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Tag: Real Madrid

Rooney reveals he was ‘ready’ to leave Man Utd for Barcelona or Real Madrid
Wayne Rooney has revealed he was “ready” to join Real Madrid or Barcelona when he handed in a transfer request at Manchester United 10 years ago.
The former England skipper expressed his desire to leave the Red Devils in October 2010 after questioning the club’s ambition and ability to attract top players.
The news sparked a scramble among the game’s elite clubs as they attempted to lure Rooney away from Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea were believed to be frontrunners for his signature, as were bitter rivals Manchester City.
Rooney has now revealed that Real and Barca were also in the frame, and that he was tempted with a move to La Liga.
“I think it was well documented that Chelsea and Mourinho wanted to sign me,” Rooney told the UTD Podcast.
“There was Real Madrid, Barcelona and the Man City thing kept cropping up, but there was never the option for me to go there.
“Although there were rumours on that as well, but the other three, really, were more realistic options.
“In my head, at the time, in that two-day period, I was ready to go and play in Spain.
“Ideally, I would have liked to have gone to Barcelona, but it was looking more likely to be Real Madrid than Barcelona. Chelsea were always there as well.
“To be honest, it was two or three days where there was communication between myself and them, or my representatives and team.
“I remember sitting down for one day and thinking ‘imagine playing in that Barcelona team – Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets’. And at that time Messi wasn’t playing the way he plays now, as a no.9 for instance. He was out wide.
“I was thinking I could have slotted in perfectly. I could have come to the ball as well and have players running in behind.”
Rooney famously performed a drastic U-turn just two days after handing in his transfer request, signing a new five-year contract after talks with manager Sir Alex Ferguson and chairman David Gill.
“After a couple of days, I spoke to David Gill again and when there were those protests at my house, I’d actually already agreed to sign the new contract by that time,” he added.
“I was thinking “Jesus”, it was three o’clock in the morning and I didn’t fancy going out to calm down 20 or 30 lads with their hoods up!”
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November 24, 2020
Sergio Ramos and Real Madrid finally ‘open talks over a new contract’
Sergio Ramos and Real Madrid have reportedly started talks over a new contract for the Spanish defender.
Ramos is out of contract at the Bernabeu next summer and would be able to talk to overseas clubs about a possible free transfer in January.
Reports in Spain suggested Real were wary of offering Ramos the two-year deal he wants because of their policy of handing 12 month deals to players over the age of 30.
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But Ramos, 34, is still a critical figure in Zinedine Zidane’s team and recently scored decisive goals against both Barcelona in El Clasico and Inter Milan in the Champions League.
According to ESPN, Real have now ‘begun conversations’ with Ramos over extending his deal in the Spanish capital.
They claim the plan was to always put negotiations on hold until last summer as they weighed up the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
When the huge amount of financial losses became clear, Real decided against buying anybody in the summer and also put Ramos’ contract talks on hold.
But it is claimed the player’s representatives have now opened talks and there is a ‘mutual desire’ for Ramos to extend.
ESPN also claim the Ramos wants to stay at the club until June 2024, meaning he would need a new three-year contract and would be at the club until he is 38.
Real are said to be happy to do that but it is unclear whether it will be a long-term deal or a rolling contract.
Speaking about Ramos’s future earlier this year, club president Florentino Perez insisted that the Spain star would be going nowhere.
‘Ramos will finish his career at Madrid. He is more than a captain,’ Perez said after Real Madrid lifted the title last season.
‘He will continue as long as he wants, he knows it. As long as he wants and has the strength, and as he has strength I think he will be with us for many years.’
The ex-Sevilla defender, who has made over 650 appearances for Real since joining the club in 2005, has won LaLiga five times and the Champions League on four occasions.
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November 5, 2020
Real Madrid yet to offer Ramos a new contract
Spain captain set to drop into free agency pool in 2021
Real Madrid have yet to offer Sergio Ramos a new contract despite the fact his current deal expires next summer – according to Cuatro.
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The 34-year-old wants to see out the remaining years of his career at Santiago Bernabeu, but he is still waiting to be handed a renewal by club president Florentino Perez.
