REAL MADRID | TRANSFER NEWS - GOSSIP FOR SEASON 2013-2014

Spanish Sports paper "Marca" has put on its front cover today a story titled "The plans of Florentino" discussing the wishes & possible signing targets the Real Madrid CF has for next season 2013 - 2014.

With the above image courtesy of the Spanish paper, they speculate that President Florentino & Real Madrid will be going for: Neymar, Lewandowski, Bale, Isco, Carvajal & Casemiro. 

Studying other sources & International press Real Madrid can basically forget about the first two:

• Neymar will finally end up in FC Barcelona, this is what the player desires & has signed a pre-agreement to this effect. What Real Madrid has managed to do is "stick it up" Barça by lifting the initial transfer offer from 40 to 60 M€ just by their "interference". One can say that indirectly Real Madrid has been strategically successful.
• Lewandowski will go to Bayern Munich, this is the wish & desire of the Polish forward. Real Madrid can forget this option,  & now have Napoles Cavani as their main striker target.

The rest are still open:

• According to UK press, Real Madrid will make an initial 50M€ to Tottenham Hotspurs for Gareth Bale & offer a player to chose from; Higuain, Di Maria, Coentrao, Pepe etc. This will be a very difficult operation & will go on all summer. We need to watch how it all develops.
• Malaga FC has priced its midfielder Isco at 35M€. Negotiations will continue.
• Carvajal is an option but it ain´t too clear. The next new Coach ( Carlo Ancelotti ) will have a big say here.
• Cashemiro looks set to stay at Real Madrid. The Brazilian has given good sensations & his price is 6M€ that Sao Paolo will receive in the operation.

There are more names floating around & as always a "surprise" will arise in coming weeks or months , but this is how it is for now. It may change tomorrow & I have no doubt that it will.

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SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM | ARBELOA - PIQUE OPEN UP CLUB WOUNDS AGAINST FINLAND ?

It is the national Sport in Spain - not Football | Soccer - to forget the past & the achievements quickly & criticise the failures in the present. The draw 1 - 1 by Spain with Finland has been received as a defeat by some observers & of course has unleashed the wagging tongues of criticism.

My intention is not to participate, but will inform on stories coming out today that highlight the discussion between Spanish International defenders Alvaro Arbeloa & Gerard Pique after the Finnish equalizer by Pukki in the 78th min.

The TV images show conversation, but the press today expose a heated argument. Alvaro Arbeloa was certainly not at his best with his coverage or "coordinated" in the Finnish equalizer, this is visible. However, Pique reprimanded Alvaro & apparently placed the error & the cause of the goal on the shoulders of Arbeloa . The discussion is written was "heated". 

This has lead some to highlight that the "rivalry & wounds" of the Real Madrid & FC Barcelona "clasicos" are still open & there exists a delicate balance at the National Team. Past stories from media say that Arbeloa, along with Xabi Alonso, are not to well regarded by the FC Barcelona players, after the two mentioned - according to the Barça players - showed excessive physical play & words during the numerous head-to-head Real Madrid - Barça clashes.

If this is true Coach del Bosque will have some work to do. Although I do think that the "on field interchange of opinions" is an habitual exchange between defenders of any team & under the circumstances,  of seeing how a clear victory slipped through the Spanish fingers, perhaps emotional. Arbeloa could have done more, or should have been more alert, but looked at closely, it is a collective defensive & team relaxation.  Experience shows that the Spanish National Team suffers theses late match lapses, perhaps this is the area that needs a rethink & solution.

Now the objective is France next Tuesday. To achieve it, Club rivalries must be put aside for the good of the collective, or else, if what some highlight is true, there will be difficulties for Spain in Paris.

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THE REAL REASONS GUARDIOLA LEFT FC BARCELONA

Eurosport has published on their online edition the “real” reasons why the now Bayern Munich Coach Josep Guardiola left his position at FC Barcelona. Nothing new for many observers but more evidence to the suspicions of which some maybe surprising. Here is the list of the main motives.

• Guardiola has an excellent relationship with ex Barça President Joan Laporta. The current Directive under President Sandro Rosell took Joan Laporta to the legal court which is something Guardiola asked not be done as it risked creating splits within the Club.

