REAL MADRID | SAHIN IS READY

REAL MADRID Coach Jose Mourinho has announced today that summer signing & Turkish International midfieder NURIN SAHIN is ready to play. This is good news for Real Madrid & all Spanish Football fans as the player comes to La Liga with the "tag" of being last years Best Player in the Bundesliga.

Sahin

The player has been pledged by injury (knee) since arriving in Spain & has been working hard to recover. Sahin is the midfielder that Mourinho wishes to support Xabi Alonso & add a more creative edge to the midfield. All observers, those from German Football & those following Real Madrid training,  back all informations that Sahin is a class act & that big things will come if he can avoid more injuries.


For now, Mourinho has called up the player into the squad that plays Osasuna tomorrow in La Liga at 12.00 midday,  & we will all have to wait & see if he gets a run. 

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REAL MADRID TEAM PHOTO 2011 | RED UNIFORM

This is an interesting REAL MADRID TEAM PHOTO taken before the start of their CHAMPIONS LEAGUE match against DYNAMO ZAGREB. Apart from highlighting the starting 11 it shows the team in their RED UNIFORM , something very unusual & maybe of value for all the Real Madrid fans around the globe whom collect images of their favourite team. I think this maybe worth conserving somewhere in your collection.

REAL MADRID 2011 TEAM PHOTO

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REAL MADRID | RECENT HISTORY OF NEW PLAYER TRANSFER INJURIES

Many at "home" are thinking it & are saying nothing, while others are simply observing a repeating phenomenon that leads one to think. What is happening with the REAL MADRID medical services, or said differently, who is assessing the Spanish Football Club when buying new players?

Prosinecki, Woodgate & Robben

REAL MADRID is acquiring the attention of the media & fans alike by the amount of players bought who get injured, or worst, already arrive injured, which lowers their productivity & Investment value. There are three famous precedents setting examples in recent Real Madrid history that should have allowed the Club to have learnt the "lesson". Croatian PROSINECKI was a multi-million transfer with "one of the Best Players in the World" tag & spent more time injured then playing - with a massive salary. Worst still was Englishman & defender WOODGATE who played a handful of games & spent seasons injured, as with Dutchman ARJEN ROBBEN playing 2 - 3 games before injuring himself to stay off the field for months, to play a few games & again stay off the field injured for months.

Sahin

History seems to be again  repeating itself. Brazilian KAKA came from Milan after the Spanish Football Club paid 67M€ (& a 10M€ salary /year) & has played a dozen or so matches with long spells injured; did he come injured from Milan? Turkish player ANTILTOP came this season from Bayern Munich & has yet to play a match as he arrived with a back problem that forced him to be operated in July. Lastly, alarm bells at Real Madrid as young Turkish star SAHIN recently bought from Dortmund has another two months of recovery after his knee ( the good one ) fell to injury . He came injured apparently & has nt been able to shake off his "knee problems".


Curious circumstances that leads to curious speculations. What is certain is that the Investments are not returning value,  & that for any "profit driven" enterprise cannot be good at all. Said this, the Clubs hasn't given any answers. 


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REAL MADRID 2 GALATASARAY 1 | 2011 SANTIAGO BERNABEU TROPHY

REAL MADRID celebrated its "Santiago Bernabeu Trophy" tonight which showcases the team to their members & fan-base before the real business of the new season kicks off. The invited Club this year was Turkish team GALATASARAY which the home team defeated 2 -1.

Karim Benzema

Both teams used the occasion to give all their players a run & some extra playing time as both continue improving their squad form. Real Madrid started with almost a "B team" ( including Callejon, Varane, Kaká, Higuain, Di Maria & Adan) & were pushed in the early part by a very serious & intense Galatasaray. So intense was the Turkish start to the match that they opened the scoring in the 10th min via INAN.

However, from here Real Madrid progressively got better & slowly began taking control of the match. Real Madrid defender SERGIO RAMOS equalized in the 33 rd min & the whole team began connecting with their play.

The second half saw more chances for both teams with Real Madrid putting on some "big guns" & currently in form names: Benzema, Ozil , Ronaldo, Carvalho...etc, & it was BENZEMA who scored the second from a precision Xabi Alonso pass in the 49th min. From here Madrid created chances & as the match went on Coach Mourinho began giving some "youngsters" a run,  like Morata, Nacho, Mandi, Alex & Mendes to showcase these players to the Real Madrid memebers.

