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Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has said the club will be in the pack of top European teams hunting Bayern Munich this season following the German team’s Champions League success in May.

The German international, who played for Stuttgart prior to signing for Los Blancos, said Pep Guardiola’s new team will be the target for clubs around Europe.

Speaking to Welt am Sonntag, Khedira stated: “Bayern Munich have to know that their international rivals intend on bringing back the balance.”

He also added he was looking froward to working with new boss Carlo Ancelotti as Real set out on the path to reclaiming the La Liga title and securing their 10th Champions League.

“It starts a new chapter for Madrid and at the same time in my career,” he  said.

And he continued: “A new coach is always associated with a new beginning. There are new ideas, a different playing philosophy.  I feel a great excitement, I am still very proud to play for Real Madrid.

“Whomever plays at this club, playing for titles, I’m sure that with the work of Carlo Ancelotti we will take another step forward.”

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Former Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster has said Real Madrid need to follow in the footsteps of German club Bayern Munich if they are to be successful in winning more silverware.

The German coach, newly installed as boss at Malaga, said there is too much pressure on managers at the Santiago Bernabeu to win the coveted 10th Champions League trophy and secure the domestic title.

Speaking to Bild newspaper, Schuster advised the directors of the Spanish club not expect the club’s manager to win the treble every season.

He stated: “Bayern are an example to follow for Real Madrid. Madrid keep on building up the pressure as they are gunning for their 10th Champions League title and a coach can only fail in those conditions.

“Men like Uli Hoeness, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Matthias Sammer on the other hand have a better and clearer philosophy at Bayern.”

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Davor Suker only spent three seasons at Real Madrid, but he has always been remembered as one of the club’s legends for being one of the main pieces in the team that won La Septima –the 7th Champions League– after a 32-year wait.

Born in Croatia, he started his career in 1984 at Osijek, his hometown club, and soon signed for Dinamo Zagreb. After scoring 34 goals in three seasons, he moved to Spain to play for Sevilla.

He soon became one of La Liga’s top strikers, scoring 76 goals in 153 appearances and earning Real’s admiration. After five seasons at Seville, Los Blancos paid 3.6 million euros for the Croatian in the summer of 1996 at 28 years old.

Suker soon formed an unforgettable attacking trio with Raul Gonzalez and Pedja Mijatovic, leading Los Merengues to win La Liga in 1997 ending Ronaldo’s Barcelona reign. They also won the Supercopa that year.

But the Croatian’s most remarkable achievement took place in 1998. After a 32-year wait, Real Madrid won their 7th Champions League, with Suker, Raul and Mijatovic as stars. Suker only played the last minutes in the final against Juventus, but his performances that year were crucial in helping the team win the Champions and the Intercontinental Cup.

In the summer of 1998, at the top of his career, Suker lead Croatia national team to a historic third spot in the World Cup of France. Suker was awarded the Golden Boot as the top scorer of the tournament with six goals.

In 1999, his goal drought and his bad relations with the new manager John Benjamin Toshack made him take the decision to leave the club. After three seasons in which he scored 38 goals in 78 appearances, he signed for Arsenal.

After one season with the Gunners, he would move to West Ham for a year and then finish his career at German club TSV Munich 1860 at 35 years old. He is still Croatia’s top scorer ever.

President of Croatia’s Football Association

After retiring from football, Suker moved back to Croatia, where he created a football academy: Davor Suker Soccer Academy.

In July 2012 he was elected as the president of the Croatian Football Association, and he has been working since them to clean the image of Croatian football after the betting scandals.

Suker appeared recently in the Spanish TV show Callejeros Viajeros, showing his house at the beach and his prominent belly. “Drinking wine and eating cheese”, he replied when the reporter asked about what he does now.

In a hilarious moment of the interview, Suker dives into the sea grabbing an inflatable dolphin. “I can’t swim”, he admits with a smile on his face. Legend.

Here you can watch the video in Spanish:

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Real Madrid will have to pay Liverpool no less than 50 million euros for wantaway striker Luis Suarez, according to Metro.

The paper claimed the Reds will not accept any offer for the Uruguayan less than that amount, despite the fact he has made it clear he wants to leave Anfield after two and a half seasons.

Los Blancos have been linked with a move for the striker all summer, but face competition from Premier League side Arsenal, who are believed to have already had an offer of 40 million euros turned down earlier this week.

The Gunners appear to have turned to other alternative striker options due to the slow negotiation process with Real Madrid for Argentinean forward Gonzalo Higuain, but it is though Madrid would offer more than the Emirates Stadium side for Suarez should it come down to a bidding war.

Suarez was top scorer in the Premier League last season and was a nominee for the PFA Player of the Season Award, losing out to Gareth Bale – another target for Real Madrid. He signed for Liverpool in January 2011 from Dutch side Ajax.

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Real Madrid have turned down the chance to sign PSG forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marca has reported.

The Spanish daily said the Swedish striker was offered to Los Blancos by his agent Mino Raiola.

