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The Madrid press focuses today on how the Real squad is shaping up ahead of the new season.

Marca goes with Pepe on its front page and covers the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the defender’s future at the club. The 30-year-old has been linked with a move to Machester City this summer, but Marca claims new Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti is relying on the player to form part of his squad this season.

Spain’s biggest selling paper also reveals how crucial Zinedine Zidane is in closing transfer deals for the club. It says he phoned Isco before his transfer to persuade him that Madrid was the best place for him to continue his career.

And it says the France legend has already called Real Sociedad’s Asier Illarramendi to tell him a similar message.

AS goes with a new survey  of referee approval on its front page, with only Barcelona fans being happy with the performance and selection of referees in La Liga.

The paper also focuses on Madrid’s ‘Spanishisation’ project this summer – the signings of Isco and Daniel Carvajal mean there are more Spaniards in the squad the foreign players. According to a poll by the paper, fans of Los Blancos are happy with the process.

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Former Real Madrid defender Ricardo Carvalho has said he believes Cristiano Ronaldo will sign a new contract and stay with Los Blancos for years to come.

Much speculation has surrounded Ronaldo this summer, and he has been linked with a return to former club Manchester United.

The player himself, who has scored more than 200 goals for Real in just four seasons, admitted last week his missed living in England and playing in the Premier League.

But speaking to A Bola, Carvalho, who recently departed the Santiago Bernabeu for Monaco, said: “Every player who has quit Real Madrid will have regretted it later.  Cristiano is a winner, he always wants to play and win and that’s why I am in no doubt that he will continue with Madrid.”

He also waded into the Ronaldo versus Leo Messi debate. Unsurprisingly, the 35-year-old defender says his compatriot is better.

“Cristiano is a more complete player than Messi and I am not just saying that because I am Portuguese, looking at it objectively, it’s what I think,” he stated.

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Real Madrid’s move for Asier Illarramendi may encourage Chelsea and Liverpool to make a bid for Xabi Alonso, according to reports.

The Daily Star said Jose Mourinho wants to be reunited with the midfield maestro at Stamford Bridge, while Liverpool are believed to be keen to take him back to Anfield, where he is still revered by the fans.

The 32-year-old World Cup winner is entering the final year of his contract, and with a deal to bring Real Sociedad’s 21-year-old central midfielder to the Santiago Bernabeu in place, Los Blancos may be willing to part with Alonso.

Alonso, a Champions League winner with Liverpool in 2005, signed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 and was a crucial part of the side that won the league in record-breaking fashion in 2012.

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Madrid sports newspapers take for granted that Asier Illarramendi will be announced as Real Madrid player soon. “Illarramendi signed”, claims As in its front page. “Only the loose ends of the deal are pending”, they say.

“Xabi Alonso endorses him and says he’s signing will be good for the team”, As adds.

Meanwhile Marca speaks about “The Youth Formula”, what they think is a new policy of signings at Real Madrid, since they count on youngsters Asier Illarramendi, Daniel Carvajal, Alvaro Morata, Jese Rodriguez, Nacho and Isco to be “Florentino Perez’s golden boys”.

Marca also highlights the latest words by Cristiano Ronaldo: “My future is at Real Madrid”, they title together with a picture of the Portuguese.

Both Madrid dailies also report about Carvajal’s unveiling as new Real Madrid player. “Carvajal is back home”, says As. Marca highlights the right-back’s first statements as Real’s player: “I was fighting for a dream and today it has come true”.

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Getafe have made an offer of around 10 million euros for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, th club’s president has confirmed.

Angel Torres said the La Liga outfit were keen to bolster their forward line ahead of the new campaign, but he was unsure as to whether Los Blancos would accept the offer.

Morata, who starred for Spain Under-21s in the recent European Championship, scored two goals in 12 appearances for Madrid last season. His deal at the Santiago Bernabeu still has two more years to run.

Torres said: “We made a request to Real Madrid,” the Getafe chief told reporters on Friday. “But I think there’s very little chance of him joining.

“After last season he deserves a place in their first team.”

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Daniel Carvajal has expressed his delight at returning to Real Madrid just a year after he left to play for Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen.

The 21-year-old right back was officially unveiled as a Los Blancos player again on Friday by club president Florentino Perez, who welcomed him back with open arms.

Carvajal, a Spain Under-21 international, moved to the German giants last summer in search of first team football, but as part of the deal, had a 6.5 million euro buy back clause inserted into his contract, which Los Blancos decided to take up this summer.

