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Real Madrid will not allow midfielder Casemiro to leave the club on loan in the January transfer window, according to reports in Spain.

The Brazilian, who signed for Los Blancos in the summer following a successful temporary deal last season, was thought to be likely to head out on loan to help in the next stage of his development as a player.

But according to the media in Spain, the youngster will not be allowed to leave following the injury to Sami Khedira. The German injured his cruciate ligament during the last international break and will miss the rest of the season for Real Madrid. He is hopeful of being back to full fitness in time to represent his country at the World Cup in Brazil.

Xabi Alonso and Asier Illarramendi are the two defensive midfielders ahead of Casemiro at the moment, but should one of them pick up a knock or be in need of a rest, the 21-year-old will be called upon by Carlo Ancelotti.

Since his move from Sao Paolo was made permanent, Casemiro has made five appearances for the Santiago Bernabeu side, four in La Liga and one in the Champions League.

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With just 20 days to go until Christmas day, people across the world will be making lists of presents they wish for – if they haven’t already done so.

And Carlo Ancelotti is no different. Top of his Christmas wish list is Xabi Alonso’s new contract. Both Marca and AS carry quotes from the Italian manager this morning on what he wants Santa to bring this year. “For Christmas I want Xabi Alonso to sign a new deal” he said, before adding “a win against Valencia wouldn’t be a bad present either”. Los Blancos take on Valencia on December 22 – the last game before the winter break.

The Italian boss spoke on a number of issues, including Alvaro Morata’s situation at the club. The young forward has been linked with a loan move away from the Santiago Bernabeu, and some reports had suggested a six-month deal had been agreed with Arsenal.

“We need him here, and we have confidence in his ability”, Ancelotti told reporters, putting an end to and transfer talk.

Elsewhere, both Marca and AS also have quotes from fit again Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese international, who is suspended from the Copa del Rey match at the weekend after his sending off on last year’s final, has watched his side continue to win with ease in his absence.

He expresses his happiness at how well the team has continued to play, and admitted his is in the form of his life so far this year. The 28-year-old also touched on the World Cup draw taking place on Friday, and said three teams he wants to avoid playing are Spain, Brazil and Germany.

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Real Madrid players Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale, Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo have been picked by UEFA among the 40 nominees to form the UEFA.com users’ Team of the Year. Mesut Ozil, who played half of 2013 at Santiago Bernabeu, has also made it in the list.

UEFA has left other Los Blancos stars out of the selection of the best players in European competitions, such as Marcelo, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema. In fact, this is one of the years in which Los Merengues contribute to the list with lesser footballers.

The European organism has published an statement in which they explain “the nominees were chosen by UEFA.com staff writers on the basis of their performances for a European club or national side in 2013.”

European champions Bayern Munich provide the most players to the list, with a total nine. Meanwhile, only two Barcelona men have been selected this year: Gerard Pique and Leo Messi.

UEFA.com users will vote until January 9th and the winners will be announced on January 15th. Last year, the Best European Eleven was formed by Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Thiago Silva, Philipp Lahm, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Andrea Pirlo, Mesut Ozil, Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese has been nominated for a tenth time and could make a record eight consecutive appearance among the best XI.

* Follow Alejandro Gonzalez on Twitter @alejandrognieto

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Real Madrid are the highest scorers among the teams that make up Europe’s big five leagues at this point in the season.

With roughly a third of the campaign played, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have found the back of the net 62 times in their 20 official matches played – a rate of 3.1 goals per game. They are the only team of the 98 teams that make up the big five – the top leagues in Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France – to average more than three a game.

Stats published by the International Federation for Football History & Statistics showed Bayern Munich and Manchester City follow just behind the nine-time European Cup winners. The current champions of Europe, now led by Pep Guardiola, have scored 60 times in 23 matches, at an average of 2.6 a game, with Manuel Pellegrini’s Citizens have notched up 59 goals in 20 matches, at a rate of 2.9 a game.

Atletico de Madrid are the next best placed La Liga outfit with 54 goals from 22 games, while reigning champions Barcelona have one less having played the same amount as Diego Simeone’s side.

Following a slow start to the campaign in which Ancelotti’s team scraped a last minute win over Elche and drew with newly-promoted Villarreal, they have picked up in recent weeks, coinciding with the return to form and fitness of Gareth Bale.

Los Blancos lost the Clasico 2-1 at the end of October, but since then have notched up some big wins, including putting seven past Sevilla, five past Real Sociedad and registering four against Valladolid. Much of that has been down to the form and understanding between the front three of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano – nicknamed the BBC by the Spanish press.

