CRISTIANO RONALDO TO LEAVE REAL MADRID

Spanish TV via "La Sexta" channel & its afternoon "Sports News" has confirmed that CRISTIANO RONALDO will be leaving REAL MADRID CF. This news complements Italian news sources that JUVENTUS has made an offer that it seems has been accepted by Real Madrid & thus opens the door for Ronaldo to play in "Serie A" next season.

The details of the operation are the following; Juventus will pay Real Madrid 100M€ in concept of a transfer fee, while Juventus offers Cristiano Ronaldo 30M€ per season for a 4 year contract. The Portuguese star has commented to close sources that he will accept their offer & now awaits Real Madrid keeps their part of the deal. 

The 33 year old forward adds that it has nothing to do with money leaving Real Madrid, in fact the Spanish Club has equalled the Italian offer as the player too solicited an improvement. It has to do with the need to find a new stimulus & Ronaldo feels his "cycle" at Real Madrid has come to an end.

Months back Ronaldo voiced his "feelings" of leaving Real Madrid to President Perez & the Club responded that if they received an acceptable offer the Club would not put any impediments or barriers for an exit. The player is recognized as the most important & greatest Player to pass through the Club in the "modern era", Ronaldo for many has eclipsed Alfredo Di Stefano, thus the Club is empathic to the Ronaldo respuests.

The Juventus offer was already on the tables before the Champions League Final in Kiev & Cristiano Ronaldo looked favourably thanks to the Italians Club fans who rose & applauded his performance at Turin that included his now famous "overhead" goal in Champions League Q/Final. 

Real Madrid will now be looking to shut the deal & organize a huge goodbye event with all the fanfare that their Champion & Star deserves after 9 years ( & 4 Champions League plus 4 FiFA Golden Ball Awards) of brilliant service.

The news is not 100% official but the source is viable & traditionally spot on. However, one cannot help think that the above is the "official goodbye story" & that there is more to the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo than meets the eye. 

One unofficial said factor that could be crucial is the "obsessive" interest by Real Madrid for Brazilian NEYMAR. Real Madrid refuted a news piece yesterday that stated a massive 310M€ offer to Paris St Germain & a 45M€ / season contract for Neymar...a record breaker. It is obvious to all that Real Madrid sees in Neymar the "new Star", their "new Marketing & Income generator" & their key to future titles success.

Added to the above MBAPPE has also again entered the Real Madrid orbit & there are rumours that the French International & PSG youngster can be a target as he was last year.

In both cases, it is not strange to think, that both Neymar &/or Mbappe would look more favourably in accepting a Real Madrid offer if Cristiano Ronaldo was no longer at the Club to soak up all the spotlights. Both will demand to be starters in all matches & too many roosters in the hens den always leads to trouble.

Stay tuned the following days & weeks! Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS | POSSIBLE STARTING 11 TEAMS | CHAMPIONS FINAL

The European Football season ends this season with the UEFA Champions League Final in Cardiff (Wales) between JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID CF. The Italians want to break their streak of being "runners-up" (up to 6 times) & give their glorious keeper Buffon a chance at the Golden Ball. While Real Madrid wants to add a 12th European Cup & make history being the only team to win back to back titles.  

Two teams evenly balanced with Juventus very solid defensively - only 3 goals scored against them in this competition - while Real Madrid has its strength upfront with goal fire power. 

One of the talking points in Sports media & Football fans is the possible start 11 team for Juventus & Real Madrid. Above is a diagram of the speculated starting 11 players. Initially it looks fairly obvious. The debate is more with Real Madrid on whether Coach Zidane will start with Isco or Bale. Everything indicates Isco will start & Bale will come on in the last 20 minutes to at freshness & speed to break up the more tired Juve defence.

Said this it is all speculation at this point & we could find surprises at kick-off. Either way top match coming up tonight & game not to be missed.
Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID COULD BUY BACK ALVARO MORATA

Rumours are currently doing the Football rounds in Madrid this afternoon with the representative of Spanish International & Juventus forward Alvaro Morata seen at Real Madrid offices at the "Santiago Bernabeu Stadium". Rumour is Real Madrid could be about to execute the contract buy-back clause of around 30M€.