• Guardiola was not happy with the performance or attitudes of some players. In this particular case two stand out in Gerard Pique & Cesc Fabregas. Guardiola asked that Club find these two players alternatives somewhere else. The Club refused to contemplate this option. The father of Pique is an influential Club member & Cesc Fabregas had cost the Club 40M€. By the way Dani Alves was another player questioned by Guardiola.

• Guardiola kept firm control over everything including his players. There are accounts of “spying” on players to keep control over there extra-sporting activities (their private lives). One of those – apart from others already mentioned – was Lionel Messi.
• No to Neymar. Josep Guardiola (& Tito Vilanova) did not see the need of Neymar in the current Barça set-up. Apart they felt that the young Brazilian is to extroverted with an erratic behaviour off the field to allow for a 100% concentrated on Football attitude. Neymar is a President Rosell whim. 

With these four main motives Guardiola decided to say goodbye to FC Barcelona. What also surprised the ex-Barça Coach was the decision of Vilanova to continue & take over the coaching position. For Vilanova the opportunity was an obvious chance to come out of the shadow of Pep & make space for himself as a first rate coach in his own right. A difficult decision taken for the man that seemed logical at the time & needs to be respected.

No doubt this is just the tip of the iceberg. I have a feeling there are more juicy pieces still to make the light of day.

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GUARDIOLA AWAITS FERGUSON TO TAKE OVER AT MANCHESTER UNITED ?

Spanish Sports daily´s have picked up on the news from UK paper "The Daily Star Sunday" which speculates that the future of Spanish & ex-FC Barcelona Coach JOSEP GUARDIOLA is in the English Premier League, concretely at MANCHSETER UNITED. The sources report that Guardiola has already said no to Manchester City where two high level Directives of Barcelona during his spell now pull the Executive strings at City.

Apparently Guardiola & current Coach Alex Ferguson have already seen each other up to three times in New York ( USA ) where both own properties & Guardiola is currently living. The Catalan will await the final decision by Ferguson to whether he retires at the end of the season, if not Guardiola is willing to wait another season if Ferguson decides to continue one more year.

The requests of Guardiola are a three year contract, two assistants & three new trainers for the Manchester United junior levels.  


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SPANISH FOOTBALL | REAL MADRID - CR7 - FALCAO - BALE | MUSICAL CHAIRS

Seems some players & Football Clubs have already started their particular game of musical chairs. REAL MADRID CF & CRISTIANO RONALDO are dancing, while it seems French Club PARIS ST GERMAIN has joined in. The sounds of the music has attracted ATLETICO DE MADRID via its star player FALCAO & in the distance GARETH BALE of TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS may soon be dancing. Seven players & only six chairs.

Falcao-Ronaldo

CRISTIANO RONALDO wants a pay rise to 18M€ / year & he wishes to recover 100% of his image rights - currently Real Madrid owns 50%. Speculation has it the REAL MADRID has offered 14M€ & has said no to returning their 50% of image rights. Here is the crux of all the rumour & satellite ideas. Obviously we are witnessing a negotiation tussle of galactic proportions & each side is manoeuvring to win leverage.

Cristiano Ronaldo via his representative Jorge Mendes is flirting with PARIS ST GERMAIN & to which Itaian paper "La Gazzetta dello Sport" announced that PSG has offered 18M€ / year salary to CR7, 100% image rights to the Portuguese & will be willing to pay 100M€ in transfer. PSG has announced this is totally false, as they should as it goes against FIFA rules, but journalists have caught Mendes in Monaco with PSG representatives weeks back.

Real Madrid has let "known" that they are thinking about whether or not to renew their contract with Cristiano Ronaldo. But here is the other news, if in fact PSG does pay 100M€ for CR7, Real would use the money to buy FALCAO from Atletico de Madrid & GARETH BALE for Tottenham Hotspurs.

In the middle is Fooball representative Jorge Mendes, who controls Cristiano Ronaldo, Falcao & Coach Jose Mourinho. This last, is also involved as it was rumoured that Mourinho may join CR7 at PSG if the forward left Real Madrid. 

True or false, it all sounds to me that each ( CR7 - Real Madrid ) is distorting the truth & the news to find a bargaining advantage in their personal negotiation tussle. I think that CR7 is comfortable at Real Madrid as long as he has the right conditions, while Real Madrid does not wish to lose an exception & unique goal scoring machine like Ronaldo.

However, this is my hunch, REAL MADRID & FALCAO is a very insistent & continuing "love affair". Independent of the Ronaldo negotiations, I do see at this moment Falcao closer to Real Madrid for next season, more than ever & compatible with Ronaldo on the wing.

