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Juventus manager Antonio Conte has said his team respects Real Madrid but does not fear Los Blancos ahead of the Champions League clash between the European giants.

The Italian champions take on the nine-time European Cup winners at the Santiago  Bernabeu tonight before welcoming them to Turin in two weeks time for the reverse fixture.

Conte’s men suffered a surprise 4-2 defeat to Fiorentina in Seria A at the weekend having been two goals to the good at one stage, but rather than be concerned ahead of the Champions League match, the manager said it would act as a wakeup call for his team.

Speaking to journalists gathered at the pre-match press conference, Conte stated:  “This game gives us huge motivation. Something imponderable happened in Florence, but in football this can happen. The numbers say we create a great deal.”

Switching his attention to the match at the Bernabeu, he said his team knows its own strengths and does not fear Los Blancos. “We respect Real Madrid, but have no fear. We are stepping on to the field well aware of our capabilities. This is going to be very tough, but it is an opportunity for us to give our all and prove ourselves too,” he said.

And he added: “The result will mean nothing in terms of qualification, whether we win or lose, as there are still another three games to go. We have to prove we’re up to the standard of this great football stage, not with words, but on the pitch.”

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Spanish sports daily Marca brings to its front page a picture of the 1998 Champions League final that Real Madrid won 1-0 to Juventus, demanding Los Blancos “Another night like that one” as they face the Italians again tonight.

“Madrid faces Juve with the winning spirit that gave them their seventh Champions League,” they claim.

The Madrid paper reveals Sergio Ramos will finally play, while Raphael Varane, Luka Modric, Alvaro Arbeloa and Karim Benzema could return to the starting eleven.

Their rival newspaper As puts its focus on Cristiano Ronaldo’s words prior to the game. “The fans want us to win this competition, and so do I,” the Portuguese stated.

As also publishes Carlo Ancelotti’s words about a possible Ronaldo’s switch of position with the arrival of Gareth Bale. “I’m not changing Cristiano’s position, I’m not crazy,” the Italian said.

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David Beckham may one day regret his decision to leave Real Madrid and move to the USA so soon, Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed.

In his autobiography, the former Manchester United boss lifted the lid on why Beckham was sold to the Spanish giants in 2003 and said the move to LA Galaxy in 2007 was for non-footballing reasons.

Ferguson, who spent 26 years in charge at Old Trafford, claimed Beckham had to be sold after his marriage to Victoria, a member of girl band the Spice Girls. He said the player was too distracted by celebrity life and thought he had become bigger than the club and manager.

“The minute a Manchester United player thought he was bigger than the manager, he had to go,” he wrote. “David thought he was bigger than Alex Ferguson. That was the death knell for him.”

The Scotsman also gave his views on Beckham’s move from Real Madrid to LA Galaxy shortly after he won La Liga with Los Blancos.

“If he had asked my advice when he left Real Madrid for LA Galaxy, I would have told him exactly what I thought. How can you leave Real Madrid for LA Galaxy? He reinvented himself a couple of times to go to AC Milan then PSG. That’s because of his natural stamina. At the end I think he did miss the big-time football. Maybe in a couple of years he’ll look back and think that,” Ferguson wrote.

Despite the break down in their relationship a decade ago, Ferguson said he always had huge respect for Beckham, and added he did not feel his autobiography was overly critical of him.

“How can I argue with how he’s turned out as a human being? I thought he was a marvellous guy. When he joined us at 12 years of age, he had this fantastic ambition to be a footballer,” he stated.

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Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he blocked Real Madrid’s attempts to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, but told the Los Blancos star he could eventually move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

In his newly released autobiography, Ferguson, who retired after 26 years in the top job at Old Trafford, revealed Ramon Calderon annoyed him in his attempts to sign the Portugal star so much that he waited until Florentino Perez had taken over at the club again to agree a deal.

Ferguson said in Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography that he travelled to Carlos Quieroz’s house in Portugal in the summer of 2008 to meet with Ronaldo, who expressed his desire to switch to the Spanish capital. But having been angered by Calderon, Ferguson told the now 28-year-old that he would not be sold.

However, the pair came to a gentleman’s agreement that if Madrid were to come up with a world record offer in the future, the deal would happen.

“I said, ‘I know you want to go to Real Madrid. But I’d rather shoot you than sell you to that guy now. If you perform, don’t mess us about, and someone comes and offers a world record fee, then we will let you go,’” Ferguson wrote.

“I did well to calm him down. I told him that the reason I was refusing to sell him that year was because of Calderon.

“I said, ‘If I do that, all my honour’s gone, everything’s gone for me, and I don’t care if you have to sit in the stands. I know it won’t come to that, but I just have to tell you I will not let you leave this year’.”

Since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu for 96 million euros in 2009, Ronaldo has scored 214 goals in just 210 games.

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One of the last things you would expect on a Tuesday evening while you have dinner watching an interview with Pilar Rubio is hearing Sergio Ramos singing flamenco for his girlfriend.

