working in order to get more minutes of play. Although I know that’s difficult, I don’t want to leave Real Madrid,” he added.

When asked about the bruise in the eye he got in the Copa del Rey clash against Osasuna, the youngster explained “the eye is fine, it was a violent hit but I’m recovered and that’s good news. I’ve had minutes again today, and although that incident was a bad experience, it’s over and I’m back to help the team as much as I can.”

Speaking about the game against Betis Morata said “things were easier since Cristiano Ronaldo scored an early goal, and after that we played a great game.”

“We know we had to win this match because we were playing before Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, so we couldn’t miss this chance,” he concluded.

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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has moved swiftly to dispel reports which had suggested he believed the club’s summer sale of Mesut Ozil to Arsenal was a mistake.

Ancelotti told the press no such interview had taken place and that the quotes had been fabricated.

The Italian said: “It is unfounded. I’m surprised a newspaper invented this story, I’ve explained myself over and over again.

“There is no story there. I am not going to speak about a player who is no longer here,” he added.

Ozil, whose Madrid departure was met with outrage by some of the club’s star players, has been a revelation since moving to England and a key figure as Arsenal currently lead the Premier League, but Ancelotti has said Alvaro Morata and Fabio Coentrao will not be following him out of the club during the current transfer window.

The 54 year-old said: “Morata hasn’t asked to leave. We need Morata to be here and I think he is happy here. We have no first choice players, subs or reserves. It is a big squad.

Morata has been attracting interest from Juventus, Arsenal and Inter Milan, whilst Coentrao has been subject to interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

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Real Madrid press report 19.1.14

Madrid sports newspapers emphasize in their front pages Real Madrid’s emphatic 0-5 victory over Betis in a great game by Los Blancos.

“A goal fest to dream,” titles Marca, pointing out Los Merengues went joint top of the table Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid at the end of the night, with both leaders yet to play against Levante and Sevilla the following day.

“Another great game by Modric with spectacular goals from Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema, Di Maria and Morata,” Marca reports. “Madrid showed authority and great aim,” they state.

The other main Madrid sports newspaper, As, highlights Los Blancos scored five goals “with only 12 shots on target” and they reach “84 goals scored so far this season.”

If Barca and Atletico lose today, Real Madrid will be at the top of the table from the first time since September.

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