Ramos scored the 100th goal of his Madrid career during a 3-2 victory over Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
November 4, 2020
Rodrygo rekindles Champions League last-16 hopes for Real Madrid
Real Madrid boosted their chances of reaching the Champions League knockout stages after a late winner by substitute Rodrygo gave them a 3-2 home victory over Inter Milan in an absorbing Group B clash on Tuesday.
The result left Real, winners of a record 13 titles in Europe’s premier club competition, level on four points with Shakhtar Donetsk, one point behind leaders Borussia Moenchengladbach and two ahead of bottom-placed Inter.
Real had thrown away a two-goal lead and were flirting with a defeat which would have piled more pressure on manager Zinedine Zidane before their Brazilian duo of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo combined to save the day.
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Chances had gone begging at either end before Karim Benzema gave the home side a 25th-minute lead, rounding goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and slotting home after intercepting a dreadful back pass by Real’s former wing-back Achraf Hakimi.
The hosts seemed to be cruising after 33 minutes when Sergio Ramos headed their second – his 100th goal for the club in all competitions – but Lautaro Martinez pulled one back for Inter two minutes later thanks to a sublime assist by Nicolo Barella.
Real were rattled when Ivan Perisic equalised midway through the second half, threading a shot into the far corner from close range after Martinez headed the ball into the Croatian’s stride.
Inter then missed a pair of gilt-edged chances as Martinez shaved the outside of the post with a shot from the edge of the area and Perisic fired wide, with Real’s defence in tatters.
The Italians were punished for their misses, however, as Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, brought into the fray together by Zidane shortly before Inter’s equaliser, carved out the winner from a lightning-fast break.
Vinicius Junior raced clear of his marker down the left flank and squared the ball back to Rodrygo, who beat Handanovic with an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 10 metres.
Inter are now under pressure halfway through the group stage to turn their fortunes around and will hope to have striker Romelu Lukaku back for the reverse fixture on November 25 after the Belgium striker missed the match with a thigh injury.
This was described beforehand as a cup final for both sides – and it didn’t disappoint for drama. Real were bottom heading into this. And in their history, they have never failed to progress from the Champions League group stages.
Zidane’s side had gone four games without a win in the competition, but it appeared they would end that run with relative ease when Ramos doubled the hosts’ lead after 33 minutes. Things are never straightforward these days for Real, however, as they nearly snatched a draw from the jaws of victory.
Inter roared back through Martinez and Perisic to level, but then Real’s two substitutes combined for a rousing winner. For Vinicius, it was a moment of redemption, a week on from being apparently alienated by his team-mate Karim Benzema.
Benzema was caught on camera telling Ferland Mendy not to pass to the Brazilian during the 2-2 draw with Monchengladbach, but it was his assist which enabled Rodrygo to steer home – providing a welcome show of Zidane’s managerial acumen.
November 4, 2020
La Liga Giants to Battle For Spanish Super Cup In Saudi Arabia
Laliga giants Real Madrid, Barcelona as well as Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad will take part in the Spanish Super Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia in January 2021.
This is according to Spanish publication Diario AS.
Madrid and Barcelona will feature in the four-team tournament as Laliga champions and runners-up respectively.
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While Bilbao and Sociedad will be in action as finalists of last season’s Copa del Rey.
The semifinals will be played in Jeddah on January 13 and 14 while the final will then be played on the 16th.
Last season was the first edition of the revised Super Cup played in Saudi Arabia and it saw Real Madrid win the trophy.
Barcelona were beaten by Atletico Madrid in the semifinal 3-2, a result which ended up costing Ernesto Valverde his job.
Madrid beat Valencia in the other semifinal and then went on to beat city rivals Atletico in the final.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the RFEF remain keen on playing the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia this January and as such are pushing ahead with arrangements.
November 3, 2020
Lukaku out of Real Madrid clash with thigh injury
Romelu Lukaku will miss Inter’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid after suffering a thigh injury.
The Nerazzurri striker went for an MRI scan after feeling discomfort during the goalless draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday. He has not recovered from the knock and missed training on Monday, the final session for Antonio Conte’s men before they take on Real.
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He has been left out of the squad list for the Real game, in a major blow for the Italian side as they bid for their first win in this season’s group stage.
Inter confirmed last week that the Belgium international has strained a muscle in his left thigh.
“Romelu Lukaku underwent an MRI scan at the Humanitas Institute in Rozzano this morning following a problem that arose during Tuesday’s Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk,” read a statement on the club’s website. “The scans showed that he has suffered a strain in his left thigh. His condition will be monitored daily.”