Team Goals Scored Matches Played Goals per game
Real Madrid 62 20 3,1
Bayern 60 23 2,6
Manchester City 59 20 2,9
Atlético 54 22 2,5
Borussia Dortmund 53 22 2,4
Barcelona 53 22 2,4
PSG 51 21 2,4
Bayer Leverkusen 47 21 2,2
Juventus 42 20 2,1
Chelsea 41 21 1,9
Arsenal 41 22 1,8
Manchester United 40 21 1,9

 

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The Collins Column

Three months ago, on a warm September afternoon, Gareth Bale was presented to the Real Madrid fans at the Santiago Bernabeu following his 91-million-euro transfer from Tottenham Hotspur.

While most of the 60,000 or so people in the stadium sung his name, some fans could be heard singing the name of Mesut Ozil, the playmaker who had recently departed to Spurs’ north London rivals Arsenal. Some Los Blancos fans had doubts about Bale’s signing.

And members of the press and football fans not connected with Real Madrid said the Welshman’s signing was merely a statement of financial power by Florentino Perez. Marketing purposes more than anything else. And also to show Barcelona, who had signed Brazilian wonderkid Neymar just weeks before for 60 million euros, who is really still top dog in Spain.

Debate went on in the media, and many pundits concluded the Catalan giants had done the best business, that Neymar would be better than Bale.

The early weeks of the season suggested they may be right. While Neymar started forming decent understandings with his Blaugrana team mates, Bale was left waiting in the treatment room at Real Madrid.

The Welshman got off to a difficult start to life in the Spanish capital. He had missed much of pre-season with Tottenham due to a foot injury. Following his protracted switch to the nine-time European Cup winners, his bad luck with injuries continued. Despite a goalscoring debut away at Villarreal, Bale suffered a thigh injury that would halt his integration into Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

He was raced back to fitness in time for the first Clasico of the season at the Nou Camp. The first real moment we could compare Neymar and Bale. And the afternoon that October day couldn’t have been more contrasting. The Brazilian gave the hosts the lead with a wonderful curled effort from inside the box. When he was finally removed in the 87th minute, the Nou Camp gave him a standing ovation.

Bale, meanwhile, was victim to Ancelotti’s odd tactics, and was played in the middle of the front three. Clearly not match fit, and unfamiliar with the role, his only contribution was a long range effort that sailed over the bar. He was taken off on the hour mark.

Fast forward a few weeks and the the situation has been reversed. Bale scored for Real Madrid against Juventus in the Champions League, he scored against Sevilla, and has provided team mates with many assists. He has formed a third of the the deadly BBC trio, the nickname given to the front three of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano by the Spanish press. In all, Bale has scored nine times in 13 appearances, and provided a further six assists. Without a doubt, his highlight so far has been the ‘perfect’ hat trick – left foot, right foot, header – against Valladolid at the weekend.

Neymar, although he has nine assists, has scored just five goals in 19 appearances for the Catalan giants. With Messi out injured for six weeks or so, much was expected of the new kid on the block. But since the Argentinean genius picked up his injury, Neymar has failed to score. Barcelona have lost their last two matches and look out of sorts. For 60 million, now is the time for Neymar to step up.

It may be a cliche, but a season is a marathon, not a sprint. While Neymar went racing out of the blocks, Bale is starting to show just why Madrid shelled out so much for him.

 

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Speculation surrounding the future of Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria has  resurfaced in the press again, with reports linking the player with big spending French side Monaco.

The 25-year-old has been long linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu. Following the arrival of 91-million-euro man Gareth Bale in the summer, di Maria was tipped to leave the club, with Chelsea and Benfica named as likely destinations among others.

But the Argentina international always said he wanted to stay and fight for his place in Carlo Ancelotti’s side, and was keen to stick with the club he joined in 2010 in a 30 million euro deal. He has made 13 appearances for Los Blancos this season, but has seen playing time reduced in recent weeks as Bale, Benzema and Cristiano – nicknamed the BBC – have begun firing on all cylinders.

According to Spanish paper El Confidencial, di Maria’s agent is looking into a potential transfer to Monaco. The agent has worked closely with the Ligue 1 side recently having been involved in deals to take Radamel Falcao, James Rodruiguez, Ricardo Carvalho and Joao Moutinho to the Stade Louis II in the principality.

