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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed in a new documentary that he was close to signing Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo when he was still a teenager.

Speaking in a new programme called Ronaldo Footballing Superstar, Wenger says the Portuguese had even been given the number 9 shirt before Manchester United came in at the last minute to seal the deal. The documentary looks at the rise of Ronaldo and follows his career from being a teenage prodigy at Sporting Lisbon to global superstar at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Wenger says: “He was very close to coming here. He has a number nine shirt with Ronaldo on the back from Arsenal Football Club.”

The Frenchman, who completes 17 years in charge of the club this week, added that then-assistant manager of Manchester United, Carlos Quieroz, called Ronaldo at the last minute. The pair knew each other from their Sporting Lisbon days, and Quieroz persuaded the 18-year-old Ronaldo to head to Old Trafford instead.

At the end of the interview, Wenger adds: “That’s what life is about. You give your best but sometimes you might find that people are stronger than you. That can happen as well.”

Ronaldo played for Manchester United for six years before making a world record move to Real Madrid in 2009. He has scored 210 goals in 207 games for Los Blancos.

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Former Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain hailed his old team-mate Mesut Ozil ahead of their clash in the Champions League as Napoli visit Arsenal.

Higuain believes Ozil’s 50-million-euros move was a bargain compared to other signings made this summer by other clubs. “When you look at the insane fees that players moved for this summer you have to say that Mesut was a great deal for Arsenal,” the Argentinian said.

“I had the pleasure to play with Mesut and he is one of the best players in the world. As a striker he is a dream to play with, because you know he is going to create chances for you to score,” he added.

Higuain and Ozil will meet for the first time since they both left Real Madrid in the summer. The Argentinian international was also linked with a move to North London last August, but Napoli’s offer beat that of the Gunners.

The 25-year-old claims he doesn’t regret signing for Napoli instead of Arsenal. “I am very happy that I joined Napoli. We have started well in the Serie A and have got off to a good start in Europe too. I knew there were other clubs interested in England and Italy, but I am very sure that I made the right choice. Napoli is a club where I can achieve everything I want,” Higuain affirmed.

After having won their first game of the Champions League, Arsenal and Napoli will fight today for the first position of Group F.

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Real Madrid’s leading players including Pepe and Karim Benzema held showdown talks on Monday morning about how to improve results, according to reports.

Both Spanish dailies Marca and AS claimed the Los Blancos captains and leaders, including Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Pepe had heated discussions in the aftermath of the team’s 1-0 loss against city rivals Atletico de Madrid. It was the first win for Los Colchoneros over Real in La Liga since 1999, and left Carlo Ancelotti’s men five points off the pace in the league.

According to reports, one of the main issues in the team was in fighting. The papers claimed the players at the meeting were particularly vocal about Pepe giving Benzema a dressing down while defending a set piece. Footage of the incident has gone viral and shows Pepe angrily telling the Frenchman he was shirking his defensive responsibilities.

Following the heated meeting, Pepe apologised to the rest of the squad and there are believed to be no long-term issues between the players.  Carlo Ancelotti’s men now turn their attention to the Champions League, as they host FC Copenhagen at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

 

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Spain’s most sold newspaper, Marca, claims today that Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti asked his players for patience in a private meeting. “Be patient, this will go well”, the Italian reportedly told the team.

“Real Madrid captains asked their team-mates for commitment during the meeting”, Marca states. “They forced Pepe to apologize to Benzema for his reproaches during the derby”, they add.

Meanwhile, the other main Madrid sports newspaper, As, titles in its front page “Ancelotti is weak”. PRISA’s daily claims the players forced the manager to have that meeting and Florentino Perez brought him to a dinner with the general director in order to clear things up.

As also publishes an interview with Real Madrid legend Francisco Gento. Former Los Blancos striker says “if Benzema showed more guts, he would be magnificent”.

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Former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho wants to take Karim Benzema to Chelsea in the January transfer window, it is believed.

The 50-year-old manager left the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer following three years in charge to return to Stamford Bridge. And he is now keen on raiding his old side to boost his striking options.

Benzema, who scored 47 goals in 97 league appearances under the Portuguese boss has struggled to hit the heights this year. He netted in Real’s opening two games but has failed to score in the following five La Liga fixtures. Some Los Blancos fans showed their frustration with the Frenchman during Saturday’s loss at home to Atletico de Madrid.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was keen on taking Benzema to the Emirates Stadium in the summer but a move did not materialise. Although he may go back in for the forward in January, Mourinho is also interested. He is not convinced by either Fernando Torres or Demba Ba, and although he brought in Samuel Eto’o, the Cameroonian is not seen as a long-term option to lead the Chelsea forward line.

Benzema joined Real Madrid in a 30 million euro deal from Lyon in 2009.

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Former Real Madrid goalkeeper and manager Mariano Garcia Remon has claimed Carlo Ancelotti needs to make a decision on the midfield starting players in order to define the team’s playing style.