However, you may think Real Madrid has Morata in mind for their next season squad, but it seems all the contrary. Real Madrid may want to spend 30M€ buying back the forward from Juventus to resell later to interested Clubs which could pay around 50 - 65M€.

Clubs like Arsenal FC & Bayern Munich have expressed interest & Real Madrid sees this as a "golden opportunity" to do business. 

Alvaro Morata is almost certain to go with the Spanish Football Team to the upcoming Euro 2016 Championship, & a good performance will sky-rocket his market value. Plus it is never discounted in Football that original plans can change over night, & Morata may eventually find a place in the Spanish Club squad for next season.

Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share

JUVENTUS AIMS FOR REAL MADRID ISCO

Fans of fishing will tell you that in rough waters the "biting" is best. Currently Spanish Football Club Real Madrid is experiencing its own "rough waters" after some poor exhibitions in Liga, especially after last Saturday´s defeat against Atletico Madrid. A loss that puts the Club behind current Liga leaders FC Barcelona by 9 points! 

Many observers & Club insiders have accepted that the Liga title is too far beyond reach, & that the only hope for any glory this season is the always very difficult "Champions League". 

As usual fans, media & Club directives need reasons to explain the situation, or the evaporation of all earlier hopes. The debate is wide open with many ongoing & unsolved reasons on the table for discussion along with new factors that can also explain the Real Madrid slump. Nothing like a losing run to bring out the "ghost" from the cupboard or the "shit" from under the carpet. 

Bad pre-season planning, too many injuries, lack of physical preparation, bad Coach, poor Club management, lack of will from the players, no motivation... take a pick & you may be correct. 

Within these factors two names, two players have jumped into the spot-light. According to media sources, habitually due to interested filtered motives, midfielders James Rodriguez & Isco are no longer untouchable, that is, Real Madrid is open to hear offers. Both are not "living up" to expectations this season & are under the microscope. 

Isco is said to have Italian Club Juventus already aiming their arrow & apparently have made a first offer of 30M€ to Real Madrid. An offer short of the true market price but may be lifted as summer approaches. Lets not forget that Isco has been in the list of other big Clubs in past seasons especially from the English Premier League. 

Stay tuned for developments (not forgetting James Rodriguez).

Tweet

Share

FERNANDO LLORENTE TO SEVILLA FC

After weeks of speculation, Spanish & Juventus FC forward Fernando Llorente returns to Spanish Football. Spanish press has announced that Sevilla FC will be the new home of Llorente for the next three seasons after a 10M€ transfer deal (other sources say that his transfer is at zero cost ) with the Italian Club according to Italian media. The terms of payment is delaying the official Club announcement but everyone takes it as a formality & a done deal.

Sevilla FC get themselves a top notch forward to replace Carlos Bacca who signed for AC Milan.

Said the above, Sevilla FC & Juventus FC are also talking about the possibility of Chilean International Mauricio Isla landing in Sevilla. A difficult prospect but apparently open & possible that we will have to wait & see. Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID TO TARGET FERNANDO LLORENTE ?

More interesting Spanish Football rumour & speculation doing the rounds. Spanish TV has announced tonight in its news section that Real Madrid new Coach Rafael Benitez has solicited Spanish International & Juventus FC forward Fernando Llorente. Apparently its a top priority for Benitez who wishes a tall & agile forward to compliment with Benzema upfront & give the team extra playing options.

Same source comments that Llorente has reacted positively to the idea as his regularity at Juventus FC has been further "complicated" by the arrival of Mario Mandzukic who has similar playing characteristics, while fellow countryman & team-mate Alvaro Morata has his place secure for the time being. 

If this is true, it is not the first time that the 30 year old forward has been on the Real Madrid agenda. Before flying off to Italian Football from Athletic Club Bilbao he was closely connected with a possible transfer to Real Madrid. 

Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share

JUVENTUS FC SIGNS MARIO MANDZUKIC

News hitting the "stands" is that Spanish Club Atletico de Madrid & Italian Champions Juventus FC have shut the transfer operation of Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic. The transfer is around 18M€ minus what Atletico still owns Bayern Munich.

