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Madrid press report 2nd November 2013

Spain’s main sports newspaper Marca claims today that Carlo Ancelotti practiced an unusual starting eleven during yesterday’s closed-door training session.

The Italian could line-up a very offensive team against Rayo Vallecano tonight, with Xabi Alonso, Luka Modric and Angel di Maria in a three-man midfield line and an impressive forward trio: Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Ancelotti invents another great team,” Marca titles, pointing out there could be “six changes from the starting eleven that faced Sevilla” with “marshal Xabi Alonso commanding the team.”

The other Madrid sports daily, As, also highlights that the Basque midfielder “will start a game 169 days after the last time.”

The Madrid paper’s main headline is “Bale to assault Vallecas,” emphasizing that the Welshman arrives in good form after scoring two goals and providing two assists against Sevilla.

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Borussia Dortmund plan to make a bid of six million euros to keep midfielder Nuri Sahin on an permanent basis after selling him to Real Madrid, where he made only ten appearances.

The prominent team of the Bundesliga currently has had the Turkish figure on loan for the season. Sahin has been dazzled with his performances under Jurgen Klopp after going through some challenges in Spain.

The young Turk commenced his career with Dortmund before he ventured out to Real Madrid to play with the club in 2011. There, he unsuccessfully never actually played as a starter with the Spanish team and later Liverpool signed him on loan.

His experience in England resembled that of Spain when he only played only half a season at Anfield after a poor performance which caused him to return to his old German club once more on loan.

Sahin evidently seems to be shining in Germany and Dortmund will attempt to negotiate with Real Madrid’s six million euros to keep him permanently.

The Turkish international might be significant if players like Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus leave the club in January. Also, if they continue to be coupled with many of Europe’s spectacular clubs.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has become Real Madrid’s fifth all time record goal scorer, overtaking Ferenc Puskas to cement the position.

A hat-trick against Sevilla see’s the Portugal captain’s tally up to 158 league goals, just six behind Mexico forward Hugo Sanchez.

The impressive achievement has Ronaldo closing in on club legends Hugo Sanchez (164), Carlos Santillana (186), Alfredo Di Stefano (216) and Raul (228).

Although he faces a tough challenge to reach the top, the midfielders impressive record of 1.08 league goals per game has him averaging better than any of the players above him.

Raul hit 0.41 goals per game, Di Stefano 0.76, Santillana 0.4 and Sanchez 0.79, with Ronaldo also notching his 158 goals in and incredible 146 games -with Puskas needing 180 to reach his 156 total.

The Madrid star continues to rewrite Los Blancos’s history books, and aged 28 with his contract set to run till 2018 there seems no reason for him not too aim at Raul’s record.

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Despite the fact that summer rumours of a Fabio Coentrao exit didn’t become true, the Portuguese defender could still join one of Europe’s best clubs in a big January move.

The 25-year-old hasn’t played a single minute in the Champions League, so he could still participate in the competition with another club. Juventus and Manchester are reportedly keeping tabs on the left-back and could make an offer as the winter transfer market opens.

If he finally doesn’t make any appearance at the Champions League, he would have many options to leave Madrid. Real are expected to settle for any offer surrounding 20 million euros.

Coentrao is not comfortable with his current situation at the club and he could also force a transfer. Carlo Ancelotti has clearly chosen Marcelo as the starting left-back and the Portuguese is not getting all the playing minutes he would want to.

Real Madrid could sign a substitute left-back if Coentrao left, although Ancelotti could also opt to use Nacho or Arbeloa as Marcelo’s replacements.

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Real Madrid Xabi Alonso has said he was very happy to be back playing again, and thanked the Bernabeu crowd for the good reception he received in the 7-3 win over Sevilla on Wednesday.

Alonso came on as a 63rd minute substitute for Asier Illarramendi and was warmly welcomed by the Los Blancos crowd as he made his comeback after five months on the sidelines with groin and foot injuries, and the Basque midfielder was obviously thrilled.

He said: “I am grateful for the affection and respect from the crowd. I’m very happy, I have no problems and I hope to slowly get there to be able to help the team. I feel like the team is taking shape but there are still things to polish. By reinforcing what we do well and correcting what we can do better we hope to go as far as we want to”

Alonso was also full of praise for record signing Gareth Bale, who scored twice and got two assists, saying “He needs a period of adjustment to La Liga because it is very different to the Premier League. His quality can be seen and when he settles with the team he will improve more”

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Aitor Karanka, the former Real Madrid player and assistant manager, is keen on a management job in England, it has been reported.

According to Sky Sports, Karanka, who worked under Jose Mourinho, has his eye on the vacant role at Premier League side Crystal Palace or Championship club Middlesbrough. Some bookmakers in the UK have the former Spain international as the favourite to land to job at the Riverside Stadium.

