Page 691

By -
3

Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale would be able to handle the pressure if he completed a move to Real Madrid, according to Wales coach John Hartson.

The former Arsenal, West Ham and Wimbledon man, who now works closely with Bale at national level, said the Spurs player is capable of coping with he burden of expectation at the Santiago Bernabeu.

According to Harston, Bale has a strong family unit meaning he has remained down to earth throughout his career and would be able to handle life as a Real Madrid footballer.

Some of the more unwanted distractions in life as a Los Blancos player include constant media attention and half truths about private lives being printed in the papers – particularly by a well known Madrid-based daily.

Speaking about a possible world-record transfer, Hartson said: “He’s very level headed, his feet are firmly on the ground. I get to see him close up, obviously, working with him with the Welsh national team.

“He comes along to the squad and he works like all the other players, he gets his head down. He’s got a great family. He doesn’t come with a big entourage.”

By -
0

For the thousandth time this summer, Madrid sports newspapers publish Gareth Bale’s signing for Real Madrid is likely to happen very soon.

This time, both Madrid main sports dailies put their focus on Bale parents, claiming even them are putting pressure on Daniel Levy to let their son go. “Total pressure: Bale’s parents ask Tottenham his exit”, titles Marca.

The most sold Spanish newspaper reports the Welshman should start training today but he is “ready to refuse playing more games for Spurs”.

As states “Villas-Boas has given up”. “He doesn’t want Bale’s situation to turn into another ‘Modric case’ and has asked Levy to solve the situation to start planning the new signings soon”, As publishes.

The Madrid daily also highlights Bale’s parents role on trying to convince Spurs owner to sell the 24-year old.

By -
2

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has praised Gareth Bale as one of the top players in Europe. “He is one of the best three or four players in Europe,” Casillas said when asked about the possible move of the Welshman to Santiago Bernabeu.

“All these big transfers are controversial for good or bad reasons, but he is a player who decides games. I am sure there will be a new player with us before the transfer window closes”, he said. “It’s normal that people talk about him because he has great qualities”, the 32-year old added.

When asked if Los Blancos should break the world transfer record to sign Bale from Tottenham Hotspur, Casillas answered: “That’s how the market is”.

The Spanish international also chose not to compare former manager Jose Mourinho with Carlo Ancelotti. “It is too soon to comment on the differences between the new coach and the old”, Casillas said.

Despite his confrontation with the former manager, the goalkeeper chose the diplomatic way when asked about the Portuguese: “We have to thank Mourinho for what he achieved but we should not be looking back; we should be looking forward at a new era in which hopefully the club will be winning things”, he concluded.

By -
0

Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has hailed the impact Carlo Ancelotti has already had on the team and said Los Blancos are making good progress.

The French striker, who scored the solitary goal that ensure the La Liga giants beat Ancelotti’s old side PSG on Sunday, revealed the Italian boss is close to the players – something that has helped build a strong team spirit already.

He added that the 54-year-old boss would make Real a stronger side this season compared to last, and that they will be able compete for the big trophies that escaped them last year.

Benzema said: “The coach has changed the tactics with the team and it is a good thing,” he stated after scoring the lone goal in Real’s victory over PSG on Sunday.

“We are becoming stronger because the coach is very close to us and is working to make us improve.

“The training sessions are very tough but we are responding well and want to continue on in order to be ready for the start of the season.”

By -
2

As they usually do when they have no real stories to publish, Madrid sports newspapers play today the fortune teller game, claiming they both have guessed the price Real Madrid will have to pay for Gareth Bale.

Surprisingly, it is As who publishes the most credible story -probably without any real basis as it is common of them- stating Tottenham Hotspur have asked Los Blancos 98 million euros and Fabio Coentrao in exchange for the Welshman.

“Daniel Levy and Florentino Perez could close the deal in the United States next week”, As reports.

Marca loses it completely publishing that Tottenham asks for 145 million. “Madness”, they title, without making clear if they refer to Bale’s price or their level of sanity when they decided to go with that front page.

“An angry level responds with exorbitant price”, they claim. “Tottenham president considers the exit of the player would be a humiliation”, they add.

Marca also highlights Real Madrid youngster Jese Rodriguez arrives today to Los Angeles to start the pre-season “very thrilled” with becoming a member of the first squad.

By -
0

Reports in Spain suggest the future of German international Sami Khedira at Real Madrid may be in doubt.

Following the arrival of 38 million euro midfielder Asier Illarramendi, the Spanish giants are prepared to offload the 26-year-old, who was signed by previous manager Jose Mourinho.

Marca says Khedira, who has appeared 126 times for Madrid, scoring eight goals, is not in new manager Carlo Ancelotti’s long term plans.