Stay tuned.

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WHY PEP GUARDIOLA LEFT FC BARCELONA | TRUE ?

Many suspected something similar, but today comments from Football representative Francois Gallardo to media added more to the rumours.

One of the main reasons Pep Guardiola left FC BARCELONA is because the Club - via President Rosell - refused to accept one of his prime demands to continue training Barça: to sell Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique, Dani Alves & David Villa. The Club refused because they feared a fan base backlash, thus Guardiola said goodbye. 

Guardiola-Cesc Fabregas

In the case of Pique & Alves, Guardiola felt they lacked compromise with the Club & his proyect. With Cesc Fabregas he felt fraud as the player he helped sign & return to Barcelona failed him as a person ( perhaps lack of discipline ). The case of David Villa is solely Sporting as in the scheme of Guardiola´s field settings & team structure Villa was out of place.
Interesting insight indeed.
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REAL MADRID | THE "MOURINHO - RAMOS SPLIT" FEATURING OZIL

Just when the CRISTIANO RONALDO "I am sad" episode faded & past away, REAL MADRID has a new "intriging" situation on its hands, the Coach Jose Mourinho  vs. SERGIO RAMOS arm wrestle for who has the "biggest balls" in town.  I say this intentionally with some humour as the Spanish Sports media is have a field day & loving this with all sorts of inside & first hand detail scoops. 

Sergio Ramos - underneath Nº10

This is the last photo that has set the forest on fire. It is SERGIO RAMOS defending in the second half against Deportivo last Sunday. So what's the deal ? See the number 10 under the Nº4 , that Ozil shirt. The German midfielder was blasted by Mourinho in the first half for not following tactical duties & was consequently substituted. The Football observers  interpret that Ramos had it ready to show off in celebration if he scored a goal in tribute to Ozil & in doing so send a  "stick it up your ass" message to Mourinho. Twisted minds perhaps?

The media impact since has been so intense about a riff in the dressing room being so wide that Ramos went out on his Twitter today to say that he has a.. " good, correct & professional relationship with his Coach who is the Best".  He explained he wore the shirt of Ozil as a innocent sign of his friendship with Ozil to dedicate him a goal if successful in scoring one.

Lets back track. Everything occurred when Ramos was left on the bench against Manchester City in their first Champions' League Group match. This was interpreted as a punishment for his defensive mistakes against Sevilla in Liga & public comments that went against the "Mourinho One Message Doctrine" (His) . Sergio Ramos apparently feels discriminated as he is always chosen as the culprit when things go wrong, & worst, Mourinho points him out publically.

The tension eased & Ramos was back in his defensive position. On Sunday  he was placed in the right  -back position surprise for Ramos who wasn't expecting it . This was interpreted as a Mourinho reminder of... "who is the boss", to which Ramos reacted with the Nº10 shirt gesture-stunt  & post-match comments of "I´ll always say what I have to say".

All these chained events has lead to many influential Football insiders to write & say that the split between Coach Mourinho & Sergio Ramos cannot  at this moment be saved, that it's a case of ..."or he goes or I go".  Sergio Ramos is the "pretty boy" of Real Madrid President Florentino Perez  &  has indirectly let known that he will leave at the end of the season if Mourinho continues. What is baffling Ramos is that Perez hasn't made an opinion on all this yet & seems to favor Mourinho,  but the Real Madrid Directives are more concerned about a different matter, that this tug -of- war could rip the dressing room apart. 

There are stories, I myself posted here a couple of days back, that there are two clans in the Real Madrid dressing room: the Spaniards & the Portuguese. Ramos belongs to the first & seems to have taken onto himself to defend their "cause" waving the flag.
Either way, when you rationally look at it, it's all childish stuff.  What is a truth is that whatever the story is or whatever has happen or been said, Sergio Ramos is wrong.  A Football professional when put on the bench must respect his team-mate who has been given a run & bury his self-interest for good of the team. The decisions of the Coach, independently who he is must be respected & be defended even if one does not agree. It is simply called being a professional, a Club team-mate & member. I my opinion Sergio Ramos has to shut up, play better & prove his arguement on the field . The player is playing a dangerous game that could burn him & worst, hurt the whole team & possibly ruin the season. 