Karanka left the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer following the departure of Portuguese boss Mourinho, who is now back at Chelsea. He had been keen to stay in Madrid, but once Carlo Ancelotti made it clear he wanted to bring in his own team around him, Karanka decided to bring the curtain down on his time at the nine-time European Cup winners.

Speaking to Sky, Karanka’s agents confirmed his interest in taking on a job in England and testing himself in a new environment.

A spokesman for Gestifute, run by leading agent Jorge Mendes, said: “Some clubs have asked about the situation of Karanka and we are managing some options but there are no agreements.”

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Much of the focus in recent days has been on the Real Madrid attacking trio of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Today it is the turn of goalkeeper Diego Lopez to take centre stage. Madrid-based daily Marca has the shot stopper on its front page with the headline ‘Doubling his salary’. Such has been the form of Lopez this season that the debate over whether he or Iker Casillas should play seems to have quietened down.

According to Marca, Lopez with earn 4.5 million euros a season, with his contract set to end in 2017.

AS goes with a the huge poster of Ronaldo in his underwear on its cover – and says the star is in better shape and better form that he’s ever been in. The poster of the Portuguese star currently adorns the front of the town hall in Madrid and causes much commotion, particularly amongst his female fans.

In the calendar year so far, the 28-year-old has scored 56 goals – 13 more than Lionel Messi. His hattrick against Sevilla on Wednesday night was his 22nd for Los Blancos in just over four seasons. And he overtook Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas in the list of all time league goalscorers for the club.

With the nominations for the Ballon D’or having been announced, Marca held a poll amongst its readers as to who should be nominated for the final three. Unsurprisingly, Ronaldo and Messi make the list, and they are joined by Frank Ribery – who played a crucial role in Bayern Munich’s treble success last year.

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After Real Madrid’s thrilling 7-3 win over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night Asier Illarramendi commented on how he feels he is adapting to life in Madrid saying “I’m getting better every match and have keep going in that direction”.

Illarra started the game but knows competition for spots will increase with the return of Xabi Alonso from injury, and stated he would welcome the chance to enhance his game and force his way into the team: “He [Xabi Alonso] is important for us, he has been here for a long time and has always been important.

“There will be more competition and that is good for the team and helps us all to improve. We have a match every three days and we will have to rotate to get rest. The important thing is carry on as we are, whoever plays.

It was an important victory for Madrid after losing their previous league match to title rivals Barcelona “We spoke about going out there at full pace in the dressing room and we played pretty well. We pressed up front and stole the ball. We have to keep going along the same lines,” he said.

The 23-year-old Spaniard Illarra joined Los Blancos from Real Sociedad this summer for a fee of around €38million and has started life well in the Spanish capital, looking to secure a place in the national team squad for the 2014 World Cup.

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Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa is backing his team mate Cristiano Ronaldo amidst a row with FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

The Spanish international is referring to an incident where the 77-year-old appeared to praise Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and undermine Ronaldo in the same sentence.

“You have to have a little more respect when you have a position like Blatter has,” Arbeloa told the Real Madrid website. “The things he’s said in public and hearing what he says in private attracts attention.”

“Everybody’s noticed. I don’t know if it explains a lot of things, but it can explain some. They’re things that nobody understands.”

The former Liverpool right-back was quick to praise the Portuguese international, who scored a hat-trick in last night’s routing of Sevilla.

“He’s a point of reference in the world of football. Whoever likes football has to like Cristiano Ronaldo,” the 30-year-old proclaimed.

“He has a great personality and he’s gotten where he is because of his valour and personality. It’s extra motivation for him.”

Arbeloa was also quick to praise Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema’s performances last night as both players scored twice while the Welshman also picked up two assists.

“Gareth is a great player. He still needs to get into the rhythm of things and adapt, but he’s really doing great for the time he’s been in.”

When asked about the Frenchman, Arbeloa said: “Those of us who work with him aren’t surprised. We’ve always had confidence in him. He’s one of the best forwards in the world and Real Madrid is lucky to have him.”

Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156

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Reports in the UK press have suggested Real Madrid will offer 25 million euros plus Karim Benzema as the attempt to reach a player-plus-cash deal with Liverpool for striker Luis Suarez.

The 26-year-old frontman was heavily linked with the Santiago Bernabeu club in the summer but no agreement could be reached between the Real and Liverpool directors. But now it appears Los Blancos will go back with a new offer, and are happy to dispense of the services of Frenchman Benzema.

Premier League side Arsenal made an offer for the Uruguayan star but Real is thought to be his preferred destination, with the prospect of Champions League football and fighting for major trophies a major reason for his eagerness to leave Anfield.

Benzema has had a tough start to the season and has struggled for form and goals. He was booed off the pitch in the win over Juventus in the Champions League after an astonishing miss, and was dropped from the side that lost to Barcelona in the Clasico at the weekend.

Ancelotti and the Real hierarchy are believed to be happy to let the striker leave and want to include him in tha package for Suarez in a bid to avoid paying a huge transfer fee.

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