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Cristiano Ronaldo could be set for a sensational return to Manchester United, it has been reported.

According to a number of sources in the UK press, United chief executive David Gill has already met with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendez in Madrid, and is confident about securing a deal.

Should Ronaldo complete the switch, he would find a number of familiar faces had left since his departure four years ago, with United announcing the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of the season after 27 years in charge.

And Wayne Rooney may also leave after he reportedly told senior figures at the club he wanted a fresh challenge after nine years with the Red Devils.

Ronaldo scored 118 times in 292 appearances for Manchester United between 2003 and 2009 before making a world-record £80 million switch to the Spanish capital.

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Cristano Ronaldo scored his 200th goal for Real Madrid as Los Blancos cruised past Malaga 6-2 at the Bernabeu as the visitors were reduced to 9-men.

Knowing that anything other than a win would hand Barcelona the title, the hosts were determined to put that party on hold for a few more days.

And they made the perfect start when centre back Raul Albiol rose highest to head home a Luka Modric corner after just two minutes.

Former Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz brought the Champions League chasers level with deft finish after a nice team move on after a quarter of an hour.

Five minutes later though, the visitors were reduced to 10-men when Sergio Sanchez received his marching orders for bringing down Ronaldo in the area. The resulting penalty presented the Portuguese with a golden opportunity to score his 200th goal in just his 197th game for Los Blancos. But Willy Caballero had other ideas and made a magnificent stop with his right boot.

Ronaldo was not deterred and in the 26th minute he got the goal following an assist by Xabi Alonso. Just after the half hour mark, German international Mezut Ozil got in on the act and extended the home side’s lead following a mazy solo run.

Vitorino Atunes pulled a goal back for Malaga, but Karim Benzema gave Madrid a comfortable 4-2 half time lead when he finished off a move and a nice pass from Ronaldo.

Following the break, the visitors offered little going forward, while Madrid looked to take advantage of the extra man on the field. And on the hour mark Luka Modric got the goal his performance deserved.

Shortly afterwards, things went from bad to worse for Malaga as they were reduced to nine men when Martin Demichelis picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Ronaldo. He had been booked earlier for protesting over Madrid’s fourth goal.

In the final minute of the match Angel Di Maria scored Madrid’s sixth to round off a comfortable win.

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Real Madrid - Malaga - La Liga 36

Malaga visit the Santiago Bernabeu with the desperate need to get a victory, as they sit in sixth place with five points fewer than Real Sociedad, the team that holds the fourth place which guarantees an appearance in the Champions League.

However, in Madrid the centre of attention will not be on the game, nor even on the always controversial reencounter of Jose Mourinho with his predecessor, Manuel Pellegrini.

The week has been chaotic for Los Merengues with Pepe and Mourinho publicly exchanging their opinions. The Portuguese coach is reported to have not spoken to his players for the last four days.

Real need a victory to help them secure second place in the championship. They will not have three of their defenders, since Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Arbeloa are injured. Raul Albiol could come into the starting eleven after missing the last game due to suspension.

Los Blancos are in good shape in La Liga, as they have won 11 of their last 12 games. Plus, Cristiano Ronaldo will have an extra motivation. If he scores, he will reach 200 goals for the club.

If Real win, they will get their 1,000th victory at home in La Liga. On the other hand, if they don’t manage to secure the three points, Barcelona will be confirmed as champions.

Malaga still hopes to get 4th place

Malaga are sixth in La Liga, five points behind the fourth places that secures a spot in the next Champions League. Pellegrini’s side needs a victory that would keep their hopes on appearing in that competition for the second time in their history.

Malaga will miss suspended Weligton and injured Jesus Gamez and Jeremy Toulalan. Pellegrini will probably stick to his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, in which Roque Santa Cruz or Javier Saviola could return to the forward position that Julio Baptista has held in the last games. Eliseu returns after his injury and could start at left back.

Possible lineups:
Real Madrid: Lopez; Coentrao, Albiol, Varane, Nacho; Alonso, Modric; Ronaldo, Ozil, Di Maria; Benzema.
Malaga: Caballero; Eliseu, Lugano, Demichelis, Sanchez; Iturra, Camacho; Morales, Isco, Joaquin; Baptista.

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Real Madrid playmaker Kaka has said his team must improve their defensive record if they are to be in with a realistic chance of winning trophies next year.

In the last month alone, Los Blancos have conceded three or more goals in a game on three occasions – Galatasaray, Borussia Dortmund and Valladolid – something the Brazilian says has to stop next season.

Speaking after the narrow 4-3 win over Valladolid, Kaka said the defensive performances of late have not been good enough.

He stated: “The entire defensive system is to blame, but these are things to improve.”

He added that part of the problem at the weekend was motivating themselves for the La Liga fixture following the defeat in the Champions League semi-final.

“We thought it was possible to make it to the final, but we could not, and playing four days later is not easy. But we once again showed our ability to make a comeback against a great Valladolid,” he said.

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Raul Albiol has said Real Madrid are favourites to win the Copa del Rey later this month.

