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The latest Real Madrid transfer rumours include Los Blancos targeting Juventus’ Paul Pogba and a Premier League side offering 50 million euros for Sergio Ramos.

La Gazzetta dello Sport claims Los Merengues are considering making an offer for Pogba after Juventus president Andrea Agnelli stated he doesn’t think “Juve has the strength to retain such a player if an offer comes”.

The French international was already linked with a move to Madrid last summer, as he is seen as a prospective replacement for Sami Khedira. However, Florentino Perez has some doubts about his signing, due to his high price and his troublesome personality. Plus, Chelsea and Paris Saint Germain are reportedly planning to bid for Pogba as well.

The Juventus youngster is not the only target for Los Blancos’ midfield. As published this week at Real Madrid News, Carlo Ancelotti would love to see Ramires at Santiago Bernabeu. According to CaughtOffside.com, Real would be willing to make a 40-million-euro bid.

Italian website Tuttosport has also revealed that Real could consider signing Nemanja Vidic if Raphael Varane keeps on struggling with physical problems. The centre-back’s contract with Manchester United expires on June 2014, so he could arrive free. However, a poll conducted among Real Madrid followers site DefensaCentral.com showed only 13% of the fans support that transfer.

On the departures side, football agent Francois Gallardo revealed on Spanish TV show Punto Pelota that a Premier League side is going to try to sign Sergio Ramos in the winter transfer market. “The offer will be around 45 or 50 million euros”, he claimed.

Madrid might also be looking for another striker due to the Frenchman’s poor performances and Spanish sports daily As has revealed that Robert Lewandowski is still an option, since Pep Guardiola is considering to break the agreement the player has with Bayern Munich.

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Real Madrid assistant manager Zinedine Zidane has revealed he has eyes on the top job at the Santiago Bernabeu one day, but is happy playing second fiddle to Carlo Ancelotti at the moment.

The 41-year-old previously worked as a club ambassador and presidential advisor under Jose Mourinho, but moved into the dug out when the Italian boss was named as the new coach in the summer. Zidane works alongside Englishman Paul Clement as one of Ancelotti’s assistants.

Speaking to RMC, the 1998 World Cup winner with France, said his aim is to keep learning with the idea of eventually becoming a manager.

“With what I’m looking at doing in the future, being assistant to Carlo Ancelotti is perfect. It’s good preparation for the rest of my career. I’m happy. It’s a job full of passion, difficult but interesting,” he stated.

“There are two assistants, one of which is Paul Clement, who prepares and takes training sessions. It’s very interesting to talk to him because he’s been doing that for 22 years. He explains things well to me. With Ancelotti, we talk more about tactics and the players.”

He also spoke about the difference between his roles under Mourinho and Ancelotti, saying his current job is much more hands on.

Zidane is quoted as saying: “With Mourinho, I wasn’t on the pitch, and wasn’t even involved in what happened on the pitch. I didn’t have any meetings with him about the team, about tactics, about what he wanted to put in place. Now, on the other hand, I have a real role. I have to tell Carlo Ancelotti how I see things.”

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Manchester City star David Silva has played down talk of a possible switch to Real Madrid next summer.

Reports in Mundo Deportivo had suggested Los Blancos could make a 60 million move for the creative midfielder as Florentino Perez draws up plans for another summer of spending. According to the sensationalist paper, other names on the shopping list include fellow City player Sergio Aguero, former Atletico de Madrid striker Falcao, and Chelsea’s box-to-box midfielder Ramires.

But when questioned about his future at the Etihad Stadium by Cadena Cope, Silva said he was happy in Manchester and wasn’t thinking about a return to Spain at any time soon. The former Valencia man has a deal until 2017 having agreed a new five-year contract only last summer.

He said: “I prefer not to say anything on the subject. I’m very happy in Manchester and I think this is similar to what happens every year. There are always rumours and, in the end, the player has to be calm. I renewed my contract because I am happy over there (in Manchester).”

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Spanish sports newspaper As publishes today Zinedine Zidane views on the Balon d’Or award 2013. Real Madrid’s assistant manager has claimed he would pick Frank Ribery rather than Cristiano Ronaldo as the winner.

“I would give it to Ribery, he deserves it,”, Zidane said. “Cristiano Ronaldo deserves it too, but Frank was decisive in Bayern Munich three titles this year”, he added.

Marca brings to its front page the debate on the team’s centre-back pair. “With Varane’s spot indisputable, Ancelotti will have to choose between Ramos and Pepe,” the Madrid daily states.

Both Madrid main sports newspapers also remind Iker Casillas will be back in a starting eleven today as Spain faces Belarus in the 2014 World Cup qualifier. Ramos is also expected to feature.

Marca also highlights Spain Under-21 victory over Bosnia in the Eurocup qualifier. Real Madrid youngster Alvaro Morata scored the goal that sealed the win.

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Angel di Maria has said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has confidence in the Argentine winger and that he’s looking forward to a successful campaign with Los Blancos.

Much speculation surrounded the 25-year-old over the transfer period, with the winger linked with a move back to former club Benfica, or with Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. And following the arrival of Gareth Bale at the Santiago Bernabeu, many had predicted di Maria would lose his place in the team.

But the player has enjoyed a fruitful season so far, scoring two goals in 10 appearances and playing a leading role in the team while Bale recovers from a thigh injured that has hampered his start to life in the Spanish capital.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference while on international duty, di Maria said he was pleased to have completed a good pre-season and gained the trust of Italian boss Ancelotti and his backroom staff.

