Page 688

By -
0

The summer of 1999 wasn’t the best for Real Madrid in their signings choices. Los Blancos brought four players that would have a very poor performance: Nicolas Anelka, Geremi, Edwin Congo and Elvir Baljic. The latter was Real’s most expensive signing until Anelka’s arrival just before the transfer deadline.

Los Blancos paid Fenerbahce 15.6 million euros after manager John Benjamin Toshack insisted on the Bosnian’s signing. Lorenzo Sanz, the president of the club at that time, defined him as “the new Rivaldo”. Baljic started on the right foot in his first match for Real, a friendly against Lausanne, providing the assist to Fernando Morientes for scoring the goal that gave Madrid the victory.

However, the Bosnia international did few more good things in Madrid. His performance, far from improving, got worse, and he had the bad luck of breaking a ligament, an injury that kept him out of action for a long time. When he recovered, Toshack was no longer Real’s boss, so he was sent back on loan to Fenerbahce for one season.

When he came back, the new manager, Vicente del Bosque, made it clear that he didn’t need him on the squad, so Real Madrid started looking for Baljic’s way out. It wasn’t easy to find a destiny for him, especially because no club was willing to pay his 1.2 million euros salary. Baljic ended up on loan at Rayo Vallecano where, apart from forming a funny-named forward line with Bolo and Bolic, he didn’t do much more.

In fact, Rayo sent Baljic back to Real even before the season ended, since they thought that the player was more worried about his personal shine than securing the team’s stay at the first division. After that, he returned to Turkey, where he retired in 2008.

Since he never got back the good level that made Real Madrid sign him, Baljic tried his luck in music, recording his own album in 2005, although with no success. At the moment, he is the assistant manager of Bosnia national team since 2010.

By -
4

Cristiano Ronaldo has been nominated by UEFA for Europe’s Best Player of the 2012/13 season award, alongside Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery.

UEFA have announced the shortlist for the award, leaving out the other seven candidates: Gareth Bale, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robert Lewandowski, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Robin van Persie.

Ronaldo was the only Real Madrid player among the ten nominated. Bayern Munich had four players in the shortlist, after winning the Champions League, the Bundesliga and the German Cup. However, only Ribery made it into the final three.

Barca’s Andres Iniesta claimed the award last season, while Messi bagged it the year before.

The UEFA Best Player in Europe Award is only three years old. Cristiano Ronaldo has always been picked in the top three shortlist, but never won the award.

The winner will be announced on August 29th when the draw for the group stages of the Champions League will be made in Monaco.

By -
0

Tottenham director Sir Keith Mills has acknowledged Spurs could find it “very difficult” to keep Gareth Bale at White Hart Lane if the Welshman wants to move to Real Madrid.

“If a player is desperate to leave, it’s very difficult to force him to stay”, Mills said.

After Real Madrid confirmed they are in talks to sign the 24-year-old, Bale has shown signs that he wants to leave, missing Spurs match against Monaco and arriving late to yesterday’s training.

Although Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has stated Bale is not for sale, Mills admits their efforts to keep him could be futile. “We’ve seen it in other clubs. Even if he has a contract, you can’t force somebody to play for you”, told the Evening Standard.

However, Tottenham’s director admitted they “very much want Bale to stay”.

Bale, who scored 26 goals for Spurs last season, has not played for his club since their first game of the summer against Swindon on July 16th.

Real Madrid have been reported to offer a world-record sum to bring the Welshman to Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

By -
0

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said he is delighted with how the team has progressed during pre-season and that Los Blancos are shaping up nicely for a successful season.

The likes of Asier Illarramendi, Isco, Daniel Carvajal and Casemiro have all had playing time during the pre-season games, giving them the opportunity to adjust to Real’s type of play and style.

Speaking to the press ahead of the grudge match against Ancelotti’s old club Chelsea – now lead by Jose Mourinho – the Italian said he was pleased with events since he took over at the club.

“I’m happy with the squad. We have a young, good, and strong team. I’m also satisfied because we have worked well, the injured players have gotten better, and we haven’t had any other injuries in this period. That’s why I think the season is going to start well,” he stated.

The former PSG boss also took time to discuss various bits of transfer speculation, and chiefly that of Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe.

Ancelotti stated Ronaldo and the club both want him to renew his deal, while Pepe has been told he is an important member of the squad and will not be allowed to leave.

By -
2

Spanish sports newspapers put their focus today in the reencounter between Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid in the final of the International Champions Cup.

Los Blancos will face Chelsea tonight in a game of morbid interest. “A very spicy reencounter”, titles Marca. “Mourinho face Real two months after leaving Madrid and a couple of days after launching attack on the club and Cristiano Ronaldo”, they add.

“The Portuguese tests Carlo Ancelotti’s project”, says As. “There is a lot of tension because of Mourinho’s confrontation with Casillas, Ramos, Ronaldo and Pepe”, they explain.

Marca also highlights in its front page that Gareth Bale “has sent another signal to Los Blancos” by showing up late for yesterday’s training with Tottenham.

Meanwhile, As reports that Cristiano has been picked by UEFA among three candidates for the Best Player of the Year award, together with Leo Messi and Frank Ribery.