Mandzukic has not really fit in with the style of play of Atletico de Madrid Coach Simeone, plus the imminent expected arrival of Villarreal forward Vietto has opened the doors for the Croatian. Juventus speed up the operation once it was clear the forward Carlos Tevez was out, thus Mandzukic now competes for a place along with the two Spaniards Morata & Fernando Llorente. The latter may think about moving elsewhere himself as Llorente & Mandzukic are of a similar profile. 

Thanking  Mandzukic for his services to At. Madrid & I wish him luck.
Tweet

Share

FC BARCELONA WINS 1 - 3 JUVENTUS | CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2015

FC Barcelona wins its 5th European Cup (4th Champions League) after defeating 1 - 3 Italian Club Juventus FC in tonight's Champions League Final 2015 in Berlin. Barça again makes History winning 3 titles in one season something that was last repeated with Coach Guardiola in 2009.

Below is a team photo of the starting 11 side that latter claimed the CL title:

FC Barcelona stamped their authority very early with a 3rd min goal from Ratikic after a magnificent build up that caught the Italians by surprise. It looked at this stage that it would be a Barça whitewash but the Italians showed progressively why they made the final. Grinding away & perhaps catching out an "over confident" Barça, Juventus managed to put its Football together & create danger, especially Morata who was active.

The second half saw Juventus FC continue with its good Football & began complicating things for Barcelona. The equalizer came in the 54th min when Morata got hold of a Tevez shot deflected which put the Italians on a roll. The next 8 minutes would be the worst period for Barça as Juventus created chances but failed to convert. There was a controversial & decisive moment when Pogba was fouled by Alves in the goal square that the referee did not call penalty. It was a clear penalty , & the Italians may well be upset, but the referee also did not call a hand-ball penalty in the 1ºst half by Lichsteiner & he may well have decided to even things.

Barça then got things back under control when things were worst with a deadly counter-attack that caught Juventus bad footed. It was Luis Suarez who scored the second in the 67th min & this was a moral blow for the Italians. Juventus never really recovered from this goal as they saw how their "Golden moment" slipped by without taking full advantage of the occasion.

Juventus attempted to find the equalizer putting Fernando Llorente upfront for the long balls, but again a deadly counter-attack caught off their position the Italians & Pedro found Neymar who sealed it with the third in the 96th min. Referee then blew the end.

Xavi Hernandez later received the Champions League Cup - his 25th title - a record for Barcelona & Historical to finish his career at Barça at the highest level. 

Tweet

Share

POSSIBLE STARTING 11 LINE UPS JUVENTUS - FC BARCELONA

The big day is finally here, Saturday 6th of June,  the Champions League Final between Spanish Football Club FC Barcelona & Italian Football Club Juventus FC. While the majority of Football experts & observers see Barça as the favourites, the other talk around town is the speculated starting 11 team line-ups. Spanish Sports paper "Sport" puts forward their predictions with the following infographic. 

Possible starting 11 team line-up for FC Barcelona against Juventus:

Ter Stegen, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta, Messi, Suarez & Neymar

Possible starting 11 team line-up for Juventus against FC Barcelona:

Buffon, Lichsteiner, Bonucci, Barzagli, Evra, Pirlo, Vidal , Marchisio , Pogba, Morata & Tevez.

Game kicks off 20:45 local time & will be must not miss encounter. 
Many the better team win!


Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID 1 JUVENTUS 1 | JUVE INTO THE FINAL ON 2 - 3 AGGREGATE

Real Madrid held the UEFA Champions League Final Ticket up until the 57th min when Juventus managed to equalize & change things in their favour to later eliminate Real Madrid in tonights 2º leg semi-final match. The final 1 - 1 result gave the Italian the semi-final tie with an overall 2 - 3 aggregate total putting them up next month against FC Barcelona in the Berlin Final.

Real Madrid started with a clear objective, to score the needed goal to open up the Finals door onto Berlin. They attacked while Juventus worked to brake their advances, including a firm Buffon who was excellent tonight. 

