Articles

Affichage des articles du août, 2017

Ramos tells Madrid fans: Don't boo Pique

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"To Pique or to anybody else you must always respect the players," Ramos told reporters. "[I ask the fans] to support us, it will be a tense and difficult match. "We want to perform well and play a good game."

Marco Asensio, new idol for Real Madrid fans

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Marco Asensio has become the  new star and idol for Real Madrid fans  in only 12 months. The 21-years-old winger has conquered the heart of the supporters with his superb performances and no one doubts about his skills and his potential to win the Golden Ball eventually. He’s now, together with Kylian Mbappé, the best youngster in Europe. With his goal against FC Barcelona in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup, Asensio was able to  find the net in all his debuts  in the competitions with Real Madrid: La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercup and European Supercup. His team mates and his coach have admitted publicly the importance of the player and Asensio has started the season showing that he should be included in the line-up in the important games. Now, he’s been called by the S panish national team  to face Italy in a crucial match for the qualification for the Russian World Cup. Florentino Pérez knows he has a jewel in the club. H...

Zinedine Zidane says he's very proud of his players

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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has refused to criticise his players following Sunday's 2-2 draw with Valencia at the Bernabeu. Marco Asensio scored twice as Los Blancos came from behind late on to draw with Valencia in the entertaining La Liga clash. Karim Benzema missed three excellent chances to win it for Real Madrid late on, but Zidane has insisted that he is "very proud" of his players for the effort they put into the match. "I can't be happy with the result because we played an excellent game and deserved more," Zidane told reporters. "But you cannot always win. I am very proud of my players and that is most important. "I can't be happy with the result because we played an excellent game and deserved more," Zidane told reporters. "But you cannot always win. I am very proud of my players and that is most important "We only lacked finishing. We had seven or eight clear chances and did not sco...

Real Madrid, favourite to win the Champions League 2017/18

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Real Madrid will try to win their  13th Champions League in 2018  in the final in Kiev, Ukraine. Los Blancos made history winning back to back titles for the first time in the tournament history, but their challenge is lifting the trophy for the third time in a row. Will they be able to do it? According to the bookmakers, it’s very likely. After the Champions League draw 2017/18 for the group stage -Real Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur and APOEL. According to bet365,  Real Madrid are big favourites  to win again the title.

Bale returns to Wales team

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Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale was recalled by Wales on Friday for their forthcoming 2018 World Cup qualifying matches against Austria and Moldova. "It's nice to have Gareth back and also Neil Taylor for the Moldova game," Wales manager Chris Coleman told a press conference in Hensol, south Wales. "Gareth is a natural athlete, but at this stage of the season some players take a bit longer to find their best. "Is he 100 percent where he could be? We'll see where he is when we get him."

Real Madrid to announce new contract for Isco this week

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Real Madrid star Isco is expected to have his new contract announced by the club this week, with the deal a reward for his top form and proven importance to the team. News of the contract first emerged earlier this month when it was reported that Real had taken steps to increase the player's release clause to €700m.

Zidane wants new defender and forward

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Real Madrid C.F. manager Zinedine Zidane wants to have a new central defender and a forward for this Spanish football club, according to Marca newspaper of Spain. Even though the Frenchman is happy with defenders Raphaël Varane and Jesús Vallejo, they both suffer injuries time and again. During the long current season that got underway just recently, he does not rule out the possibility of having to move midfielders Casemiro or Marcos Llorente back to defense. Also, Zidane wants to have one additional central forward.

Ramos: Referees should learn from England

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Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has called for La Liga officials to take note from their English counterparts and exercise more leniency in decisions. The 31-year-old was shown his 23 rd  career red card in Sunday’s 3-0 victory at Deportivo La Coruna and his 18 th  in La Liga – a joint record high.  “In Spain, officials should look at the officiating in the Premier League and let us play more,” the Real Madrid captain told Onda Cero. "I like their system because, in Europe, referees are more lenient." "I do not agree with the card, but I respect the opinion of the referee of course."