Lukaku sat out the Serie A match against Parma on Saturday and will also miss next Wednesday’s visit to Madrid.
The news is a blow to head coach Antonio Conte, whose side have drawn each of their opening Group B matches against Borussia Monchengladbach and Shakhtar.
That leaves them third in the table ahead of the clash with Real, who are bottom having collected just one point from their opening two group-stage matches.
November 2, 2020
Nwakali’s First La Liga Start For Huesca Despite Defeat To Real Madrid
Nigeria midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has celebrated his full LaLiga debut for SD Huesca.
Nwakali made his first start in the top flight for the Azulgranas in their 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid on Saturday.
The 22-year-old was replaced by Sandro Ramirez in the 57th minute.
Despite his side losing the game, Nwakali took to the social media to celebrate his appearance.
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“Positive over what we can do better #realmadrid #huesca,” he wrote on Instagram after the game.
Nwakali has made three league appearances for Huesca this season.
November 1, 2020
Stumbling giants Madrid and Barca meet in Clasico
Spain’s two biggest sides clash on Sunday in the Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu but neither leaders Barcelona nor Real Madrid are close to their best.
If Barcelona win in the Spanish capital they will move five points clear at the top of the table, but beyond Lionel Messi, the Catalans are nothing to be feared.
Quique Setien’s side struggled to break down Napoli in Tuesday in the Champions League, with Antoine Griezmann’s goal earning Barcelona a 1-1 draw in the last 16 first leg. It was their only shot on target.
Defender Gerard Pique is a doubt for the Clasico after suffering an ankle injury towards the end of the game, while Luis Suarez, Sergi Roberto, Jordi Alba and Ousmane Dembele are out injured.
“We don’t have a deep squad because, unfortunately, that’s how it was planned,” said midfielder Sergio Busquets. He was joined by Ivan Rakitic, who complained: “We have a short squad but those that are in charge knew that.”
Champions Barcelona sold or loaned out various players in the winter window, including Carles Alena, Abel Ruiz and Carles Perez, later bringing in Martin Braithwaite from Leganes as an emergency signing after Dembele was ruled out for six months.
Barcelona coach Setien was present at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday to watch Real Madrid fall to a 2-1 defeat by Manchester City.
Zinedine Zidane’s side are in a poor run of form, drawing with Celta Vigo, losing at Levante and then suffering this disappointing defeat by Pep Guardiola’s side.
Almost a year ago Madrid’s whole campaign collapsed when Barcelona beat them in cup and league Clasicos and Ajax knocked them out of the Champions League.
There is a danger of it happening again, with Zidane urging his side to do whatever it takes to change their dynamic.
“Sunday’s is an amazing match and we’ve now got to rest up well and put in a great performance,” said Zidane.
“I hope that the fans come and help the team to get over this (defeat). We give our all out there, but we’re on a bad run and we’ve got to get through this however we can. Sunday’s game gives us a chance to alter this run of form.”
Madrid will be missing the injured Eden Hazard and long-term absentee Marco Asensio, as well as suspended winger Rodrygo Goes. Toni Kroos could return after being dropped for the clash against Manchester City.
“He’s an extremely important player for us,” explained Zidane. “It was a coaching decision and I’ve got nothing against him. I just picked another player for this game.”
Elsewhere Atletico Madrid, third and 12 points behind leaders Barcelona after 25 games, visit bottom of the table Espanyol.
Atletico’s record signing Joao Felix is poised to start his first game for a month after he returned from injury to score last weekend as a substitute in the club’s 3-1 win over Villarreal.
The weekend’s other fixtures are Real Sociedad v Real Valladolid, Eibar v Levante, Valencia v Real Betis, Leganes v Alaves, Granada v Celta Vigo, Sevilla v Osasuna, Athletic Bilbao v Villarreal and Real Mallorca v Getafe. (dpa)
February 27, 2020
Madrid down from their cloud just as City appear on the horizon
It only takes one game and one injury to change the mood of a club and Real Madrid have lost some of the supreme confidence they had before their weekend defeat to Levante and the loss of Eden Hazard.
Defeat in the Cuitat de Valencia Stadium in their last game before the face Manchester City on Wednesday in the last-16 of the Champions League was bad enough.