The "bad news" for Real Madrid was the injury to Marcelo ( awaiting diagnosis) with the good news the excellent play from Xabi Alonso ( MVP) & the performance of the tiredless Coentrao. In conclusion , good game , a victory & a satisfied Real Madrid fan-base tonight.


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NEYMAR - REAL MADRID TRANSFER OPERATION COMPLICATES ITSELF

Oh my dear, how the REAL MADRID - NEYMAR "transfer operation" has complicated itself in the last 10 days. Weeks back the Spanish Football Club - the representative - the player were said to have an agreement. Real Madrid President Perez flew to Paris to meet up with SANTOS President Ribiero & things looked like being shut in matters of hours or days. But no sir, not at all, things have gone wrong & are drifting apart as the days roll on & the LIGA season 2011 - 2012 gets closer (read here post on Neymar a week back).
So what is happening?

Neymar

Real Madrid wishes to have Brazilian sensation NEYMAR now. In fact, Real Madrid Manager-Coach Mourinho & President Perez are said to have called personally to convince the player to catch a plane now. But this last action has not occured & there are reasons:

• Santos - & apparently Neymar himself - wants the player in their team to play the "Clubs World Championship" in Tokyo in December. This tournament means everything for South American Clubs , more than it would for European Club, but no less important for the latter.
• Neymar is a social phenomenon at Santos & in Brazil. The Club & its President fears a possible fan back-lash, similar to the Sergio Aguero case with Atletico de Madrid here in Spain.
• Neymar is a marketing money making machine & Santos benefits from the rights.

Therefore, Santos is proposing to Real Madrid that they allow ( if not,  they will not sell) Neymar to play the "Clubs World Championship" & have him over to Madrid in January 2012.

However, last comments from Santos President Ribiero have set off alarms. According to alleged comments made to Brazilian media "Lance" an official communication will be made & sent today/tomorrow of the NOT FOR SALE by Santos to Real Madrid. If true, & along with this a no bullshit attitude from the Brazilians, this will complicate things x 10. Santos could take Real Madrid to FIFA is the Spanish Football Club insists, or if Real Madrid goes ahead unilaterally & pays the players 45M€ contract release clause, there could be legal tangles that may complicate things even further.

Why all this now?

• Santos & its President may be looking to inflate further the transfer price.
• Santos does in fact wish sincerely Neymar with them in the "Clubs World Championship" & are pressuring all they can.
• The player himself, Neymar, may be "scared" to make the jump to Europe. In Brazil he is the biggest thing since sliced bread right now, a teen idiol,  & lets not forget that Neymar is precisely this, a 19 year old kid.
  

But there may be a more "sinister" element in all this & it is my speculation without any proof at all because I am not a professional Sports journalist, but some who are have insinuated the following:

• FC Barcelona President Rosell is very well connected to Brazilian Football. It comes back from his "old days" as Brazilian President of a Sportwear multi-national. The Barça President was invited by the Brazilian Federation to attend the "Copa America" & was even invited to travel to a game along with the Brazilian National Team. Some "tongues" mention that Barça President Rosell ate with Santos President & the father of Neymar.
• The alleged conversation ( no proof can be given) may have gone along theses lines; Barcelona accepts Neymar stays another year at Santos - thus plays the "Clubs World Championship" - & would make a formal offer for the player at the end of the season. Barcelona has not enough funds now but will have in 2012 to shut the operation.

Now I don´t really give much weight to this last "conspiracy theory" because if it were true it would cause a big explosive conflict between Real Madrid & FC Barcelona & with the "personal relationship" of both Club Presidents. However, I don´t doubt that Santos is certainly using this "threat" to force Real Madrid to give in to their desires.

Meanwhile , RONALDO ( ex-Real Madrid Brazilian star) is attempting to mediate & convince Neymar to go now to Real Madrid, & the lastest news is that Real Madrid may send an ultimatum this week to the player as the Spanish Football Club is feed-up with the attitude of both player & his Club. Thus things continue & are tense...

Now I ask myself to finish, would it have been better to have signed SERGIO AGUERO? Once the option of Aguero was totally discarded , Neymar & Santos won in bargaining strength & now have Real Madrid by the "balls". Imagine Real Madrid starting 2011-2012 season without Neymar? Its possible & ALDEBAYOR is the option & only for 5M€

Stay tuned folks!
 