By -
0

Gareth Bale has been sent a death threat by a Tottenham Hotspur fan, according to British newspaper Daily Star.

As the Welshman closes in on a world record switch to Real Madrid, his exit from London seems likely to be far from smooth.

The Daily Star reports that one angry supporter was so outraged at Bale’s departure he made an anonymous phone call to Tottenham training complex, making a threat against the 24-year-old’s life.

The Welsh international, who has missed the last few trainings with the team, was not present at that moment. However, Spurs directors are said to be taking the matter “extremely seriously”. In fact, they have increased security around the training complex.

The Daily Star does not clarify whether the police have been involved, but they claim the incident has seriously shaken up Bale.

By -
0
Real Madrid blog

Florentino Perez and Zinedine Zidane must be pretty confident about Asier Illarramendi’s potential for spending 39 million euros on a 23-year old who has only played 53 games in La Liga.

Real Sociedad’s homegrown midfielder had a terrific performance last season with the Basques. But playing 32 games at a very good level shouldn’t be enough for getting a long term contract at Santiago Bernabeu, especially if the transfer costs almost 40 million.

Los Blancos directors should know that adaptation to their club is not easy for young and promising players who arrive under a lot of pressure.

Nuri Sahin also moved to Madrid at 23 years old after having one brilliant season at Borussia Dortmund. The Turkish international never performed as expected and went on loan to Liverpool and Dortmund, where he never got his best game back.

Now, it seems very unlikely that Sahin will return to Real. In fact, Dortmund are planning on buying him back. But, at least, he only cost 10 million euros.

Illarramendi signing among most expensive in Real Madrid history

Illarramendi is the sixth most expensive signing of Real Madrid history, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Nazario. He has cost more than Mesut Ozil, Karim Benzema, Isco, David Beckham or Arjen Robben.

That’s really a lot of pressure for a young Spaniard who hasn’t even played an European competition. In fact, Illarramendi is already suffering that burden, as he has just been diagnosed with fatigue from stress.

Moreover, the good performance of Casemiro, who also plays in the centre-half position and has only cost six million, is making a lot of people wonder if Illarramendi’s signing was necessary.

Perhaps the most sensible solution should have been reaching an agreement to bring him next year, let him play the Champions League with Real Sociedad, let him grow without pressure and see if he is really worth what Los Merengues have paid.

Illarramendi’s deal is a high risk transaction, and only time will tell if it was worth it.

By -
4

Snubbing the interest of European giants Real Madrid caused Julian Draxler many sleepness nights, the German midfielder has said in an interview.

The 19-year-old Schalke player was subject of much speculation earlier this summer.

Reports linked him with a big-money move to Real Madrid or Premier League rich-boys Manchester Citys, and there was talk of a 60 million euro five-year deal having been agreed with the two clubs.

Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund were also thought to be interested in signing the playmaker, but in the end he decided to stay with his current club.

Speaking to German sports newpaper, Bild, he said: “I had sleepless nights about it. I was on holiday in Egypt with my girlfriend and sat alone on the balcony thinking about what to do.”

“It was not an easy decision. You never know whether you will ever get such an offer again. In the end, I followed my heart and decided to remain at Schalke,” he added.

By -
0

Gareth Bale must learn Spanish to help him settle in at Real Madrid, should he eventually make the move to the La Liga giants, former Los Blancos defender Jonathan Woodgate has said.

The central defender, who spent an injury-hit three year spell in Madrid, told the Daily Mail that learning the language will help Bale feel more at home and is respectful to his team mates.

Despite having a frustrating time at the Santiago Bernabeu in terms of playing matches, Woodgate said his time in Spain was one of the happiest times of his career.

The defender was a hugely popular figure in a dressing room that included the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and David Beckham.

From the start, he made the effort to learn Spanish and took three classes a week. The custom for new signings at Madrid is for the players to make a speech.

David Beckham and Michael Owen made theirs in English, but Woodgate gave a good attempt in Spanish.

He said: “I was nervous giving a speech in Spanish, and it did get a few laughs when I used the wrong phrase but it was all part of the experience.”

He added: “The first thing Gareth has to do is learn the language.

“I made sure I went to Spanish lessons two or three times a week, you have to get in among the players, communicate with them in Spanish – even if you make mistakes. They aren’t bothered – it’ll put a smile on everyones face.”

By -
2

Both Madrid sports newspapers put their focus on Cristiano Ronaldo’s response to Jose Mourinho’s attack. The former Real Madrid manager had criticised both the club and CR7 in a press conference at the International Champions Cup.

“I don’t spit on the plate I eat on”, Ronaldo said. “There are some things in life that don’t deserve any mention. This is one of those things and I won’t comment on it for obvious reasons. I always respect my coaches and try to learn from them”, he added.

As emphasizes this conflict takes place just two days before Chelsea and Real will play the final of the tournament.

Marca also highlights Ronaldo’s answer when asked about his contract renewal: “We’ll be able to give more concrete news about this further down the line”.

The most sold Madrid newspaper also reports in its front page that Gareth Bale is still waiting for his move to Bernabeu to happen while he will get back on training with his team mates today.

1...687688689...733Page 688 of 733

www.gambleaware.co.uk or www.gamcare.org.uk
Please gamble responsibly