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Real Madrid legend and current assistant coach Zinedine Zidane has told his boss Carlo Ancelotti that Isco could be as good as him in the future.

Los Blancos’ manager spoke at a press conference about the comparison many fans are making. “For Isco to be compared with Zidane is not bad after the few games he has played,” the Italian admitted.

“He is very similar in terms of ability and mentality. I asked Zinedine if Isco was as good as him and Zidane said ‘no, not yet but he could be very close in the future’,”, Ancelotti added.

The 21-year-old moved from Malaga to Madrid in the summer, and with just six official matches for Real he has become an instant favourite with the supporters. He has scored five goals so far this season.

Many of those who criticised Mesut Ozil’s sale to Arsenal for 45 million euros have now changed their minds due to the Andalucian’s brilliant performance at the number 10 position.

Isco will have another chance to shine as Los Merengues visit Elche on Wednesday evening.

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Raphael Varane and Fabio Coentrao are ready to make their return at Elche as Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti had guessed. Both have been picked for the squad that will travel to the southern city of Spain.

The French defender is completely recovered from the meniscus injury that has kept him out since last season. Although he was expected to get back to playing during the pre-season, he had to undergo a special recovery treatment when the pain appeared again.

The good state of shape of Nacho, Sergio Ramos and Pepe will make it difficult for Varane to earn a spot in the starting eleven, but Ancelotti could give him some minutes in the second half.

Coentrao has also recovered from the muscle problems he’s been suffering since his last international appearance for Portugal. The Portuguese left-back is not expected to play at Elche, as Alvaro Arbeloa is having a great performance in his position.

Iker Casillas has also made it in the squad for the game. Only Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Xabi Alonso had been sidelined due to injuries.

Real Madrid will travel to Elche on Wednesday morning to face their sixth La Liga game.

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Metro reporter Jamie Sanderson has gone completely mental by claiming Real Madrid would be willing to accept 3.5 million euros to let Xabi Alonso move to Liverpool in January.

On an article published in the British newspaper, the journalist claims that “despite the club’s policy of not buying players over the age of 30, the Reds manager has been given special dispensation to do business for Alonso.”

“Chelsea and Juventus are also eyeing up the pass-master, but Rodgers is desperate to bring him back to Liverpool in the new year”, he adds.

The 31-years-old contract with Los Blancos expires in June 2014, and his problems to recover from groin surgery have made the club hesitate about his renewal.

In case Alonso doesn’t sign a new deal, there are a number of clubs interested in bringing him, including Juventus, Fiorentina, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

However, Florentino Perez would not even remotely agree to sell the Basque midfielder in January for 3.5 million euros. Especially since they expect Alonso to guide Asier Illarramendi -who is seen as his future replacement- in his first season at Real Madrid.

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Karim Benzema has been given the back of his coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has insisted he is pleased with the striker’s performances despite the jeering he received from Santiago Bernabeu.

The French international missed a number of clear chances to score in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Getafe. The crowd booed him during the game, although he was finally cheered when being replaced by Alvaro Morata.

Despite all the controversy, Ancelotti affirms he is happy with his player. “His performances have been good. I like his work, regardless of the goals. I don’t think it’s a big problem for him that the fans whistled him. Sometimes it can even be a good thing, because it can motivate the players,” the Italian said at a press conference.

Despite having scored four goals in six games so far this season, Real Madrid supporters have perceived a lack of effort from the Frenchman and he has come under criticism from large sections of the fans.

Benzema also spoke about the supporters critics. “I understand it. I’m the first to be disappointed when I don’t score”, he said.

The French international is expected to start in Los Blancos visit to Elche on Wednesday.

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Florentino Perez, Real Madrid president

Florentino Perez revealed in an interview with Spanish radio station SER that Manchester United tried to sign Gareth Bale last summer.

French newspaper L’Equipe claimed a few days ago that the Red Devils had offered Tottenham Hotspur a record 150 million euros for the Welshman, but the player insisted on signing for Real Madrid and Daniel Levy had to accept Los Blancos lower offer.

Perez has not given details of the amount, but he has confirmed there was a United bid. “Tottenham did not want to sell. We learned that Manchester United had made an offer and we made one ourselves,” he told radio program El Larguero.

“Since childhood he had the dream of playing for Real Madrid and asked us to make it possible for him to come,” Perez added.

Real Madrid’s president tried to justify the price paid for Bale throughout the interview claiming “Bale has come cheaply”. “Signing the best players out there is Madrid’s philosophy and Bale was the best available player on the market this summer”, he affirmed.

Gareth Bale moved to Madrid from Spurs for an amount between 91 and 96 million euros after negotiations that lasted the whole summer transfer window.

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Cristiano Ronaldo hit the 150 goal mark when he netted the first of his two goals in Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Getafe on Sunday.

Only 19 footballers have scored more than 150 goals or more in La Liga’s history, but Ronaldo has been the fastest, as he has only needed 140 games to reach that number.