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REAL MADRID PRE - SEASON 2011 SUMMER WORLD TOUR

Real Madrid 2011
SPANISH FOOTBALL Club REAL MADRID started on Monday ( yesterday ) their pre-season & flew off immediately to Los Angeles (USA) to begin their training sessions . Four players stayed back in Madrid that indicate the Coach Jose Mourinho does not count with them for 2011-2012; Pedro Leon, Sergio Canales (also with U-20 Spain duties), Drenthe & Lass Diarra.

Said this what it also signals is an intense couple of weeks of Friendly games & travelling that the actual Club has called the Real Madrid World Tour 2011. The Club Marketing Department has whipped up this video below to advertise their upcoming Friedly matches in the US , Europe & in Asia (China).

Although the video is a bit pretentious & at times "over the top", it is true to the marketing  policy of the Club & does do its work in informing fans across the World about dates & cities that the Spanish Football Club will be attending. With this last bit in mind & knowing that this site receives a big number of readers from USA & China I though I put on the video as an informative piece. Hope the team lands soon in your city.

For the FC Barcelona fans their team starts pre-season next Monday.
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REAL MADRID 2011 | ZINEDINE ZIDANE NEW FOOTBALL DIRECTOR OF THE A-TEAM

Real Madrid 
One of World Football greats, ex Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus & REAL MADRID player, Frenchman ZINEDINE ZIDANE made the public announcement today that he will be the new FOOTBALL DIRECTOR of the REAL MADRID first team as off next Monday. The Frenchman was up till now personal advisor to Club President Florentino Perez & will now add to his responsibilities the Football "matters" of the A-Team.

Zidane

Zinedine Zidane will be the "bridge" between the Club & the players & the "funnel" in the relationships between players, media & the public. A logical move that find synergies within the Club structure, an Institutional profile boost in prestige & image & a marketing bonanza that will extend the "Real Madrid" brand further around the World.

Zidane mentioned in his announcement that Coach Mourinho was a determining factor in his decision with President Florentino Perez being the final "heavy-weight" to convince the  ex player into taking up the position.

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REAL MADRID 2011 | MOURINHO THINKING IN MAKING TEAM CAPTAIN AN ON-FIELD PLAYER ?

Real Madrid
Spanish Football Sports paper "Marca" publish today an interesting article that should interest REAL MADRID fans & no doubt people within the Clubs dressing-room. According to the Sports paper Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho is planning to make a strategic decison for next season by allocating the "Captains armband" away from current Captain goalkeeper IKER CASILLAS onto an on-field player.

This is a theory that has been around for sometime in Football. Many Coaches believe that the team Captain is more useful & effective participating directly on the field instead of watch the action from the goal posts. For example, the only player that can really "argue " a referee decision is the Captain, & if your 60 mts away from the action little you can do to pressure decisions.

Iker Casillas

The decision to "take away" the Captains armband from Casillas is delicate & risky, thus José Mourinho will have to use all his diplomatic skills, place firm & solid arguments so as not to ruffle feathers. Which raises the question: who would best be placed to be the "on-field" Captain? Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso or Sergio Ramos?

Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso & Sergio Ramos

Without knowing anything about the insides of the Real Madrid Club,  & as a simple observer from afar, I would think XABI ALONSO would be the ideal consensus candidate. Xabi Alonso has a certain "neutral" profile & has the sufficient personality & leadership qualities that may well avoid controversial debates & dress-room bad feeling. I say this if José Mourinho does finally put into practice want has been reported today in the Sports paper.

Who would you give the armband too, & why?

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REAL MADRID 2011 | ANYONE KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH KAKA?

I am certain that you like myself are baffled or at least curious with what is going on with REAL MADRID Brazilian midfielder KAKÁ. The player has virtually "disappeared" from the Football Planet since his Coach Mourinho announced in a press confrence that Kaka was "dropped" from the squad & would only return we the player thought he was in condition to give his maximum. Since then "puff", disappeared as smoke.

Kaká

The truth is that there is a lot of secretism & mystery surrounding the player. No one really knows what is occuring. But the most significant news - or spectulation - coming out in the local Spanish Sports press is that some doctors are suggesting that he get his knee operated again. If this were true & this was in fact the only logical solution the mental blow to Kaká would be immense. This would practically mean another 4-6 months of recuperation.

There is another opinion - or again speculation - that Kaká has his sporting difficulties in his head. They suspect its psychosemantic - again speculate - & that the player does not feel up to it on the field in order to give his 100%, that his pains in the knee are mind induced.