Bale scores as Real Madrid begin with win

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Gareth Bale scored one and assisted another as Real Madrid began their La Liga title defence with an easy victory at Deportivo La Coruna, although Sergio Ramos was sent off in injury time. With Cristiano Ronaldo suspended, Bale tapped in from Karim Benzema's scuffed shot to put Madrid ahead. Casemiro ended a move with 44 passes by converting Marcelo's cross, before Toni Kroos smashed in from Bale's pass. Keylor Navas then saved Florin Andone's penalty, before he took a red card.

Arsenal want Real Madrid midfielder

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Arsenal are reportedly in the hunt to sign Spanish midfielder  Marcos Llorente  from Real Madrid. The 22-year-old is also a transfer target for La Liga duo Sevilla and Atletico Madrid. Llorente spent the previous campaign on loan with Deportivo Alaves, where he impressed with 32 appearances in all competitions. Despite this, he finds himself out-of-favour in the Real Madrid setup with Casemiro, Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic favoured ahead of him in the pecking order. According to AS h/t The Mirror, the Gunners have joined the pursuit of the young midfielder, who could be allowed to leave on loan for the current campaign. However, the European champions are also open to the prospect of selling him, provided they can have a buy-back clause inserted into his contract. Llorente is regarded as one of the highly-rated prospects at the Bernabeu, but it appears that the club's hierarchy are willing to offer him a new challenge in order to further his develo...

Zidane: This Team is Hungry

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Zinedine Zidane  won his sixth title as Real Madrid manager after beating FC Barcelona (2-0) in the second leg of the Spanish Supercup. The coach was very happy in press conference and he wanted to highlight his players and their mentality to touch all this silverware. “We deserve what the players are doing. There is talent, but also a lot of work. These two trophies against great teams aren’t easy. Behind there is willingness to get things. This team is hungry. Starting like this is very good, but a long season is about to start. It’s not easy, but  we are ready for the challenge”,  Zidane spoke after winning El Clásico. The coach was asked about the key factors to win FC Barcelona: “There are a lot of keys.  We’ve done two great games . The first half today was superb. We put a lot of intensity. We are happy, with one more trophy”. According to the French manager, Real Madrid can win everything with these players: “We have a great squad and when ...

Ronaldo loses appeal against five-match ban after pushing ref

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Cristiano Ronaldo lost his appeal to the Spanish football federation of his five-match ban for pushing a referee after being sent off in the Spanish Super Cup first leg. Ronaldo shoved referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea when he was dismissed for "diving" in Madrid's 3-1 win over Barcelona on Sunday. He will now miss tonight's second leg as well as the first four La Liga games of the season.

Isco Becomes Untouchable

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Isco Alarcón  is growing with the past of the years, as Zinedine Zidane said in press conference, and the Spanish playmaker is becoming untouchable in the squad. With Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension, there is no debate anymore and the manager can introduce Isco with Benzema and Bale in a 4-4-2 formation. Last season there was a lot of controversy because Coentrao had played more minutes in the Champions League than Isco until the final stages of the competition. The playmaker arouse in the last months of the season,  becoming a key player in the success of the team , even playing the Champions League final against Juventus. In this new season, his role is becoming even more important.  James Rodríguez departure left Isco less competition in his role. Besides,  Morata and Mariano  also left the club, so there are less players in the attacking line to compete with the BBC. The team is also performing better with the 4-4-2, so the midfield is becomi...

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Buffon shortlisted for UEFA Player of the Year award

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Veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been named as one of three nominees for the 2016-17 UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, European football's governing body announced on Tuesday. The 39-year-old Buffon was a key member of the Juventus side that reached last season's Champions League final, but he missed out on a first winner's medal as the Italians were beaten 4-1 by Ronaldo's Real Madrid in Cardiff.  Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award twice, as has Lionel Messi. Real Madrid, who have lifted the European Cup in three of the past four seasons, had four players in the top 10, with Luka Modric fourth, Toni Kroos fifth and Sergio Ramos seventh.