However, the Real Madrid drive was rewarded when James Rodriguez was fouled in the square & the referee called it a penalty. Cristiano Ronaldo took the ball & scored in the 23rd min putting his team in the Final. Juventus was on the back foot & Real Madrid went looking for the second goal but failed to convert as Buffon & company held off their continual attacks.

The 2º half started as the 1º half finished with Real Madrid looking to widened the scoreline, but Football destiny was to play an ironic hand that would change the course of events for the Spanish Club. In a looped ball into the square the mix-up & fumbles put the ball in front of ex-Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata who controlled, shot & equalized for Juventus in the 57th min. Juventus were now in the final of Berlin, plus psychologically calmer because the home team needed 2 goals to qualify.

Real Madrid attempted to find the goal that could take them into extra-time. Chicharito came on for Benzema (recovered from injury) to give freshness up front but the Italians went into "defensive mode" to lock things up. Juventus are the masters in defending & were comfortable because they were also running out of "steam themselves". Real Madrid was losing on ideas,  on how to break through & the frustration set in. Goalkeeper Casillas even had to make a couple of saves to keep his team alive as the Italian still had some bit. In the end Juventus held out & eliminated Real Madrid returning to a Champions League final 12 years later.

It is obvious that congratulations are in order for the Italians & I wish them luck against Barça in the final. But from a Real Madrid point of view, there has to be some self criticism & analysis as to why the failure tonight & with the overall season (Liga & Spanish Cup) included. First in the firing line will be Coach Ancelotti & his management of players & substitutions. Secondly, the Club signing politics will be questioned as midfielders like Illaramendi & Lucas Silva have not played a role at all precisely when the "problems" were in the midfield. Coach Ancelotti preferred to put defender Ramos in the midfield & that experiment failed in Turin were Juventus won the 1 st leg match. Thirdly, Welshman Gareth Bale will be fried - perhaps unjustly - due to his poor performances in the last games, with tonight being not good at all. Some observers can't understand why Coach Ancelotti persists with Bale starting when perhaps another player could have been more productive. 

In any case, Spanish media will have their field day with Real Madrid with new & old cases being opened & debated. Will Coach Ancelotti continue next season? Will Casillas leave? Is it a good option now to sell Gareth Bale? Will Illaramendi be loaned-sold? Plus more shit will be hitting the fan...

Interesting days & weeks ahead for Real Madrid which will finish this season without any titles. And this for this Club is a failure that sits next to a complete disaster.
   Tweet

Share

POSSIBLE STARTING LINEUPS REAL MADRID - JUVENTUS FC

Which Club will join FC Barcelona in the upcoming UEFA Champions League Final in Berlin next month? This question will be decided tonight when Spanish Football Club Real Madrid hosts Italian club Juventus in the 2º leg return match of the Champions League semi-final. 

The Italian have the advantage bringing in a 2 - 1 result from the 1º leg game, & a away goal to their favour tonight could put things up hill for the Spaniards. In fact, Real Madrid will have to pull from heroics to turn this tie around & beforehand it is not at all so easy.

As habitual speculation is hot pre-match with the possible starting 11 team line-ups for Real Madrid & Juventus. The big news for the Italians is the return of the powerful & talented French midfielder Pogba who will strengthen further the Juventus midfield. It is in the center of the ground were Juventus is strongest & will be the key in their search for victory.

Real Madrid counter-strength is its forward line & they recover Frenchman Karim Benzema. This is a plus, but the squad will need the best from fellow team-mates Gareth Bale & Cristiano Ronaldo in order to be able to surpass the Juventus defence. 

The speculated lines-ups are:

REAL MADRID: Casillas, Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo (Coentrao), Kroos, Isco, James Rodriguez, Bale, Benzema & Cristiano Ronaldo

JUVENTUS: Buffon, Lichstener, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra, Pirlo, Marchisio, Pogba, Vidal, Tevez & Morata.

I do not discount a possible "surprise" from both Coaches as they may be hiding something up their sleeve. We will all know 45 mins before the kick-off time - 20.45 local.

Tweet

Share

JUVENTUS 2 REAL MADRID 1 | 1º LEG SEMI CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The Italian Club Juventus FC takes the 1º leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against the Spanish Football Club Real Madrid with a final 2-1 result. Veteran observers may explain that Juventus laid Real Madrid a trap & the latter took the bait...