As Los Blancos look to spend a huge amount on Gareth Bale, they are said to be willing to part ways with Khedira, who would command a fee of around 18 million euro.

The connection with Mourinho means that Chelsea are one of the names mentioned as a destination for the defensive midfielder. Indeed, Khedira has been quoted in the past as saying Mourinho was a dream to work under.

“I have enjoyed working with him (Mourinho) very much and rate him very highly,” he said earlier this year.

Big spending Ligue 1 side Monaco are also thought to be keeping an eye on events, while Arsenal are on the lookout for a central midfielder to add some graft to the creative side of things, and may be interested.

By -
0

Former Real Madrid striker Michael Owen has declared to BBC 7 Live’s Sportsweek that Gareth Bale “would do particularly well in signing for Real from a football point of view”.

However, the England international has warned the Welshman that “from a family point of view, the changes are huge”. “I underestimated that when I went to Real Madrid”, he said.

Owen made the switch from Liverpool to Madrid in 2004 to spend one of the hardest years in his career. “When you get over there, you want to move into a house and get settled, get your wife happy, your kids happy and your family and everyone else happy, and you’re trying to change as well, but unfortunately you’re stuck in a hotel for five months”, he confessed.

“The legal system and all these things to buy a house are so slow. We wanted to do it as quick as we could, but I was in a hotel for five months with a young child. Owen claimed he was stuck in a hotel with his wife Louise and his baby Gemma. They would put their daughter to bed at 7.30 and  tip-toe round in the darkness.

The former England striker, who made the shock switch from Liverpool to the Bernabeu in 2004, was stuck in a hotel for five months with his baby Gemma and wife Louise. The couple would put their daughter to bed at 7.30pm and tiptoe for the rest of the night darkness.

Like Owen when he moved to Real, Bale and his partner Emma Rhys-Jones have had their first child, Alba Violet. In his autobiography, Owen admits when he got back from training he would often find his wife and daughter “bored to tears”.

He also confesses the fact of not speaking Spanish made it very difficult for him to make friends. He missed his family and England, so he decided to go back after just one season with Los Blancos.

By -
0

Real Madrid are considering to offer 22 million euros to sign Juventus defender Claudio Chiellini, according to Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Chiellini can play both at centre-half and left-back, and Carlo Ancelotti would have asked Florentino Perez to sign him if Fabio Coentrao leaves.

Real Madrid officials have already tried to bring the Italy international to Santiago Bernabeu in the last summers and they look set to make another assault.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, they are ready to make a €22 million bid Juventus. However, Bianconeri boss Antonio Conte sees the player as a key member of the squad, and he is surely not a player the Turin side would consider selling.

The 28-year old has made 265  appearances for Juventus since he arrived from Fiorentina in 2005.

By -
1

Carlo Ancelotti named a 28-ma squad to travel to the USA for the club’s tour – the next stage of the preparations for the new season.

Included in the squad were the players who had been on international duty this summer. This group included Confederations Cup winner Marcelo, along with the Spanish contingent Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Alvaro Arbeloa.

Youngster Jese Rodriguez also joined up with the squad to fly to the States after being given extra time off following his exertions with the Spain Under-20 team at the Under-20 World Cup.

Goalkeeper Antonio Adan was the only notable absentee from the list as he looks to resolve his future before the new campaign. The stopper has been linked with a move to neighbours Rayo Vallecano.

The full squad list to travel to the US is as follows:

Keepers: Casillas, Diego López, Jesús and Tomás Mejías.
Defenders: Varane, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrão, Marcelo, Carvajal, Arbeloa, Nacho, Casado and Mateos.
Midfielders: Khedira, Kaká, Özil, Xabi Alonso, Modric, Di María, Illarramendi, Isco, Casemiro and Cheryshev.
Forwards: Ronaldo, Benzema, Morata and Jesé.

By -
3

Madrid sports newspapers claim Gareth Bale refused to play for Tottenham Hotspur in their last pre-season game at Hong Kong to put pressure on the club for negotiating his transfer to Real Madrid.

“Bale says ‘enough'”, titles As, who highlight that Spurs owner, Daniel Levy, “came back from Florida to speak personally with the player”. “Skybet suspended bets on the move suggesting it may be near completion”, they add.

“Imminent outcome”, titles Marca. The most sold Spanish daily states “Bale came back to London yesterday and insisted Tottenham he wants to leave”. “If the club refuses to negotiate he will hold in contempt”, they claim.

Marca reports that if, on the contrary, Spurs agree to negotiate with Real, “the deal could be closed today” and Gareth Bale’s signing for Madrid “could be a matter of ours”.

Both newspapers report that Los Blancos have already arrived to the United States to start their four-game pre-season tour.

1...690691692...733Page 691 of 733

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