Zidane: Real are annoyed about ‘excessive’ Ronaldo ban

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Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane expressed his anger on Tuesday at a five-game ban handed to Cristiano Ronaldo for pushing a referee after being sent off against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. “We are very annoyed,” said Zidane.  “When you look at everything that happened, to think Cristiano won’t play five games with us... it is infuriating.” Madrid’s appeal against the red card, which could reduce the ban from five games to four, will be held before the game on Wednesday. “The (appeals) committee will meet and I hope they look well upon it,” added Zidane. “Cristiano is annoyed because he wants to play and when he doesn’t play, he isn’t happy." “Cristiano’s ban is excessive,” added Madrid defender Dani Carvajal. “It is a frustrating feeling for him. Hopefully the committee will reduce it by a few games.” Should Ronaldo’s appeal not be upheld, he will miss Madrid’s first four La Liga games of the season against Deportivo la Coruna, ...

Carvajal: Ronaldo's ban excessive

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Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo's five-game suspension after his red card in Sunday’s Supercopa against Barcelona. The Portuguese star was slapped with a five-game ban for the controversial red – one for his second yellow card and an additional four for placing his hands on the referee after the dismissal. “The ban for that incident is excessive,” Carvajal told reporters at Tuesday’s press conference. “Cristiano did not intend to act like that towards the referee and it all happened so quickly...the red card was very unfair. “Of course there is frustration to be sent off when you shouldn't be so in that context the ban is excessive...I hope it is reduced. “We all feel upset at this punishment as Cristiano is an important player for us – we hope the ban is reduced and he is back in action soon.”

Real Madrid looking to hijack move for Tottenham target

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Real Madrid are reportedly considering a move for Ajax defender Davinson Sanchez and are set to battle Tottenham for the Colombian international. Dutch publication  Telegraaf  are claiming that Chelsea and Real Madrid have entered the race for Ajax defender Davinson Sanchez. The Colombian international has been linked to Tottenham recently. But, it seems Spurs will have to battle Chelsea and Real Madrid for the defender. Davinson Sanchez is edging closer to a move away from Ajax, with the player already  making the club aware of his wish to secure a move to Tottenham . However, Chelsea and Real Madrid’s entry may complicate the situation.

Casemiro Candidate for UEFA's 2016-17 Season Best Goal

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Nyon, Aug 10 (Prensa Latina) The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has today opened the vote for candidates of the 2016-17 season Best Goal, which seven footballers are candidates to, including Real Madrid's Brazilian Casemiro. Until August 29, fans will be able to choose on UEFA .com the best goal of last season list, including seven candidates, after being this list reduced by UEFA. Casemiro is among the final candidates for his goal scored against Napoli in the Champions League. Asensio's goal to make the list came against Macedonia in the first game of the European under-21 championships in Poland. Another candidate is Jordi Mboula (Monaco) against Borussia Dortmund when played with Barcelona in the Youth Champions League. The list includes Croatian Mario Mandzukic (Juventus F. C.) for his goal in the Champions League Finals against Real Madrid; Austrian Kevin Friesenbichler; French Moussa Sow, Fenerbahce; and Italian Daniela Sabatino, for her goal agains...

Zinedine Zidane says future at Real Madrid is never secure despite new contract

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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has delivered a remarkable trophy haul in his short spell in charge, yet he knows life in the Bernabeu dugout is never secure. Zidane is set to agree a new deal at the club, according to Spanish media reports, but the French coach said on Saturday that he could be let go at any time whatever the length of contract he signs. "I know it will end at some point, but I am very happy at the moment," Zidane told a news conference. "A contract could be 10 years, or 20, but I know where I am and what I must do. "Maybe in a year's time, I might be gone. I will never argue with Madrid about this. I'm very happy with their confidence in me. The objectives are always the same. We want to win all the games and titles possible." Zidane is seventh coach in the last 10 years at Madrid, who are notoriously demanding of their managers. Since being appointed in 2016, the Frenchman has led the club to two Champions League trop...