This makes tomorrows Champions League match against Ajax interesting. What if Mourinho leave Ramos on the bench?  Will this be interpreted as the old, "my dick is bigger than yours" tactic. What then?

All this days away from the "Clasico" vs FC Barcelona in La Liga. A vital game, not only for the points which are important for Real Madrid´s Liga title aspirations but the effect a win or loss could have on the apparent  Ramos - Mourinho conflict.  A win will strength Mourinho & also eclipse Ramos & his efforts to destabilize his Coach. However a loss will give Ramos ammunition & this could lead to an explosion. However, lets not jump the gun & wait to see how things turnout. 

Either way the Football fans will be in for a treat this season in potentially entertaining Real Madrid stories. There are plenty of more dramatic episodes awaiting to go live on air:  Iker Casillas vs Mourinho, Albiol vs Varane,  Casillas vs Ronaldo, Higuain Vs Benzema, Ozil Vs Modric ...entertaining guaranteed.

Meanwhile, it is said that CHELSEA FC is watching closely to see what happens with Ramos  in order to attempt to convince that London maybe a better place next season. Said this, imagine if Ramos goes over to Chelsea & later Mourinho returns to the London Club. Would be hilarious indeed.

Stay tuned. 

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GUARDIOLA SET TO LEAVE FC BARCELONA ?

Hot rumour coming out of Spanish Sports media tonight is that FC BARCELONA Coach JOSEP GUARDIOLA will announce his departure at the end of the season. REPEAT, it is only a rumour, but a hot one at that hitting the "airwaves"

Pep Guardiola

The Coach wishes to communicate his decision to his players tomorrow & then will give a Press Conference to drop "the bomb". The man is mentally exhausted after 4 season at the maximum level of Football.


The other news is that Guardiola would love to Coach & Manage the ENGLAND FOOTBALL SQUAD & there could be a pre-agreement with the English FA, although I cannot verify this at all. This & another rumour that MANCHESTER CITY has made an offer to get the Spanish Coach over next season.

Stay tuned, the rumours will be verified or dismissed tomorrow mid-day.



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RUMOUR | JOSE MOURINHO TO LEAVE REAL MADRID END OF SEASON

A high rating & daily late night SPANISH FOOTBALL programme dropped the bomb live on air. At around 02.00 ( very late night ) a regular - staff journalist in middle of a debate on JOSE MOURINHO & the supposed crisis within his dressing room with some players, received a call & was informed by an "unknown source" the news.

Jose Mourinho has it decided that he will LEAVE Real Madrid at the end of this season , 30th of June. Win or not win a title. Apparently the Coach has had enough of some attitudes. 


Before getting excited, or depressed, this is not the first time Mourinho has threatened to leave the Club. 

José Mourinho

The reasons are varied but apparently their are three main ones: the Spanish Sports media which has hammered the man since his arrival, the Club itself which he feels does not defend his work enough against his, & the Clubs,  enemies & some players themselves that have "filtered" sacred dressing room conversations to press that show less than a professional attitude & manners. This last area has defender Sergio Ramos & goalie Casillas under the spot light , but the "rat" could be anyone from another player, Club workers or Club Directives.


This all could be a tactic to motivate the side & the Club, for the upcoming 2º leg Spanish Club match against FC Barcelona to attempt make a heroic comeback from the 1º leg 1 -2 result. This could be a threat to force the Club to bring to light the "rat"... it could be anything & it could be entirely false.


What is a fact,  is that  Mourinho has won many enemies while in Spain, many influential enemies with friends in "important places" who are waiting in the "shadows" to deliver their revenge. Mourinho feels unsupported, alone against the World & the only person truly carrying the Real Madrid flag into battle. The Coach believes that if the Club, the fans & the players are not happy with him & his work that he has not place or motive to stay any longer.

This news will spark off rumours in England, where the name MANCHESTER CITY is sounding & Mourinho to substitute Mancini.

Stay tuned...more in coming days & months.
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ITALIAN PRESS GIVES FC BARCELONA PLAYER ANDRES INIESTA THE FIFA GOLDEN BALL 2010

Last Friday I posted ( see below ) news from Barcelona Sports paper "Mundo Deportivo" that mentioned that FC Barcelona midfielder XAVI HERNANDEZ would be the winner of the 2010 FIFA Golden Ball Award according to a survey done to 75 Football personalities. The second place was for team-mates Andres Iniesta & third place for Lionel Messi. The interesting news was that Inter Milan player Wesley Sneijder was not mentioned as being in the Top 3. 