As anticipated difficult stadium for Real Madrid against a more intense & determined Juventus spurred on by their devoted fans. Real Madrid was not sharp at all tonight, being very sloppy & imprecise with their Football. The "Sergio Ramos midfield Experiment" was not successful at all with Ramos out of place & giving away too many balls.

Juventus won Real Madrid in the midfield with an intense Arturo Vidal working hard all night supported by team-mate Marchisio & cool as a cucumber Pirlo. Added to all this, a concentrated Juventus defence kept out the Spaniards, while the "dynamic duo" of Tevez & Morata unsettled the Real Madrid defence. 

It was young Alvaro Morata who put Juventus ahead in the 9th min when goalie Casillas deflected a Tevez drive. Juventus culminated their intense & straight ramming opening Football with the goal prize. Real Madrid reacted & shook off the initial blows controlling the ball more while looking for the spaces. They too were rewarded in the 27th min when Cristiano Ronaldo headed a James Rodriguez looped pass from a great build up. Real Madrid created more chances thereafter but failed to convert their opportunities.

Things started better for Real Madrid in the 2º half with numerous occasions until a Marcelo shot close to the Juve goal rea rebounded off Kroos with the ball landing in the feet of the Juventus players which caught most of Real Madrid team outside their half.
The counterattack was meet with just two Real Madrid defenders beaten by pace & it ended with Carvajal fouling Tevez in the penalty area. The consequent next move was penalty & goal by Tevez in the 57th min.

With all the advantage now with the Italians they concentrated on preserving the result, forcing Real Madrid to attack & charging them again on the counter. The game turned itself into end-to-end Football with chances falling to both teams. Both Coaches made chances to freshen legs & ideas extending the action till the end. 

Juventus could have scored a third towards the end but Casillas - up till then also under a cloud - managed to save his side from a Fernando Llorente header. An opportunity that if converted could have given Juventus more than half the ticket into the Berlin Final. In the end Real Madrid resisted, lost this 1º st battle but takes a valuable away goal for the return game in Madrid next week.

The semi-final tie is still wide open with Real Madrid having the chance to "fix things" next week. However, the team has to quickly solve some issues tactically & attitude wise. Marcelo will probably be replaced by Coentrao to boost the defensive discipline, while Sergio Ramos in the midfield is not a viable option as it does not work. The Real Madrid midfield has to improve a lot more & their passing has to be a lot better. What is certain is that its going to be a thriller with Juventus full of confidence & perhaps with Pogba back to boost the center. It is still all up in the air, congratulations to Juve for their excellent match. 

Tomorrow the other Spanish Football representative FC Barcelona is on show against Bayern Munich in the other semi-final. Another top night of European Football.

Tweet

Share

JUVENTUS - REAL MADRID | POSSIBLE STARTING 11 TEAM LINE-UPS

First of the two UEFA Champions League 1º leg semi-final clashes tonight between Italian Club Juventus & Real Madrid. In my opinion & dangerous game for Real Madrid as the Italians have just proclaimed themselves "Serie A" Champions & come into the late part of the season in great form.

Real Madrid on the other hand have Modric & Benzema out with injury, Cristiano Ronaldo with some apparent back pains & their Football has not been as sharp as in the past. It is obvious that its a home & away two game semi final affair & perhaps the Spaniards will be more "cautious" tonight looking for an away goal to wrap things up back in Madrid.  

Courtesy of "Mundo Deportivo"

As usual this morning Sports media has been debating the possible starting 11 line-ups for both Real Madrid & Juventus taking all factors into consideration. Everything points that Real Madrid will again go with the "Sergio Ramos midfielder Experiment" while Juventus is undecided if they will play with 2 or 3 central defenders. Either way both them are showing each other the maximum respect & know beforehand that a slip with be costly. 

Spanish Sports paper "Mundo Deportivo" have published an infograph with their speculated starting 11 line-ups for Juventus & Real Madrid:

JUVENTUS: Buffon, Lichsteiner, Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini, Evra, Vidal, Marchisio, Pirlo, Tevez & Morata.