Predicted Real Madrid XI To Face Barcelona

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Defence- Keylor Navas  is expected to start in goal. The defence of the Galacticos has been performing really well in the recent matches, with top class players like  Sergio Ramos  and  Raphael Varane  at the heart of it and Brazilian livewire  Marcelo  and Spanish speedster  Carvajal guarding its either side. The aforementioned players will be expected to keep stalwarts like Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at bay and make sure that the trophy arrives at Santiago Bernabeu this year. Midfield- The Galacticos will have the services of German playmaker  Toni Kroos , Spanish midfielder  Isco  and Brazilian enforcer  Casemiro  for them in the match against Barcelona. All the players have been in great form throughout the last season and will look to carry the momentum in the Supercopa Espana final. Attack- Though the main man in Los Blancos attack, Cristiano Ronaldo, might not be fit to play from the start in the El C...

Real Madrid enter race for Ousmane Dembele?

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Real Madrid have reportedly decided to rival Barcelona for the signature of Borussia Dortmund starlet Ousmane Dembele. The 20-year-old has been earmarked by Barca as a top target this summer in the wake of Neymar's departure for Paris Saint-Germain and the La Liga side have already failed with their initial approach. Dortmund signed the player for £13m just a year ago but, aware of Barca's cash-rich position, have quoted them a figure of £135m for the young striker. According to  AS , Madrid have now decided to enter the race for Dembele, having seemingly lost out to Paris Saint-Germain in the fight for Monaco's Kylian Mbappe. Dembele is said to favour a move to the Nou Camp but Madrid are planning to make their offer more attractive to Dortmund by including some of their players as part of the deal. Ernesto Valverde's side are  rumoured  to be preparing a fresh offer of £110m for the Frenchman.

Zinedine Zidane happy to sign new Real Madrid contract

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The Frenchman has agreed a new three-year deal to manage the Spanish and European champions. Zinedine Zidane said he is happy to sign a new contract at Real Madrid but admitted he knows only results on the pitch will guarantee he actually sees it out. The Frenchman confirmed on Saturday that he has agreed a new three-year deal with the Spanish and European champions, though he has seen up close the speed with which Madrid dispense with coaches who do not deliver. “My story with Real Madrid is deeper than contracts and signatures,” Zidane said in a press conference ahead of Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup clash against Barcelona. “I’m happy to be linked with the club. But the contract doesn’t mean anything. You can sign for 10, 20 years. I know where I am and what to do. In one year, maybe I won’t be here. Real Madrid and I are not going to argue, never.” Zidane took over at Madrid after the departure of Rafael Benitez in January 2016, and he has already won the Champions League...

Real Madrid confirm Vallejo injury

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Jesus Vallejo will have to continue to wait for his Real Madrid debut after sustaining a thigh injury. The 20-year-old has been given a place in Madrid’s first-team squad for the first time, as well as the number three shirt vacated by Pepe. Vallejo signed for Madrid in 2015 but has spent the last two seasons on loan at his former club Real Zaragoza and in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt. “Following tests carried out on Jesus Vallejo at the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital, he has been diagnosed with a muscle strain in his left thigh,” a Madrid statement released on Friday said. “His recovery will continue to be assessed.”

Morata: I left Real Madrid because I want to triumph in football

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Álvaro Morata  spoke for first time since his arrival to Chelsea and the Real Madrid former player gave the reasons why he left the team and how is being his new experience at London. The interview started talking about his  new experience at London:”  It has been a very long and strange summer. The day I signed with Chelsea I travelled around all the world, from Los Angeles to Singapore and then to London. Now  I have to adapt  to a new team, with a very tactical manager like Antonio Conte. I can affirm that I’m already adapted and that I want to start to play”, Morata said about his signing with Chesea. This will be the second time that  Morata and Conte  coincide and the Spanish striker confessed that his first choice was Chelsea:”I knew that Conte wanted mine signing. He trusted me in my stage at Juventus but he had to leave the team. When I noticed that he wanted to sign me I didn’t doubt and it was my preference”, Morata confessed about ...