This time we get news from Italy via "La Gazzette Sportiva" which assures that they have inside information that gives ANDRES INIESTA as the winner of the FIFA Golden Ball 2010, with team-mates Xavi Hernandez second & Lionel Messi third. The Italian press also places Inter Milan player Wesley Sneijder out of the Top 3.

Iniesta scores Spains winning goal in the
World Cup Final 2010

This is pure speculation until tomorrow when FIFA announces the three candidates that will be considered when FIFA makes public the Golden Ball Winner the 8th of January 2011. Only thing certain tomorrow will be if Messi or Sneijder male the Top 3 cut, & the winner will still be an unknown until 2011. Tweet

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SEGIO CANALES MAY GO ON LOAN TO RACING DE SANTANDER IN WINTER MARKET

According to Spanish radio “Onda Cero”, young REAL MADRID & Spanish U-21 International player SERGIO CANALES may see himself back at his old Club Racing de Santander in the Winter Market period. The operation would be a loan & thus guarantee that Canales receives playing time which is something that he is not achieving at this moment with Real Madrid.

Soccer player Sergio Caneles with Real Madrid

German International Mesut Ozil has made himself with a permanent spot in the Real Madrid midfield & it is expected that Brazilian star KAKA will be fully recovered in January to also fight for the same playing position. These two names make it difficult for young Canales to have a regular run & thus Real Madrid prefer him to go on loan to Racing where he would play each match & keep his Football progression in line.

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REAL MADRID: RAFAEL BENITEZ AGAIN IN MIND?

The Olympique Lyon Champions League 1-0 defeat has put REAL
MADRID Coach PELLEGRINI on the ropes again. There is a sense
within the "noble" sector of the Club that the man doesn´t understand
the Real winning mentality, that Pellegrini is "afraid" tactically, does
not know were to place his star players yet alone who & that he
continues to make "Infantile" line-up errors that is degrading the Real
Madrid reputation & prestige.

Dirty rumour, speculation & "bad tongues" are saying that Pellegrini will
be ceased at the end of this season. Spanish sports daily "Marca" has
even insinuated that Real Madrid has "asked" Inter Milan Coach Jose
Mourinho his thoughts. However, SFS doubts very much the "Mourinho
Solution" has any weight as Mourinho is not wished at all by the Real
Madrid Top Directives (at least this is what they say)

So who could be a possible choice & solution?

(photo: Rafael Benitez)














Those same "bad tongues" have let loose the name of Liverpool FC
Coach RAFAEL BENITEZ as a viable option. The only difficulty here
is the rumoured "bad relation" with current Club Diretor-General
Jorge Valdano, but the relationship with President Florentino Perez
said to be excellent & this has more weight than the former.

SFS is sure that even Benitez does not know anything about this idea,
that it´s a local "creation" by interested "agents" & it is pure rumour,
but the news is gaining strenght that at least it is being thought about
& being studied.

Like to know your thoughts; do you think this is true & if it is a
good idea? Tweet

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REAL MADRID TALKING WITH JOSE MOURINHO?

Spanish daily "Marca" can be sensationalist or way ahead of its
times, it hard to figure, but what is certain is that the big clubs
use the paper as a vehicle to send messages to their own teams
& in accord with their personal interests. Common universal practice.
Today the paper publishes that REAL MADRID has been in contact
with JOSE MOURINHO & that the club may have lost confidence
with its current coach Bernd Schuster.























It´s no secret that Mourinho wishes to come back & coach either
in Spain or Italy, & his visit this week to promote sporting wear
has sparked speculations. The rumours say that talks began when
Fc Barcelona closed the gap to 2ºpoints in the "Liga" competition,
& President Calderon comments "...I want to keep on confiding on
Schuster", may be a hint.

Mourinho has all the cards, various coaches are on a fineline in
Europe : Schuster, Rijkaard, Anceloti...& the best offer will take the
in demand coach.

Back to Schuster, this story could be an elaborate plan to "motivate"
the Real Madrid coach into action. If he wins the Spanish League it
will give him greater credibility & strenght to continue, if not ,
his future looks dim.

But winning this is´nt a sure thing, is´nt it! Fabio Capello won the
League last year & look what happened. Stay tuned! Tweet

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