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Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid

Spanish media insist on Paris Saint Germain manager Carlo Ancelotti as the main candidate to coach Real Madrid next season. However, the Italian has pointed out he has not received any offer from Los Blancos.

“Regarding my future, I don’t have to say yes or no to Real Madrid because I haven’t received any proposal, and anyway I have one more year on my contract with PSG”, he said.

Ancelotti has been linked to Real’s coaching job for the last few days, especially since he left the door open to speculation when he claimed it would be “difficult saying no to Real Madrid”.

Spanish daily Marca has even speculated about the possibility of Real and PSG switching managers if Chelsea –the preferred destination for Mourinho– don’t qualify for the Champions League.

“The club and I have decided to meet up at the end of the season to speak about the future”, Ancelotti concluded.

‘Verrati and Ibrahimovic will be in Paris next season’

Ancelotti also spoke about two of his best players: Marco Verrati and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Italian midfielder has been linked with a move to Real Madrid and the Swedish international is reported to be unsettled at the club.

PSG’s boss denied the speculation and stated both players will remain at the French club next season, “although many clubs would like to sign them”, he said.

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Argentina international Angel Di Maria has been linked with a £15 million to Manchester United by a number of sources in the UK press.

Metro and Caughtoffside.com said the 25-year-old could replace Portuguese winger Nani at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking to bring in new blood to eventually replace veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs too.

Despite a poor season by his standards, Di Maria is considered by many to be one of the outstanding wingers in world football.

Last year, only Real Madrid team mate Mezut Ozil provided more assists than him, and this term his had provided 10 assists and chipped in with nine goals in all competitions.

Di Maria signed for the club in a £30 million deal from Benfica in June 2010 and his has gone on to make 132 appearances for Los Merengues, scoring 24 times.

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Young Brazilian midfielder Casemiro wants to stay on at Real Madrid beyond his loan deal, according to his agent.

The 21-year-old arrived in the Spanish capital in January from Sao Paolo.

Although he has not featured much in the first team at the Bernabeu, he has impressed the coaches enough for the club to consider making it deal a permanent one.

Speaking to Estado de S. Paulo, Casemiro’s agent Joseph Lee said although talks are yet to take place, they would happen in the not-too-distant-future.

He stated: “It’s certain that Real Madrid will want to keep the player, but they need to reach an agreement with Sao Paulo first.”

Joao Paulo de Jesus Lopes, vice president of the Brazilian club dismissed the transfer speculation, and added no contact had been made by Real Madrid.

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Madrid sports newspaper As brings to its front page the possible signing of Jose Mourinho to Chelsea.

According to the Spanish daily, there are just two things that hold the Portuguese back from making the decision: the fact that Roman Abramovich wants to hire a sports director and the possibility that the Blues won’t qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Meanwhile, Marca points out the “12 days of truce” that Real is going to live before the final of the Copa del Rey and after a week on intense conflict, especially between the manager and the captain Iker Casillas.

The Madrid paper claims the players have agreed a ceasefire with their boss after Pepe supported Casillas a couple of days ago.

Because of that, Mourinho did not talk to the team on Saturday, according to Marca, and only Diego Lopez, Essien and Modric remain on the Portuguese’s side.

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Almost nine in 10 Real Madrid fans would like to see Gareth Bale arrive at the Bernabeu this summer, according to a poll by sports paper Marca.

The Welshman topped the supporter wish-list, with 89.1% of those questioned saying they’d like to see him play for the Spanish giants.

Daniel Carvajal was also a popular choice for potential signings, with 72.4% of fans saying they’d like the Bayer 04 Leverkusen player to sort out the right back problem at the club.

Just under two thirds (64.8%) revealed they would like to see Borussia Dortmund midfielder İlkay Gündoğan make the switch to Madrid, while Manchester City’s Sergio Agüero (59.8%) and PSG’s Marco Verratti (52.2%) were also popular choices.

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Real Madrid blog

Jose Mourinho and Iker Casillas have maintained a personal confrontation this season that has become more evident after Real’s elimination from the Champions League, when the manager publicly attacked his captain without mentioning him directly.

Madrid’s boss is resentful of the goalkeeper because he has very good relationships with two of his main enemies: Barcelona players and Madrid journalists. The fact that Casillas hasn’t supported him in certain Mourinho complaints about referees or the media critics to the team have made the Portuguese angry.

Madrid press blames the manager completely for his confrontation with the captain. But the truth is Casillas is not entirely innocent.

His good relationship with the media –his girlfriend is an important Spanish sports journalist– has helped him look as the victim in this conflict. However, some might argue that his friends in the press exaggerated the fact that a goalkeeper whose performances were up to the high standards expected of him spent a few matches on the bench.

Casillas has probably had his worst season at Real, and Mourinho knew the best way to keep him on his toes was to let him know that he wasn’t untouchable, taking him out of the starting eleven.

The aggressive reaction of the journalists against the Portuguese helped increase the conflict. And when Diego Lopez arrived, performed brilliantly and kept Casillas as a substitute, the media kept on insisting it was just a tantrum of Mourinho.