The former Barcelona frontman is known to have a good relationship with new Real boss Carlo Ancelotti – something Raiola was looking to take advantage of.

According to the paper, Ibrahomovic, whose former clubs include Ajax, Inter Milan, Juventus, and AC Milan, was offered to the Santiago Bernabeu club for as little as 20 million euros.

He was also believed to be willing to take a pay cut to hasten the deal. But Marca said Los Merengues were put off by his age and personality, meaning the search for a striker continues.

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New Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi says the chance to move to one of the biggest clubs in world football was too good to turn down.

Los Blancos agreed a 38 million euro deal with Real Sociedad for the Spain Under-21 player, who is seen by many as the long-term successor to Xabi Alonso at both the Santiago Bernabeu and in the national team.

Speaking at a press conference after his transfer from Anoeta to Madrid was announced, Illarramendi, who was also linked with a move to Arsenal, said Los Blancos were too good to turn down.

He stated: “I became aware of the interest whilst on holiday, there was contact, the only ones I spoke to were my agents.

“I spoke with my people, we considered it and I thought this is a unique and irresistible offer. I feel the colours of La Real and will always be a fan, I struggled a bit to make this decision, but it is a good decision.”

The 23-year old, who becomes Real’s fourth summer signing after Casemiro, Isco and Daniel Carvajal, admitted it was a tough decision to leave the San Sebastian-based club.

“I have been here 12 years and the decision was not easy, I had a hard time deciding. I want to give thanks to the directors, the coaches in the youth team, my team-mates, I wish them all well,” he said.

 

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Spanish journalist Juan Ignacio Garcia-Ochoa reveals in his recently published Mesut Ozil’s biography ‘Ozil, the magician with boots’ that the German international rejected a Barcelona offer to join Real Madrid.

According to Garcia-Ochoa, when Real had made an offer for Ozil, Barca came between to try to break the deal, but the German midfielder stuck with Los Blancos.

“Ozil gave his word to Real Madrid. He is loyal, and that is why he didn’t even consider Barcelona’s and Guardiola’s offer”, Garcia-Ochoa claims.

Ozil’s biographer explained that, although there are now many playmakers at Real after Isco’s arrival, “Ozil is calm and his father is already speaking with the club about his renewal”.

“Mesut says last season was his best to date for Real Madrid, but the key chances missed against Atletico and Dortmund still play on his mind”, he added.

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Former Real Madrid striker Jose Callejon has sent a message of thanks to the club´s staff and fans following his switch to Seria A side Napoli.

The 26-year-old forward completed the move to the Italian side, managed by Rafa Benitez, earlier this week, ending his second spell at the club.

The striker rose through the ranks at Real Madrid Castilla before being sold to Espanyol in 2008. He was signed back three years later in a 5.5 million euro deal but failed to break into the first team picture under Jose Mourinho.

Callejon said in a statement posted on the club’s website that he was grateful for the support he had received during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The statement read:” I would like to send this message to everyone who supports or is involved in Real Madrid. It is not a message of goodbye, but one of thanks and until we meet again. I thank this wonderful club and its supporters for the understanding, support and affection they have given me.”

He also thanked the staff, from the President to the unknown members of staff, for all their help.

“I would like to say a special word of thanks to all those who work for Real Madrid, from the President down to the staff and coaches and to all those who work behind the scenes, who the public don’t know but who are always there,” he said.

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Real Madrid and Real Sociedad have reached an agreement to bring Asier Illarramendi to the Santiago Bernabeu. Los Blancos have already transferred the amount of the midfielder’s buy-out clause to La Liga’s account.

Madrid have paid 30 million euros, plus six million in taxes and another two for the player’s buy-out clause price increase during the last year, bringing the total price of the transfer to 38 million euros.

As soon as the Basque club picks up the money from La Liga, the transfer will be officially completed.

The 23-year old will sign a five-year contract with Real Madrid, worth around 2.5 million euros per season.

The Basque centre-half is Real’s fourth signing of this summer, after Casemiro, Daniel Carvajal and Isco. He is a defensive midfielder, with good technical skills. Many compare him to Xabi Alonso.

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Today’s Madrid press reports that the move to bring Asier Illarramendi from Real Sociedad to Real Madrid is inching ever closer.

Marca says that although La Real’s president does not want to lose the Spanish youngster, he can not stand in his way and prevent him joining on one of the biggest clubs in the world.

The same paper also carries a story on its front page about a move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic from PSG. According to  the paper, the Swedish international has been offered to Los Blancos since Carlo Ancelotti took over a couple of weeks ago. While Madrid remain in the hunt for a striker, it remains to be seen whether they will make a move for the former Barcelona frontman.

Over at AS, there is a rather sensational story about cash-rich Ligue 1 club making a move for Cristiano Ronaldo. The paper claims the Portuguese star has already met with representatives of the club’s owner to discuss a possible deal.

Finally, Marca says Carlo Ancelotti is keen on giving youngsters in the cantera a chance to play. He see the youth project as being beneficial for the club in the long term.

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