That’s exactly what happened at Spanish TV show El Hormiguero, where the Real Madrid defender’s partner was invited.

While she was talking about how happy she was with Ramos, the shows’ anchorman Pablo Motos offered to sing a song for her, but it was actually Sergio Ramos who appeared singing.

Sergio Ramos sang Canelita

He sang ‘A quien le voy a contar mis penas’ -Who am I going to tell about my sorrows- by flamenco singer Canelita. The famous actress and presenter broke down in tears, admitting she didn’t expect that at all.

A very emotional Ramos said: “I am proud of her, I’ve got a diamond at home and I have to treat her very well, that’s why I’ve done this.”

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AC Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo is being targeted by both Manchester United and Real Madrid according to talkSport.

The 28-year-old would provide the necessary creativity that each side craves, with United looking to replace the retired Paul Scholes and Real risk losing both Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso.

Montolivo only joined the Rossoneri last summer but has already established himself as team captain, making any potential move problematic.

However Carlo Ancelotti is determined to get his man and will be looking to make his former club an offer so lucrative they cannot refuse.

The Los Blancos boss is also looking at Chelsea’s Ramires, a player he himself signed during his brief tenure in charge at Stamford Bridge, but Milan’s Italian international remains the prime target.

Manchester United may struggle to match any offer Real Madrid makes but they could have the advantage of being able to provide Montolivo with a bigger role at the club.

Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156

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Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has denied he had a falling out with midfielder Isco in their side’s 2-0 win over Malaga at the weekend.

Isco, a summer signing from Malaga, was seen hugging some of his former team mates in the tunnel just before the two teams took to the pitch on Saturday afternoon. As he was doing so, television cameras caught Ramos saying “that’s enough” and urging his to focus on the game instead.

There have been reports of discord among some of the players already this season, while there were constant stories of disharmony in the squad last season under Jose Mourinho, with infighting given one of the key factors as to why Los Blancos so underachieved last season.

But Ramos said the media was making up stories as they had nothing else to write on a slow news day. Taking to his Twitter page, Ramos stated: “When it’s a slow news day you can always count on someone making something up.”

“There’s nothing weird about greeting your former team mates – I’m the first to do so,” he continued, before adding “Not everyone gets our sense of humour, Isco.”

The 21-year-old creative midfielder took to the social media site to respond, saying: “As for Sergio and people who like to go on about things they know nothing about, it was standard banter. He’s always got my back!’

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Juventus striker Fernando Llorente has revealed that Real Madrid tried to sign him in the past, and Spanish sports newspapers highlight those words in their front pages just one day before Los Blancos face the Italians in the Champions League.

AS main headline is for Llorente’s words: “Madrid tried to sign me twice,” he said. He also spoke about the strikers’ debate at Santiago Bernabeu: “I don’t know why Real sold Gonzalo Higuain, but Morata is pushing strong.”

Regarding tomorrow’s Champions League clash, AS highlights that “Juve arrives in a crisis after losing to Fiorentina.” The Madrid daily points out “Italian press is blaming Gianluigi Buffon.”

Marca points out that Cristiano Ronaldo has scored against all big European clubs except Juventus. “Signora shakes,” they title. “This is the first time the Portuguese will face the Italians,” they add.

The most sold Spanish newspaper also reveals that Carlo Ancelotti is considering resting Sergio Ramos for the crucial game against Barcelona next Saturday. Pepe and Raphael Varane would be the centre-back pair.

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Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema, the only two players in Real Madrid’s infirmery up until today, are back to regular work. In fact, the Frenchman is likely to start in the Champions League clash against Juventus on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old midfielder completed his first full training with the first team for the first time since the end of last season. The Basque had surgery in a metatarsian in the summer. He’s also been suffering a groin injury and the recovery process has taken more time than expected.

Alonso could be ready to face Barcelona next Saturday in the first Clasico of the season, but the fact that he hasn’t played a single minute since June might prevent Carlo Ancelotti from lining him up in such a crucial game.

“It’s taking longer than I hoped, but I’m getting closer and closer, and I have to be patient. I don’t want to set a date, but every day I’m getting closer and closer,” the Basque admitted.

Meanwhile, Benzema, who returned from France international games with ankle problems, is completely recovered and will reportedly make it in the starting line-up to face Juventus after resting against Malaga.

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French champions PSG are set to make a world record bid for Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo next summer, according to reports.

British tabloid The Sun claimed Carlo Ancelotti’s former club will bid around 115 million euros for the star, who has scored 214 goals in just 210 games for Los Blancos since his switch to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2009.

The former Manchester United player has recently signed a new contract at the nine-time European Cup winners, penning a five-year deal on a salary of around 300,000 euros a week.

According to the paper, despite the fact the 28-year-old has signed new deal, he feels like he needs a fresh challenge having won only one La Liga title in his four and a half years in Madrid.

PSG are no strangers to pulling of huge and spectacular transfers having signed the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Edinson Cavani in recent years. Managing to secure a deal to take Ronaldo to the French capital would upstage all of those transfers however.

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