It’s obvious that Mourinho kept certain rancour against Casillas, but it is not that senseless to keep a player on the bench when other one is performing better, even if that player is the best goalkeeper in the world.

Luckily for the club, Mourinho will presumably leave this summer and the peace will return to Santiago Bernabeu.

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Long-serving Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has said he plans to continue his career at the Bernabeu despite enduring a difficult season.

The World Cup winner was dropped from the starting line-up just before Christmas in favour of back-up keeper Adan.

The 31-year-old then suffered a hand injury in January, meaning boss Jose Mourinho had to dip into the transfer market and sign Diego Lopez.

A combination of a breakdown in relations with Mourinho and Lopez’ continued fine form between the sticks has meant Casillas has seen his opportunities limited of late.

But speaking at a City of Madrid event, where Casillas was picking up an individual award, the goalkeeper revealed he plans to stay with the club for many years to come.

He stated: “My future is at Real Madrid because I have a contract with them and because I’ve been there since I was nine, it’s my life-long club and where I would like to be.”

Casillas also deflected questions about his manager’s future, saying the focus for the team now is to get as many points in the league as possible, and win the final of the Copa del Rey.

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Madrid press 05-05-2013

Although Real Madrid played an exciting La Liga game against Valladolid, Spanish sports newspapers opted for the post match declarations of Pepe as their main story in their front pages.

The Portuguese international responded to Mourinho’s critics at Iker Casillas. “The boss declarations were not entirely appropriate”, he said in reference to the words of the manager claiming Casillas thinks he is “above the rest”.

Marca emphasizes Pepe’s direct support to the captain in their headline: “We the players are with Iker”, he said.

AS highlights these Pepe’s words: “We have to show more respect for Iker. He is an institution, in this club and in Spain”.

AS also reflects the reactions of the crowd to this captain-manager conflict during the game against Valladolid. “Whistles for Mourinho, ovation for Casillas, seven goals and a final thunder”, they underline in a reference to Pepe’s declarations.

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The Collins Column

Speaking after the Champions League elimination this week by Borussia Dortmund, Jose Mourinho gave his clearest indication yet that he would be leaving Real Madrid for pastures new in the summer.

And he left few with little doubt that his next job will be back in London, and at Chelsea in particular, where he is still the club’s most successful manager and revered by the fans.

While the talk in the media seems to focus on Mourinho himself (poor chap hates being the centre of attention), little has been said of what his departure would mean for Real Madrid.

Although he divides opinion wherever he goes, Mourinho does bring success. Real president Florentino Perez paid a high price to bring him to the Bernabeu in 2010, and has gone on record on numerous occasions saying the Portuguese is “the best manager in the world”.

In his three years at the club, Mourinho will have won one La Liga title (and a record breaking one to boot), along with two Copas del Rey, should Real beat city rivals Atletico on May 17. It’s not a bad record by any standards, but the notable absence of success in Europe will leave a blot in his copybook.

Mourinho’s success at all of his clubs has been built on his combative nature. But at Madrid, that trait has also had a negative effect. In his three years in the Spanish capital, he has had numerous fallings out with journalists, made complaints about referees bias in La Liga, and even suggested UEFA give favourable treatment to fierce rivals Barcelona.

These types of incidents have damaged the image of the club, something that many marketing experts agree on. Unlike many of his counterparts in La Liga, Mourinho was appointed at Real’s sporting manager as well as the first-team coach, giving him much more responsibility for how the club is run.

Large sections of the Madrid press believe Mourinho’s legacy will be one of negativity as much as it will be success – and the staleness that has surrounded the club this season is something they are looking forward to getting rid of.

A few of the players are also icons to the fans – and Mourinho’s run ins with Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas in particular have not helped his status with some sections of the crowd.

If Mourinho does decide to up and leave, Madrid will undeniably be losing a winner.

But whoever takes over, whether Carlo Ancelotti, Andre Villas Boas, or any other name mentioned, the media circus will die down, and the club can concentrate on getting back to what matters – winning the Decima.

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Real Madrid made Barcelona wait one more week to celebrate La Liga title after an exciting match in which Los Blancos and Valladolid delighted the crowd with seven goals.

Both sides weakness in defence was a key factor in the game. Los Blancos showed their frailty first, with Ricardo Carvalho unable to stop Oscar giving the visitors the lead in the eighth minute.

However, Los Merengues attackers were inspired. Di Maria’s shot –deflected in off Marc Valiente– and Cristiano’s header gave them the lead at the half hour stage.

Valladolid scored again taking advantage of another mistake by the home side’s defence. Javi Guerra finished off a breakaway and drew the visitors level before half time.

Benzema and Cristiano had chances to get back the lead for Real, but the French international’s goal was denied by the referee, while the Portuguese’s free kick hit the bar.

Kaka put Los Blancos back ahead after the break with a powerful strike and Ronaldo sealed the victory with his 199th goal for the club.

Sastre scored the third for Valladolid with an exquisite volley, but it was too late for the away team to salvage a point.

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