Los Blancos meet city rivals Atletico de Madrid on May 17 at the Bernabeu after seeing off Barcelona with an aggregate 4-2 win in the semi-finals.

And following his side’s defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Albiol says the squad is focused on ensuring the Bernabeu trophy cabinet does not remain bare this year.

In an interview with Marca, he said: “There is not long to go before the end of the season, so we need to focus all our strength to win at Atletico Madrid.”

Although he admitted it would be a tough match, the 27-year-old centre back stated home advantage could play a big factor in the outcome of the final.

“We’re at home, it’s a final and we want the title for Madrid, for Real Madrid, and for ourselves,” he said.

Atletico haven’t beaten Los Blancos in 14 years, and Albiol said the Real squad was determined not to let their rival’s hoodoo end later this month.

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Marca As front pages

Spanish sports newspapers bring to their front pages the controversial press conference offered by Mourinho, who insisted on “closing the door to his players”, Marca says.

Mourinho attacked Casillas and Pepe by saying that Diego Lopez is better than La Roja’s goalkeeper and that the defender was frustrated because a 19-year-old –Raphael Varane– had run over him this season.

AS also fills its front page with Mourinho’s controversial declarations, highlighting his criticism of Iniesta –who had also criticised the manager’s attitude in the last few days. “Iniesta should worry about the fact that when Messi is out his team does what they did against Bayern Munich”, he said.

Marca’s television channel, Marca TV, gave the exclusive last night that the club is planning to take disciplinary measures against Pepe for saying that his boss’ criticism of  Casillas “was not entirely appropriate”.

Albiol to Atletico?

Marca also claims that centre back Raul Albiol could sign for Atletico de Madrid this summer, as Real Madrid is planning on reinforcing its defence with younger players, such as Iñigo Martinez.

Both papers refer to tonight’s La Liga game between Real and Malaga in a small space in their front pages. Marca highlights the fact that Madrid not winning would give Barcelona the title, while AS says that Ronaldo could score his 200th goal for Los Blancos.

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Recently-crowned Italian champions Juventus are preparing an offer for Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain, according to reports.

Sports newspaper AS claimed the Italian club’s sporting director Fabio Partici and general director Giuseppe Marotta met with FIFA agent Ernesto Bronzetti, a close friend of Florentino Perez, to express their desire to sign the Argentine international.

And although no agreement was made, Madrid could be willing to let Higuain go for a fee of around €25 million.

Higuian has been hampered by injury this season, but has still managed to find the net 15 times in 39 appearances.

He has three-years remaining on his contact at Real Madrid.

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Although Florentino Perez had made a call for unity until the season ends, Jose Mourinho brought confrontation back to his press conferences claiming that “Diego Lopez is better than Casillas”.

“It is not a personal decision. I prefer a goalkeeper than can play the ball with his feet and be dominant with high balls and crosses”.

“I like other kind of keeper the same way as Casillas can say he likes other kind of manager. So as long as I’m Real’s boss, Diego Lopez is going to play”, he said.

“I accept it if someone says that Casillas is better than Diego Lopez but you have to accept that I am the manager of Real Madrid. I have to pick a team and I don’t do it by flipping a coin”, he told the reporters.

‘Pepe is frustrated because he is on the bench’

Mourinho also responded to Pepe, who had said the coach’s declarations against
Casillas had not been “appropriate”.

“Pepe’s problem has a name and that is Raphael Varane. We are talking about frustration. It can’t be easy for a 31-year-old to be run over by a 19-year-old kid”.

“I have no problem with Pepe. I know this is not an easy situation but I have to be honest: there are very few people who don’t think that the future centre backs of Real Madrid are Varane and Sergio Ramos”.

“That is the only decision I’ve made that you haven’t criticized”, Mourinho reproached the journalists.

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Real Madrid full back Alvaro Arbeloa will miss his side’s La Liga matches at home to Malaga and away against Espanyol after failing to recover properly from his back injury.

The former Liverpool player, who signed for Los Merengues in 2009, has been out for a month with the injury but had hoped to be back in time to face Champions League quarter-finalists Malaga.

Arbeloa, who has made 153 appearances for the Spanish giants, has been having pain killing injections over the last few weeks, but told the Madrid medical staff he was still in some discomfort, forcing him to miss another week of action.

He now faces a race against time to be fit for his side’s Copa del Rey final against fierce rivals Atletico de Madrid on May 17.

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Marca As Front pages 07 May 2013

Up to 88% of Real Madrid fans reckon Jose Mourinho is forcing his dismissal with his behaviour in the few last days, including his attacks on Iker Casillas.

That is the conclusion of a poll carried out by Spanish daily AS. According to the newspaper, the firing of Real’s manager will take place as soon as the season ends, and Florentino Perez has already prepared 10 million euros for his contract pay off.

The other main Madrid sports newspaper claims in its front page that Mourinho has not spoken to his players for three days.

However, Marca says he has been talking to Chelsea players. The Madrid daily publishes an interview with John Terry in which he admits Real’s boss has been sending him text messages and “showing an interest for what is going on here at Chelsea”.

“He is still the Special One for our fans”, Chelsea captain declared.

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