Report: Isco’s new contract includes 700 million euro release clause

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Real Madrid  midfielder Isco has reportedly signed a new contract, according to Diario AS. The reported deal includes a four-year deal with an option for a fifth, and a reported salary of six million euros yearly. Isco’s previous deal was set to expire next year, and he was already included in  transfer rumours  with large European clubs. Real Madrid ensured that the Spanish midfielder would stay in Madrid no matter what club comes calling, including everyone’s favourite club at the moment, Paris Saint-Germain. The contract reportedly includes a 700-million-euro release clause to fend off potential suitors for Isco. AS are reporting that the deal was signed last month before Real came to the United States for their pre-season tour. Making it public wasn’t part of the plans until this month. Isco certainly deserves the new deal. He had an incredibly positive pre-season tour in the United States. His play has made lineup decisions more difficult for  Zinedin...

Navas confident on Super Cup success

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas believes his side are favourites for the European Super Cup and is pleased with his pre-season. The Costa Rican goalkeeper has been the standout performer from Madrid’s tour of the United States which may have not won them any games, but the 30-year-old believes will benefit them this season and against Manchester United next week. “I think that we are ready for the Super Cup and to win it,” Navas is quoted as saying by Marca. “I am happy with how the tour has gone personally because I have been able to do all the work which I could not do last year (due to injury). “We obviously will have to improve as the results have not been what they should be but we have done positive things which will help us this season. “I think we have worked hard and this will stand us in good stead.”

Real Madrid will sign Mbappe only if Bale leaves

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In a dramatic turn of events, MARCA are now publishing that  Real Madrid  will sign Kylian Mbappe only if  Gareth Bale  leaves the club. Remember that this same website reported two weeks ago that Los Blancos had reached an agreement with Monaco for the transfer of the young attacker. Apparently,  Zinedine Zidane  doesn’t want to have the BBC+Mbappe on the same roster knowing that this could be problematic in terms of minutes. Both Zidane and the board know that Bale should be the one leaving if they are interested in Mbappe, so they will try to find him a new home until the very end of August. Manchester United are interested in Bale but they are not expected to meet the €100 million price tag Los Blancos put on the Welshman, meaning that it won’t be easy for Real Madrid to sell the player and therefore make room for Mbappe this summer.

Cristiano Ronaldo Expecting Baby As Girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez Confirms Pregnancy

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After weeks of speculation  Cristiano Ronaldo's   girlfriend ,  Georgina Rodríguez  has confirmed she is pregnant and expecting her first baby. The 23-year-old model made the announcement in  HOLA magazine and said in an interview: “I love children, nature, animals. I have a cat, who’s now three, who is my best friend. I love surrounding myself with people who inspire me to be a better person every day, and who bring good energy.” At the moment, the Real Madrid star has not confirmed that he's expecting a baby with his Spanish model girlfriend. Ronaldo recently welcomed twins via surrogacy. After he shared the news on his Instagram account with a photo of himself and his eldest son holding the babies,  Alicia Machado  weighed in on the subject and took shots at the soccer player for having babies via surrogacy. "Poor little ones," she wrote. "My position continues to be radical. Why do that with so many babies in his native Brasil that a...

MLS Allstars v Real Madrid Prediction and Preview

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MLS Allstar v Real Madrid  will meet on Thursday 3rd of August (01:30am UK time) at the  Soldier Field  of Chicago. This will be the last friendly game of the team managed by Zidane in their tour at USA, and after the three defeats against Manchester United, City and Barcelona, Los Blancos will try to win their last game before the European Super Cup final. MLS Allstar v Real Madrid Preview The  MLS Allstar  have many good players in their squad and it will not be an easy game for Los Blancos. We can highlight of the team managed by  Paunovic  players such as  Villa, Giovinco, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bradley, Altidore, Dos Santos  and the Real Madrid former player,  Kaká . Each summer this team plays against an European squad and they have a positive balance in their resultas, with seven wins and five defeats. Real Madrid  are not doing their be...