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Real Madrid press report 7-12-13

Spain’s most sold newspaper, Marca, claims today that Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria could sign for Monaco in the winter transfer market “unless Carlo Ancelotti solves the situation.”

“Di Maria on his way to Monaco,” the Madrid daily titles. “The Argentinian has reached an agreement with the Ligue 1 club to leave in January,” they state.

Marca reports that despite considering him an important player for the squad, the club directors would let Di Maria go if a 35-million-euros offer arrived.

Both Madrid sport papers bring to their front pages today’s Copa del Rey match against modest Olimpic Xativa. “Ancelotti doesn’t want any surprises and only rests Xabi Alonso,” Marca highlights.

Meanwhile, the other main Madrid sports daily, As, points out “Jese and Morata will lead the attack against Olimpic.” PRISA’s newspaper claims “Iker Casillas will start, while Casemiro and Illarramendi will play in the midfield.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo has another supporter regarding the Ballon d’Or: Fabio Capello. The Italian coach, currently managing the Russian national team, presumes that Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win this year because of his significant role in Portugal’s qualification for the World Cup.

“This year Cristiano definitely deserves it,” the Russia boss told Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

The 28-year-old forward has been consistent all year scoring thus far, 25 goals in 18 appearances for Real Madrid this season.

However, Capello reiterated Ronaldo’s spectacular four goals in the decisive play-off match where Portugal defeated Sweden. In the second leg in Solna, the four goals include Ronaldo’s hat-trick which would allow the Portuguese star to break through two consecutive runners-up finishes to rival Leo Messi in the struggle for the prestigious award.

“In recent years, he always deservedly came second to Messi but this season he has done really decisive things,” he said. “Against Sweden in the play-offs, he carried his Portugal to qualification for the World Cup. It was impressive.”

Even though Messi is favorite to win the Ballon d’Or, Franck Ribery is presumed to be Ronaldo’s key opponent; last season, Ribery won a treble with Bayern Munich.

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French legend Zinedine Zidane has described Cristiano Ronaldo as ‘monstrous’ following his performances for club and country this year.

The 28 year-old was instrumental in assuring Portugal’s place in next years World Cup, with four goals in a two-legged affair with Sweden.

“Cristiano Ronaldo has shown what he can do for Portugal and Real Madrid,” Zidane told reporters in Brazil ahead of the World Cup 2014 group stage draw.

“He doesn’t need to talk much. Much has been said of him, but what he does on the pitch is monstrous. The way he won the match against Sweden, when many people thought Portugal would not qualify… he carried the team on his back.”

Zidane is into his first season as Real Madrid’s assistant coach having won the UEFA Champions League, La Liga title, Copa del Rey and UEFA Super Cup with Los Blancos.

“He has shown that he is an excellent player. I’m proud to stand beside him [at Madrid], to see him in training, participating in everything,” he continued.

“He’s a great professional, arriving an hour before training. What he has done on the pitch is the result of his hard work. He’s an example and really carries and drives the team.”

Zidane won the World Cup with France in 1998 and hopes that les Bleus find themselves pitted against the best of nations when the eight groups are allocated on Friday.

“I would love it if France could get put in a difficult group,” he added. “I want us to play against the best and achieve something more. I’m not afraid for us to tackle tough teams.”

Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156

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Jose Mourinho signing for Chelsea

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is stepping up his interest in Real Madrid academy prospect Alvaro Medran, say Todomercado.

Mourinho this week told reporters that although the market is open for a month it is unlikely that Chelsea will be dipping into Roman Abramovich’s pocket in the January window, “But you never know what can happen,” he added.

The Portuguese coach is familiar with Medran after his time as coach of Los Blancos for the past three seasons, and if a transfer was to occur it is likely the Chelsea boss would use his contacts at the Madrid club to help push through the transfer.

Medran has been pushing his way through the youth ranks in Madrid, this year helping guide the team to victory in the Copa Del Rey youth tournament and forcing his way into the ‘C’ team, whilst also playing a role for Spain’s under-19 team.

If Medran was to make the move he would join an extremely impressive crop of youth players at the West London club with players like Nathaniel Chalobah, Nathan Aké and Lucas Piazon.

Last year Chelsea’s under-19 team reached the final of the NextGen Series – which has since been replaced by the UEFA youth league – defeating teams like Ajax, Juventus, Arsenal and Barcelona before ending as runners-up to Aston Villa.

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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti and goalkeeper Iker Casillas have reached an agreement for the team’s captain to get more minutes of play by the end of the season, Spanish daily ABC reports.

Casillas is eager to play more games, after having only featured in the Champions League, in order to arrive in perfect fitness to Brazil 2014 World Cup. ABC claims the Italian coach might have agreed to give him the starting spot back in order to prevent the keeper from leaving in the winter transfer market.

Ancelotti also understands Casillas can’t spend a whole month sitting on the bench, something that could happen if Los Blancos don’t reach the finals of the Champions League or the Copa del Rey.

ABC points out the Italian has a lot of respect for Casillas and his professional career, and that has convinced him to have this courteous gesture.

Reports have told Vicente del Bosque is prepared to leave Casillas on the bench as well if he doesn’t get to Brazil in top shape.

Diego Lopez has been Los Merengues’ starting goalkeeper so far in La Liga. If Casillas was to play only the Champions League and Copa matches, he would end the season having made only 22 appearances, what would put Del Bosque in a difficult situation to name Spain’s starting goalie.

A similar situation took place two years ago, when Raul Albiol was rewarded by Jose Mourinho starting the last two games of the season and he was finally picked for the Spanish squad that went on to win the 2012 Eurocup. The defender had only featured in 17 games that season.