REAL MADRID: Casillas, Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo (Coentrao), Ramos, Kroos, Isco, James, Bale & Cristiano Ronaldo.

Juventus has a powerful & hard working midfield that Real Madrid will want to neutralise, while the Italians are weary of the offensive power of the Spanish Team.  Vertical attacking by Madrid vs a the counter-attacking Juve. Great match assured!

May the better team win tonight!

Tweet

Share

SEVILLA FC THINKS IN FERNANDO LLORENTE IF BACCA LEAVES

This news piece from Italian media, concretely "TuttoSport" is interesting. According to the cited news source, Spanish Football club Sevilla FC is thinking in Spanish & Juventus FC forward Fernando Llorente as a substitute for Carlos Bacca.

The big European Clubs are knocking on the door of Sevilla FC asking about Bacca & expressing their interest in acquiring the services of the Colombian. Sevilla FC may well take advantage of the players "popularity" & sell to fill their bank account. 

Fernando Llorente is seen as an attractive substitution for Bacca by the Sevilla Technical Team. Juventus will renew their confidence with Morata & Tevez, while PSG forward Cavani is apparently their Nº 1 signing objective for next season, leaving Llorente on a second level. The transfer price for Llorente could be around the 16-18M€ mark.

Sevilla FC will have competition if all this is true, Atletico Madrid, Tottenham & Liverpool FC are also close by checking the availability & willingness of the forward for a move. 

Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID EYES PAUL POGBA TO REPLACE KHEDIRA

Yesterday we posted that Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira may have a pre-contract with Bayern Munich for next season. Plus it was added that Real Madrid was not too happy with the behaviour of their player & will not offer a new contract even if Khedira went back with his apparent desire to stay in Spanish Football.

Real Madrid already has a replacement in mind, French International & Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. Validated by his play, plus through Real Madrid friends & National side team-mates Varane & Benzema, the Juventus player is a long time desire of the Spanish Football Club. 

The transfer operation will not be easy & the market transfer price could be extremely high, but Real Madrid has always focused on the "best players" available in World Football. Paul Pogba is young & has all the qualities to be bigger & better, Real Madrid has known this for sometime & wish to get him over to their squad.

Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share

AT MADRID OFFERS 24M€ FOR JUAN ITURBE OF HELLAS VERONA

Another Football Player name is doing the Spanish Football transfer-signing circuit, JUAN ITURBE, the Argentine 21 year old "star" of Italian Football Club Hellas Verona. According to Sports media there is a "mini-bidding war" between Spanish Club Atletico de Madrid & Italian giant Juventus FC.

The Italians offered 20M€ for the midfielder & Atletico de Madrid has responded with 24M€. The winner here is clearly Verona which bought the player for 15M€ & sees how the players value increases. 

Juan Iturbe is a talented midfielder which some have tagged as a "Lionel Messi type" player. Difficult to surpass Messi but if Iturbe is just 50% close he would be in the "TOP" bracket range & a value asset to any big European Club with serious ambitions. 

The "fight" is on, which Club will finally take Juan Iturbe? Stay tuned!
Tweet

Share

JUVENTUS FC WILL SIGN ALVARO MORATA FROM REAL MADRID CF

Spanish Sports daily "AS" advances that young Spanish International & Real Madrid CF forward ALVARO MORATA is headed to Italy, concretely JUVENTUS FC next season. The deal is said to be around a 22M€ transfer fee plus 2,2M€ extra in bonuses for "objectives". The "sticky" point between Clubs was ironed out as Juventus accepts a "buy-back" clause that Real Madrid insisted on. However, it will cost Real Madrid between 30 - 33M€ if they do decided to buy-back Morata in the future.

The player signs for the next 4 years at a salary of around 2,2M€/ season. This finally shuts the door on a group of European Clubs that had Alvaro Morata as a signing priority like Wolfsburg, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Porto, Arsenal, Liverpool FC & Villarreal. The Clubs will formalize the deal in coming days & make soon the official announcement.