“Spending a lot of money is not always synonymous with making a good team. That is going to be a heavy weight for Ancelotti. He first needs to define his midfield, and decide whether he’ll opt for possession or counterattack”, Garcia Remon told Radio Marca.

“Real Madrid has signed Asier Illarramendi but they are missing Xabi Alonso. Now it is necessary that he comes back as soon as possible”, he argued.

The former Spanish international gave his impressions about Ancelotti’s first 100 days as Real Madrid boss. “The assessment can’t be positive. Not because of the results, but for the image the team given. We aren’t seeing a compact side, with clear ideas. The picture during these 100 days has not been a good one. Real Madrid seems to show doubts and concerns,” he stated.

Garcia Remon also attacked Jose Mourinho: “He ruined the good squad Real Madrid had last year, always looking for trouble and disputes where there was no need.”

The 62-year-old believes Real Madrid has a worst squad this season compared to last year’s. “Last year’s squad was the best in many years. All positions were well covered. However, this season there have been impulse signings, not ones that were needed,” he concluded.

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Italian giants AC Milan are the latest side to be linked with a move for Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Forza Italian Football claimed the San Siro side will make a move in the January transfer window for the 32-year-old shot stopper, along with an attempt to lure Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic away from Old Trafford.

Casillas has endured a difficult few months at the Santiago Bernabeu having been dropped from the side by previous manager Jose Mourinho after he had recovered from a hand injury. The World Cup winner was widely expected to regain his place in the starting line up this season after Carlo Ancelotti took the reigns, but the Italian manager has so far stuck with Diego Lopez in La Liga.

Casillas has been linked a number of clubs as he may consider leaving the Spanish capital in the winter to gain the first team football he needs to ensure his place in the squad as Spain attempt to retain the World Cup in Brazil next summer. A number Premier League clubs have been mentioned as a possible destination, including Arsenal and Manchester City. La Liga rivals Barcelona have also been talked about in the press as they look for a replacement should Victor Valdes leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.

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Real Madrid summer signing Gareth Bale has said he is eager to repay the Real Madrid supporters following his home debut on Saturday night.

The Welshman, who made the 91 million euro switch from Tottenham Hotspur to the Santiago Bernabeu on transfer deadline day, was given a rousing reception when he came on in the second half of Real’s 1-0 defeat to city rivals Atletico de Madrid. Bale was due to make his first appearance at the Bernabeu last week against Getafe but pulled up injured in the warm up.

Although a loss to their rivals is always difficult to take – Diego Costa scored the only goal of the game after 10 minutes – Bale said he enjoyed the experience of playing in front of the 80,000 crowd.

Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: “Playing at the Bernabeu was a fantastic experience, but the important thing would have been winning.  I went on in the second half and I felt good but I have to improve. It was a fantastic experience and I have to play better every day to pay back that affection.”

He added that the squad needs to move on from the defeat and work harder to ensure they win matches in future. The 24-year-old said attention will now switch to the Champions League as Madrid look to take a step in the right direction in ensuring qualification from the group stages by beating FC Copenhagen on Wednesday.

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Madrid sports newspapers put their focus today on the fact that Carlo Ancelotti will have to face changes in the team in order to bring Real Madrid back on track.

“Ancelotti is messed up”, titles As, claiming he’s forgotten what he promised when he arrived: “Real will win playing good football”.

The Madrid paper publishes a list of what they state are the Italian’s mistakes: “He insists on lining-up Benzema just to make Florentino Perez happy; he chose Illarramendi despite Modric being in better shape; he hasn’t picked a starting goalkeeper, and plays both; he’s not sure whether to play combining, Italian style or counterattacking; and he’s not giving minutes to Morata, Jese, Carvajal and Casemiro.”

Marca claims that “after 100 days as Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti is seeking a new direction”. “Where do we start with, Carlo?”, they wonder.

“The fans have many doubts: there’s not at defined style, the physical condition of the players is poor, there is a lack of intensity and defensive weakness”, they argue.

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Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has called on his team mates to keep fighting for each other and for the club if they are to be successful this season.

Los Blancos went down 1-0 in the Madrid derby against Atletico de Madrid on Saturday night, the team’s first loss in La Liga this season. And the Portugal international said there is plenty of room for improvement in the coming games.

“When things go wrong it is easy to lift your arms and blame teammates, but that’s not what I saw on the field. The players are to blame and we have to hold our heads up. We don’t need to make a big drama out of it, we have to keep working hard because we have lots of things to win this year”, he told journalists at the end of the game.

He also admitted Los Blancos haven’t hit the heights this year in terms of form, but once the new players such as Gareth Bale are fully settled, and the squad is used to the manager’s methods, Madrid will be a force to be reckoned with.

“From today to tomorrow we can improve a lot and we will do. Maybe we’re not feeling so comfortable but it is normal. We have to keep going. There are still a lot of league matches left, the Champions League, the cup,” he added.

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