Said all this , we can only guide ourselves with what we are allowed to see, that is, his last on field match performances. What I saw was a slightly overweight player, with loss of muscle in the leg area & very, very slow in movement. It was not the Kaka we all have seen in AC Milan & that fascinated the World.

I hope that the Brazilian gets back soon, simply for the good of Football. The rumour is however that the shadow of surgery is looming, I hope that can be avoided.
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REAL MADRID 2011 | MESUT OZIL

Spanish Sports paper "AS" has given prime space on todays edition to REAL MADRID 22 year old German midfielder MESUT OZIL, & rightly so i my opinion. The youngster has settled in nicely to Spanish Football & with his team to cement himself a place in the squad. The player is important & has the full confidence of his Coach Mourinho, his team-mates & the difficult to please "Santiago Bernabeu" Stadium Club members & fans.


Ozil has skill, change of pace & most importantly global vision of the game which allows him to almost always make the correct choice of action. His quick thinking is only compatible to the great Football players & some have began to make comparisons with the great Zidedine Zidane. Premature in my opinion, but Ozil is still evolving & maturing & can any get better with the years.

Ozil for Real Madrid

The Spanish paper gives us some figures that I thought were interesting & that you may wish to know:

• Has given 10 assistances that have ended in goal. However he has given 83 passes that were not converted by others in a goal. If we add the Spanish Cup & Champions we would need to added 4 mores goal assists to his name.
• He has scored 6 goals in La Liga, 3 goals in the Spanish Cup & a goal in Champions
• 29 shots directly at goal, including 7 free-kicks of which one was a goal
• Touches the ball on average every 1,88 minutes. He has been active in 33 plays that ended as a goal - 5 in a penalty with him fouled. Plus involved in 237 actions that ended in direct shot at goal
• Played 29 Liga matches - 3.169 minutes

As we can see an important player in the current Real Madrid squad & a reason why great midfielders like Kaka (although with injury problems) , Granero, Canales, Pedro Leon ...must wait their turn.

Mesut Ozil, alias "Football Crack".

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REAL MADRID 3 OLYMPIQUE 0 ( 4 - 1 AGG) | CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULT

It has been six years being knocked out at this stage of the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE with the French team Lyon being the "boogy" team in the last years. However, the "dark spell" was broken tonight with a victory by REAL MADRID CF 3 - 0 over OLYMPIQUE DE LYON thus winning 4 - 1 on overall aggregate. With this result Real Madrid goes into the Q/Finals of Champions League were it will soon know its next rival after UEFA celebrates the draw next Friday. 

Marcelo scores for Real Madrid CF:reuters

Real Madrid started with Cristiano Ronaldo & were dangerous from the beginning with clear chances that put the French team on defensive guard. Lyon goalie Lloris stopped some great shots & would later be working hard as the game went on. However the French team grew in confidence & put Real Madrid through 20 min of its worst Football as they managed to change the tide.

Then in the 32nd min a crucial point in the game occurred when Xabi recovered a ball in the midfield & found MARCELO who 1-2 touched with Ronaldo a then scored the opener to bring some ease back into the Spanish team which was suffering.

Karim Benzema back on target:reuters

The second half was to be Real Madrid which went after the match with sporadic danger from the French especially from Gomis who was a menace all night. With Real Madrid on a roll, KARIM BENZEMA took advantage of a loose Lyon defence & scored in the 65th min to set his team on course. The French forward has radically transformed himself from a timid, ineffective & questioned player into a regular goal scorer that is finally showing his true class.  Real Madrid continued with its good play & the third came via a Ozil passing header that found DI MARIA who chipped over Lyon goalkeeper Lloris to seal the qualification & the Spanish victory.

Lyon had some occasions later on via Gomis to pull a consolation goal but Casillas & the Real Madrid defence kept the opponents score-sheet clean.

Special mention to Marcelo, Carvalho, Ozil , Xabi & Benzema for their excellent play for Real Madrid & goalie Lloris & Gomis for Lyon who both were outstanding for the French side.

In conclusion, a great night for Spanish Football & for Real Madrid which manages to break the last 16 barrier & at least get back into the Top 8 European Clubs. Now its up to them to continue forward on the Champions League road & onto the Final at Wembley (London) with fellow Spanish Football Club FC Barcelona.

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