The Italian Club secures one of Europe´s young promising strikers with an enormous future ahead. The lack of playing time at Real Madrid was halting the players progress & I am sure that Morata will explode at Juventus FC were he will now find fellow Spaniard Fernando Llorente who will not doubt help the youngster in his adaptation to Italian life & Calcio. A good buy by the Italians.

Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID EYES MATEO KOVACIC OF INTER MILAN

Spanish Football Club Real Madrid wants to reinforce its midfield for next season, a player with a similar profile as Xabi Alonso. Names have been published in the front pages of most Sports press such as Pogba & Arturo Vidal of Juventus FC, Ramires of Chelsea FC & Verratti of Paris St Germain. The first two have dropped in the list due to their high prices &/or Juventus does not wish to sell, familiar situation with Ramires & Varratti although the last is still possible & has not been discarded totally.  

There is a new name, 20 year old Croatian International & Inter Milan midfielder Mateo Kovacic. Spanish Sports paper "Marca" informs that Real Madrid has made an initial offer to Inter Milan between 20-25M€. The problem is that Inter considers the player a vital piece in its attempts to rejuvenate its squad. Everything indicates that it will be hard for Real Madrid, & if the player puts in a great World Cup his price will sky rocket.

Stay tuned! 

Tweet

Share

ALEXIS SANCHEZ | JUVENTUS FC & MANCHESTER UNITED INTEREST

The offices at FC Barcelona are very busy these days as the Club plans its "mini-revolution" & new look squad for next season under new Coach Luis Enrique. Everyday there are new rumours of offers & current players about to exit. 

One name is Chilean International Alexis Sanchez, which has been sounding for the last 6 months as an exit candidate. However these past weeks the "noise" has intensified as the offers appear at "Camp Barça".

The Club apparently in the front running is Italian Club Juventus FC. According to Barcelona based Spanish Sports daily "Mundo Deportivo", Juventus Coach Conte rang personally Alexis to let the Chilean know of the Clubs interest. Added, the Italian Coach assured the player that he had a spot "reserved" for him. The idea of returning to Italy & Italian Football is attractive for Alexis as his current partner is Italian & he has grand memories of his days at Italian Club Udinese.

News out today from England, "The Guardian", comments that Manchester United has entered the picture with new Coach Van Gaal soliciting the services of the winger. The English Club puts an initial price of around 25M€. Perhaps Van Gaal could talk to Alexis in the coming weeks when Holland plays Chile in the Group B game of the FIFA World Cup. 

Stay tuned for developments on this interesting transfer-signing front.

Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID EYES JUVENTUS PAIR VIDAL & POGBA ?

The big European Football - Soccer Clubs are already planning for the next season. Spanish Football Clubs are no different as FC Barcelona, Atletico de Madrid & Real Madrid CF exhibit with the daily generation of rumours & speculations that appear in the Sports press.

In the case of Real Madrid, new information is appearing after last weeks "summit" of Club President, Directives & Coach Ancelotti. The name of Liverpool FC forward Luis Suarez is a constant & looks like a priority for the Club. It has been for months & one can think a solid possibility.

The other names gaining ground, although not new at all are, Juventus players Arturo Vidal & youngster Paul Pogba. In this (both) case the young Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata could enter in a hypothetical negotiation as speculation grows that Morata will be heading Juventus way. 

The Real Madrid Directives - including President - sees Paul Pogba as a very interesting incorporation. However, "players reports" suggest a "rebellious streak" that manifests itself when he is not a regular starter. The report adds that the player manifests his disapproval with Coaching decisions turning down his intensity & commitment on-field. This apparent "attitude" is a negative point for Coach Ancelotti.

The other player, Arturo Vidal, is seen as a "Modric" with awesome physical power that has the maturity to play at Real Madrid. A "box to box" player with great skills, power & goal, this Coach Ancelotti likes more than team-mate Pogba.

Pogba has an estimated cost of around 60M€ while Vidal is estimated to be cheaper around the 50M€. Either way, the story & the speculated interest by Real Madrid is just this, rumour. I would expected that Juventus will not be too keen on losing both players to a European rival, thus the most reasonable assumption is that if a player was to come over to Spain it would be only one. Which one? 

Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share