But for it then to be followed up by confirmation that they will be without Hazard, possibly to the end of the season, has even more dampened the euphoria created by a run of 15 games without a loss.
Levante beat them with a Jose Luis Morales wonder goal – the team’s only shot of the match – and that meant the first defeat for Madrid since they lost away to Mallorca in October.
But it came off the back of a draw at home to Celta Vigo the week before and it meant they surrendered top spot in la Liga to title holders Barcelona who they face on Sunday in a Clasico.
Hazard limped off feeling his right ankle and coach Zinedine Zidane immediately feared the worst telling reporters: “it does not look good, it’s the same leg as the previous injury”.
Having missed 82 days of football with a hairline fracture in his ankle sustained in the Champions League clash with Paris Saint Germain last November, Hazard had worked hard to come back looking as fit as when he was at his best for Chelsea last season.
But for all the work put in with Real Madrid’s fitness coach Gregory Dupont at the club’s Valdebebas training ground the test of his recovery was going to be playing successive competitive matches.
Hazard came through the home game with Celta but never got past the Levante defeat.
Zidane must now find away of not missing the Belgium forward who scored 21 goals in all competitions last season for Chelsea and who Madrid hoped would help them in front of goal in the final third of the season.
The shadow of the prolific Cristiano Ronaldo still looms large at the club.
The Spanish media have made a lot in recent days of the statistic that in 93 games Madrid have played since Ronaldo left they have failed to score in 21 encounters.
That contrasts badly with them failing to score in only 36 of the 438 games Ronaldo was involved in when he was at the club.
Zidane certainly has a lengthy cast list from which he can pick the Hazard stand-in.
Gareth Bale is fit, the young Brazilians Vinicius and Rodrygo Goes are both available, and Lucas Vazquez and Isco can also play.
Against Pep Guardiola’s City, Zidane may well feel that trying to keep the ball is the best policy and on-form midfielders Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Fede Valverde and Casemiro could all feature from the start.
On the bright side the statistics can also be used to show that, as good a player as he is, Hazard is not always missed.
Real Madrid’s record with him this season is seven wins, five draws and two defeats.
Without him they have picked up 14 wins, six draws and two defeats. He was also out for most of that 15 game run when they looked in the kind of form that would not leave them fearing City. (dpa)
February 25, 2020
La Liga leaders Real Madrid held to draw by late Celta Vigo strike
Real Madrid’s La Liga title bid took a dent after Zinedine Zidane’s leaders were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Celta Vigo on Sunday.
They were denied all three points by a late strike from Santi Mina.
Mina latched on to a classy through ball from former FC Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez and produced a clinical low finish to equalise in the 85th minute.
The draw trimmed Real Madrid’s lead over FC Barcelona to one point.
Celta Vigo took an early lead through Russian striker Fedor Smolov and Real Madrid struggled to respond.
This led to the home fans booing their players off the pitch when the half-time whistle was blown.
But the league leaders came out stronger after the break and Toni Kroos levelled in the 52nd minute, shortly after team captain Sergio Ramos had a goal ruled out for offside.
Ramos then scored from the penalty kick spot to put Zidane’s side in front in the 65th minute after Eden Hazard was tripped by Celta Vigo goalkeeper Ruben Blanco
Hazard was making his first outing in almost three months after recovering from an ankle injury.
“Dropping two points at home hurts me a lot,” Zidane told reporters.
“Celta Vigo are a good team that don’t deserve to be near the bottom of the league, but it’s painful to lose the two points after we made such a big effort.”
Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale meanwhile avoided a possible red card for a wild tackle on Celta Vigo’s Rafinha, escaping with only a booking.
The draw ended a five-game winning streak in the league for the leaders and left them on 53 points after 24 games.
They are one point ahead of second-placed FC Barcelona who beat Getafe 2-1 at home on Saturday.
Celta Vigo, who had lost on their last seven league visits to the Santiago Bernabeu, climbed out of the relegation zone into 17th place in the standings.
“I’m happy with my performance. Not so happy with the draw, but I think we can do better in our next game,” said Hazard.
“When you are winning 2-1 you should win the game. They are good players but they came here just to defend. They had only two chances and scored two goals.”(Reuters/NAN)
February 17, 2020