Di Maria signed for the Santiago Bernabeu side from Benfica, and has scored 29 goals in 155 appearances for the club so far.

 

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Real Madrid press report 4-12-13

The lack of news due to the Copa del Rey matches next weekend has challenged Spanish newspapers creativity. And as usual they have failed to provide a decent front page to their readers, at least in the case of Marca.

The Madrid daily highlights in its front page Real Madrid’s great state of form, probably for the eleventh time in the last two weeks. “Europe’s terror,” they call Los Blancos.

“Madrid are the leaders in scoring with 62 goals. Neither Bayern Munich, Barcelona nor Manchester are close to Los Blancos average: 3.1 goals per game,” Marca points out.

Spain’s most sold newspaper also publishes a special report about Olimpic Xativa, the modest third division team that will face Los Merengues in the Copa del Rey. “Player Jose Peris works as greengrocer in the mornings and trains in the afternoons,” they report.

Marca also claims Real Madrid directors are willing to offer Sami Khedira, who has just started the recovery process from his knee surgery, a contract extension until 2018.

Meanwhile, the other main Madrid sports daily, As, emphasizes in its front page Cristiano Ronaldo’s answer when asked about the Ballon d’Or and the chances of seeing him at the event: “On January 13th I might be in Spain, Zurich or Madeira… I don’t know,” the Portuguese said.

* Follow Real Madrid News on Twitter

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Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Sami Khedira has begun his long way back to recovery from a serious knee injury, according to reports.

The 26-year-old midfield general suffered medial and anterior cruciate damage during his nation’s friendly with Italy in November. Shortly after that 1-1 draw, the seriousness of the injury was announced with Khedira expected to miss the rest of the season for Los Blancos and facing a race against time to be fit for the World Cup in Brazil.

Reports in the Spanish media have claimed Khedira, signed from Stuttgart in 2010, is working with Bayern Munich and German doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, who is a highly regarded knee specialist.

Although the road to recovery is a long one for Khedira, he is believed to making good progress in the initial stages. He is still unable to run or train with the ball yet, and is focusing on building up the strength in the knee again.

The injury was a huge blow for Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who has had to alter team in Kedira’s absence. The German was in fine form and had built up a formidable partnership in central midfield with Xabi Alonso, providing a base on which the more attacking players in the side could build from.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has told Spanish newspaper Marca that he has fully recovered from the thigh injury which has kept him out of Real Madrid’s last two fixtures.

The Portuguese superstar picked up the injury during the second half Los Blancos 5-0 victory against Almeria on the 23rd of November, but said he is ready to return immediately.

Ronaldo was picking up Marca’s La Liga player of the year award, and told the paper “I am good, I have no injury. I have been recovered for a few days now. I did not play in the last game so as not to force things.”

However, Ronaldo will have to wait until at least the tenth of December before he can make his comeback, as he is suspended for this weekend’s Copa Del Rey fixture away at third-tier club Olimpic de Xativa.

“This could be the best start to a season of my career,” the winger said. “But I believe that in recent years I have been at a very high level.

“We are strong, confident and we want to keep going like this in good form. I want to help the team, so that we are strong at the end of the season when trophies are won.”

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Xabi Alonso's baby daughter

Xabi Alonso and his wife Nagore Aramburu have announced the birth of their third child with a lovely Instagram picture. Emma, as they have named her, was born after a long wait and her mother wanted to share that sweet moment using her profile in this social network.

The picture that shows the little baby’s hand, was accompanied by the message “Emma is already with us. #Happyfamily.” The couple shared this way their happiness over their third kid. Alonso and Aramburu already had a five-year-old boy named Jon and a three-year-old girl named Ane.

Both the mother and the baby are perfectly healthy, the couple have revealed.

Xabi Alonso and Nagore started their relationship in 2003 and got married six years later, at the same time the footballer joined Real Madrid.

They announced Aramburu’s latest pregnancy last August 12th, coinciding with Alonso’s wife’s birthday.

The birth of his new child coincides with one of the Basque’s sweetest moments at Real Madrid, since Alonso is putting in some of his best performances as Los Blancos player lately.

Alonso’s fatherhood is the just the start of Real Madrid’s baby boom, which will continue with Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Pepe becoming parents.

Rumours have said Karim Benzema will become a father as well, but this hasn’t been confirmed by the Frenchman, whose latest reported relationship was an affair with a transsexual prostitute.

* Follow Laura Martinez on Twitter @Lauram_ti

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