The Portuguese is also the only player who has hit that mark with an average of more than one goal per match. After Getafe’s game, Ronaldo has scored 151 goals in the Spanish league.

Ferenc Puskas Puskas (169 goals), Alfredo di Stefano (178) and Manuel Pahino (191) are his next targets. Leo Messi needed 203 games to reach 150 goals.

Ronaldo also broke another record last Sunday in Getafe’s visit to Santiago Bernabeu. He surpassed Hugo Sanchez as the 5th Real Madrid’s all-time goal scorer, with 208 goals. Only Puskas, Di Stefano, Santillana and Raul Gonzalez remain over him in the table.

CR7 scored 26 goals in his first season at Real Madrid, an exception record that he smashed the following two years with 41 and 46 goals respectively. Last season he scored 34.

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Marca publishes today in its front page an interview with Karim Benzema in which Real Madrid’s striker admits he “understands Bernabeu’s jeering”.

The French international was booed by a section of the crowd during last Sunday’s game against Getafe. “I understand it. I’m the first to be disappointed when I don’t score”, he said.

Benzema missed a number of clear shots to score in Real’s 4-1 victory over their regional rivals. His team-mates gave him their support and asked the fans to cheer.

“He has scored four goals and delivered three assists. After Ronaldo and Isco, he is the player with the best statistics”, Marca reports.

Both Madrid sports newspapers also bring to their front pages Gareth Bale’s injury. Marca claims the Welshman “will be ready to face Atletico”, while As is more conservative and affirms “the doctors will try to get him fit for the Madrid derby”.

As also highlights that Iker Casillas trained with his team-mates for the first time since his injury against Galatasaray and will start against Copenhagen in the Champions League.

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Arsenal are reportedly preparing a stunning 50-million-euros offer to sign Real Madrid’s striker Karim Benzema, according to Sports Direct News.

Arsene Wenger looks to take advantage of the abused delivered to the French forward from the Santiago Bernabeu. Though Carlo Ancelotti’s side eased past their regional rivals 4-1 the 25 year old was constantly jeered by a sizable portion of his own supporters.

Benzema has scored four goals so far this season, but that hasn’t convinced Real fans, who are very critical with his performance.

Wenger has tried to sign Benzema in the past and is willing to take advantage of the conflict between the forward and the fans. After signing Mesut Ozil for 45 million euros, this time the French manager could go as high as 50 million.

Arsenal also tried to bring Gonzalo Higuain from Bernabeu this summer, but the Argentinian finally ended up at Napoli. With Olivier Giroud as the only pure number 9 in the squad, Wenger is desperate for signing a world-class striker.

Carlo Ancelotti would oppose to lose his best forward, but a 50-million bid would be hard to turn down. Especially since Luis Suarez and Radamel Falcao are reportedly a target for Los Blancos.

Angel Di Maria has backed Benzema today: “The whistles against Karim were very unfair. Morata also missed a few chances and nobody jeered then – you have to treat everyone in the same way”, he said.

His team-mates asked the crowd to cheer when Benzema was replaced by Morata in the second half. It seems that the players don’t want the French international to leave.

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Real Madrid are preparing a surprise bid to sign Spanish right-back Cesar Azpilicueta, according to Italian sports website Sportmediaset.it.

Los Blancos are planning to sell Fabio Coentrao in the winter market, and Azpilicueta could be his substitute. Alvaro Arbeloa would then become the second-option for the left-back, while current Chelsea player would have to fight for the right-back spot with Daniel Carvajal.

The 24-year-old had a brilliant debut season at Chelsea last year, starting 43 matches. However, under Jose Mourinho he has seen his chances diminish greatly. Former Real Madrid manager has picked Branislav Ivanovic for the right-back position and Azpilicueta feels that he is not part of the Portuguese’s plans.

Although Florentino Perez has affirmed that Real will not be making any signings in January, Coentrao’s exit could change everything, and Azpilicueta could have a chance to return to Spain.

The Spanish international grew up at Osasuna’s youth teams. He played two seasons at Olympique de Marseille before moving to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2012.

Another question is whether Chelsea are willing to leave, especially to a Champions League rival and former team of his current boss.

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Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos are back to training after suffering physical problems in the last week. They both were present for Real Madrid’s training session on Monday afternoon.

Casillas picked up a rib contusion injury in a collision with Ramos at Galatasaray in the Champions League. He’s been sidelined for less than a week and is expected to return to the starting line-up against Copenhagen, since Carlo Ancelotti has decided he will play the European competition and Diego Lopez will start in La Liga.

Ramos also sat out on Sunday’s La Liga win against Getafe, after picking up a slight knock in training and showing symptoms of tiredness after an intense start of the season.

Both players trained at the same level with their team-mates and are expected to be in the squad for Real Madrid’s trip to Elche next Wednesday.

Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao continue their recovery, while Raphael Varane could also make his return in Elche.

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