Speaking infront of the gathered press, Carvajal said: “Thank you to the president, the fans and the club. I fought for a dream that today becomes reality.

“Today I’m the happiest person in the world. I will give my all for this club.”

Perez said Carvajal would fit straight into the squad as he already knows the values and the ethos of the team, and what it means to be part of the club.

“Today, many ‘Madridistas’ are happy for you – you have returned home. Dani, welcome to Real Madrid. You know the demands of this club. Now your opportunity has come, and I know you’ll make the most of it. You, Dani, know the values of this club to perfection.”

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Liverpool forward Luis Suarez has been given a deadline of July 22 if he wants to complete a move to Real Madrid, reports have suggested.

The Daily Mirror said the Anfield club has grown tired of the speculation surrounding the striker, who is currently away on holiday after helping Uruguay to 4th place in the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Suarez has used a number of interviews this summer to explain his desire to leave Liverpool, blaming the British press for making life difficult for him and his family in the UK.

Los Blancos are on the hunt for a forward – particularly if the deal taking Gonzalo Higuain from Madrid to Arsenal goes through – and have been linked with a 40 million euro move for Suarez.

According to the Mirror, Suraez, who has scored 51 goals in 96 appearances for the Reds since his arrival from Ajax in January 2011, has been told to sort out his future one way or another before July 22. If he doesn’t he will be expected to return for pre-season training.

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Marca, the most sold Spanish newspaper, claims today that “Real Madrid have reached a deal with Asier Illarramendi” to move to Santiago Bernabeu.

“Los Blancos are negotiating with Real Sociedad a cut on the 30-million Euros buy-out clause after two previous offers rejected”, the Madrid daily states. As also reports “Illarramendi is close to signing for Madrid”.

According to Marca, Gonzalo Higuain move to Arsenal could be farther from being close because Real finds the 27-million offer “unacceptable”.

The main Spanish sports paper also brings to its front page the situation of goalkeeper Antonio Adan, whose contract has been cut in other for him to sign for another club for free.

Meanwhile, As puts its focus on Real Madrid youngster Jese Rodriguez contract renewal. “He still has not renewed. He wants to stay, but as a member of the first squad”, they report.

 

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Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has heaped the pressure on new Real Madrid signing Isco by claiming the attacking midfielder is the future of the national team.

The former Malaga player signed for Los Blancos this week in a 35 million euro deal after rejecting offers from some of Europe’s biggest club including big-spending Premier League side Manchester City.

Speaking to Radio Nacional de España, del Bosque said Isco was crucial to the national side in the next few years.

“We have a lot of hope pinned to Isco, he is the future of the national team,” he claimed.

He also defended a number of Real Madrid players who came in for criticism following Spain’s 3-0 defeat to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final – including Alvaro Arbeloa and Iker Casillas.

“Alvaro played very well throughout the tournament,” he said.

He added: “It’s as if we are always looking for the weak link and we are all guilty of that. Casillas was magnificent. We played good football at times but the final wiped away everything we did up until then. We now have another year to try to make sure we have a good World Cup – if we qualify.”

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Today’s Real Madrid transfer rumours include Gonzalo Higuain moving to Arsenal for 27 million euros, Jose Callejon closer to Napoli and Kaka staying at Santiago Bernabeu.

Fox Sports reports that Arsenal and Real have reached an agreement to bring Higuain to London for 27 million euros. The Argentinian will travel to England tomorrow to sign a three-year contract worth 117,000 euros a week. Higuain’s father and agent told the TV station that they have been given permission to negotiate with the Gunners.

Callejon could also be about to leave Madrid according to Spanish newspaper Marca. Journalist Ulises Sanchez-Flor claims Napoli are still negotiating with Real for the forward and the deal could be closed for eight million euros.

As.com states that Kaka would be willing to stay at Real Madrid despite Florentino Perez efforts to sell him and will try to convince Carlo Ancelotti to keep him in the squad.

Marca.com claims Los Blancos rising star Jese Rodriguez is meditating whether he will renew his contract with the club or not. The youngster doesn’t want to be in a squad where he will play only ten matches next season, and would consider not extending his contract expiring in 2014.

Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso’s agent Iñaki Ibanez has denied in an interview with Fichajes.com that the Spanish international could move to Paris Saint Germain. “Xabi has a running contract with Real and we are negotiating a new agreement”, he admitted.

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