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There are two main stories dominating the sports pages in Spain this morning. The first is how Nelson Mandela impacted the world of sport.

The 95-year-old former South African president and global icon passed away yesterday at his home in Johannesburg. One of the most famous images in sport history is that of Mandela handing Francois Pienaar the rugby world cup in 1995 after the Springboks had won the trophy, a picture that symbolised the united South Africa that Mandela worked tirelessly for.

The other main story is the World Cup draw that takes place later today. Spain will find out what group they will have to negotiate as they look to defend the trophy they won on that glorious night in South Africa in 2010.

There is however plenty of Real Madrid news too, and Marca opts for a big transfer story on its front page. According to the biggest selling daily newspaper, Los Blancos will make a move for Real Sociedad defender Iñigo Martínez at the end of the season.

The paper claims the Santiago Bernabeu club will make a 30 million euro offer – meeting the figure stated in his release clause. Carlo Ancelotti’s side is keen to tie up a deal with Barcelona and Bayern Munich also interested, Marca said. Should Martinez sign for Real Madrid, it could increase speculation about Sergio Ramos’ long term future at the club, or point to more serious knee problems than first thought for Raphael Varane.

AS has quotes from former player and assistant manager Aitor Karanka, who opens up about his time working for Jose Mourinho. He admits his friendship with Iker Casillas suffered by the end of his time at the club, but that dropping him was a decision made for the good of the team.

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Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

The controversial ‘Ultras Sur’ supporters group will be removed from the Bernabeu stadium, claims a report in Spain.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is expected to reassign the groups behind goal seats after a 30-year period of offensive, violent and disruptive behaviour and chanting.

A COPE radio report and AS revealed a new ‘Fans Sur’ section of 1,600 seats will replace the groups current amount of 885 from January.

Younger Madrid socios are the most likely to take the position as Los Blancos look to emulate that of the ‘Grada Joven Curva Nord’ group at Valencia’s Mestalla.

Many members have already been banned from the stadium, and some of the group were recently found selling fascist memorabilia at a school market.

In October, four supporters were fined €3,000 and banned from sporting events for a 12 month period for displaying swastikas and other Nazi symbols during a home defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Since the 1980s the ‘Ultras Sur’ have generated a great atmosphere at the Spanish giants but their bad actions and right wing political views have worn away at those wanting to keep them in.

Jose Mourinho was however very clear in expressing his admiration for the noise and energy the members bought to home games.

 

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Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has hailed his team mates for maintaining their outstanding form while he has been absent through injury.

The Portugal international picked up a thigh strain against Almeria on November 23 and missed his side’s matches against Galatasaray in the Champions League, and Valladolid in La Liga. He will also be absent from the line up in this weekend’s Copa del Rey fixture due to suspension following his sending off in last year in the final against Atletico de Madrid.

In the two games he has missed, Los Blancos routed the opposition, 4-1 and 4-0 respectively, with 91-million-euro man Gareth Bale particularly impressing and notching four goals across the two fixtures.

Former Manchester United star Ronaldo had special words of praise for his fellow forward. Speaking to Spanish sports daily Marca, he said: “They put in very strong performances and were very strong without me. We played two games at home and that’s always easier but the team responded perfectly.”

“Gareth performed amazingly in both games. He’s adapting exceptionally well and playing great,” he added.

The 28-year-old insisted he is back to full fitness and looking forward to his return to the team. “I feel great now,” he stated. “I’ll come back fully fit and then we have two very important away league games, against Osasuna and Valencia.”

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UK media reports are suggesting Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is being lined up for a move to Real Madrird – a switch that we think is highly unlikely to happen here at Realmadridnews.com.

According to Sports Direct News, Los Blancos want the Czech stopper to replace Iker Casillas, who is rumoured to be willing to leave his boyhood club having been reduced to a bit part role at the Santiago Bernabeu. The thing is, Carlo Ancelotti already has a top class keeper in the form of Diego Lopez. And Casillas has consistently denied he wants to leave.

Cech is also a vital member of Jose Mourinho’s team at Chelsea. He has featured 443 times for the Blues since he arrived at Stamford Bridge from Rennes, and has played a crucial role in the west London side’s league, cup and Champions League successes.

The report says former Madrid boss Mourinho will decide on Cech’s future depending on whether he brings Thibaut Courtois back from Atletico de Madrid. The Rojiblancos custodian in now in his third season on loan at the Vicente Calderon and is believed to want assurances of first team football should he return to the Premier League.

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Gareth Bale’s international manager Chris Coleman has said he never had any doubt the forward would succeed at Real Madrid.

The Wales boss told Sky Sports News that he never believed any of the criticism Bale came under after a slow start to life in the Spanish capital. The 24-year-old missed much of pre-season with a foot injury, and despite scoring on his debut for Los Blancos, missed much of the early part of the campaign with a thigh problem.

But the Welsh international has come into form in recent weeks, and has now scored nine goals in total for Los Blancos, with a further six assists. His highlight so far was undoubtedly his hat trick for the club in the 4-0 win over Valladolid at the weekend to help close the gap to leaders Barcelona in La Liga to just three points.

Coleman, who recently signed a new deal as Wales manager, said: “Last month after El Clasico he was under pressure, but a month later he is playing well and everyone realises what a good player he is and that’s good news for everyone.

“His talent was never in doubt. He is a fantastic player – one of the top players on the planet.”

He added that Bale feels comfortable in Madrid and is enjoying his football alongside stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo. “He has to be himself, enjoy his football and keep playing the way he can and the way he has over the last two or three years,” Coleman stated.

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