“I have Ancelotti’s confidence. I had a really good pre-season and that made me feel very good. I’m doing what I’ve always done, but things are going very well for me at the moment,” he stated.

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There is still a chance Robert Lewandowski could sign for Real Madrid, according to As. In fact, the Spanish sports daily claims the move could even take place in January, as the Polish international’s contract with Borussia Dortmund expires in June 2014.

Lewandowski was close to signing for Bayern Munich last summer, but Borussia finally decided to keep him for a final season at the club. It was reported that the striker had already signed a preliminary contract with Bayern and that he would move to Munich in the summer of 2014.

However, As claims Pep Guardiola could break the agreement. Apparently, Bayern’s manager doesn’t see Lewandowski as the type of striker his team needs and would turn down his signing.

That would leave the door open for Real Madrid to make their move for a player that was already a target last summer. In fact, if Guardiola’s decision is confirmed before the winter transfer window closes, Los Blancos would try to bring Lewandowski in January for an amount between 10-12 million euros.

Despite the fact that Lewwandowski would not be able to feature in the Champions League, Florentino Perez would still bid for him in January if Karim Benzema doesn’t improve his performance. Borussia directors would be pleased to see their star leave for a club other than their arch-rivals.

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Real Madrid assistant manager Zinedine Zidane has said Gareth Bale will overcome a difficult start to life in Spain to be a hit at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Bale moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Los Blancos in a 91 million euro deal on transfer deadline day at the end of the summer, but has been hampered by injury so far this season. He scored a goal on his debut at Villarreal but has made just three appearances for his new side having been troubled with a thigh problem. He also missed a large part of pre-season with a foot injury.

Such an injury record has already lead to some sections of the Madrid press and Real Madrid faithful to question the club’s decision to invest so much in the Welshman, and doubts have already risen over whether Bale will settle in the Spanish capital.

But Zidane, a World Cup and Champions League winner in his time as a player, urged people to have patience with Bale, saying the 24-year-old will come good.

“He’s well integrated at the club and everyone has received him very well,” he said. Zidane added: “He was lacking a bit of physical preparation when he arrived so it has been a bit delicate in the beginning with his physical state.

“The only thing that is lacking with his condition is that he hasn’t trained enough with the rest of the team. He has a lot of willpower and he will be ready soon.”

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Former Real Madrid sporting director has slammed ex-Los Blancos boss Jose Mourinho for his behaviour during the pair’s time at the club.

The duo coincided for just over a year at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Valdano was forced out in September 2011 because of his troubled relationship with the Portuguese manager. In an interview with El Hormiguero, the 58-year-old said he had very few fond memories of working with Mourinho, and that if it had been up to Florentino Perez, he would has stayed at the club.

Valdano said: “Jose Mourinho was always imagining things that weren’t there. I was not someone who blindly followed what he said. I was always willing to talk with him, but he systematically refused to talk to me. If it was up to Florentino Perez, I would have stayed at Madrid.”

Mourinho was in the Spanish capital for three seasons, and won La Liga in 2012. He also guided his team to Copa de Rey success in his first season, but Real never reached their ultimate goal of winning the Champions League under the Portuguese’s leadership. He made a move back to Chelsea in the summer.

And Valdano was critical of Mourinho as a manager, saying he wasn’t passionate about football as a game, but only the result.

“Guardiola is someone who has a passion for football. Mourinho only has a passion for the final result,” he stated.

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Madrid’s sports daily Marca claims today that Carlo Ancelotti is already making plans for El Clasico against Barcelona that will be played on October 26th.

According to the Spanish paper, the Italian manager is considering lining-up Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria, leaving Karim Benzema in the bench. “Three bullets for Camp Nou”, Marca titles.

Marca also states that Ancelotti is hoping to have Xabi Alonso back for the crutial game against their arch-rivals. The Basque could even be recovered from his injury for the previous match against Malaga.

Meanwhile, the other main Madrid sports newspaper, As, brings to its front page yesterday’s statements by Karim Benzema. The French international claimed his problem is not lack of attitude and insisted his barren spell will end. “Benzema is not stressed”, As titles.

As also puts its focus on the issue of Real Madrid’s debt. The paper publishes an interview with Borja Martinez Laredo, one of the candidates to replace Florentino Perez, who claims “it would be unacceptable that the debt would force us to become a public limited company.”

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Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will not be moving to Real Madrid, according to his agent.
The 35-year-old’s club come up against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League on October 23, but Silvano Martina told Los Blancos fans not to get used to the site of the World Cup winner on the pitch in the Spanish capital.

Rumours have suggested the Italy legend could be on his way to link up with Carlo Ancelotti at the nine-time European Cup winners. The future of Iker Casillas has been in doubt for some time since being dropped 10 months ago by Jose Mourinho and failing to get his place back this season.

Many see Buffon as the ideal replacement, but Martina told TuttoJuve that a move will never happen.

He said: “How am I meant to comment on a rumour like that? I do not know where it has come from, but it is pointless to even consider it. Real Madrid will be playing Juventus in the Champions League – and that will be the only meeting Buffon will have with them.”

Buffon joined Juventus from Parma in 2001 and is still the most expensive goalkeeper in the world having cost the Old Lady 54 million euros.

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