300,000 euros for Iker Casillas' shirt

Iker Casillas continues his triumphant journey through China. The goalkeeper is a national hero, the most followed, who is starting the news in the country, who goes on every cover. They want him to be a guest at official events. They consider Casillas the most friendly visit and taught him wherever he goes.

Yesterday, he attended a charity dinner in Beijing where they were auctioned off several pieces of goalkeeper and balls signed by him. The amazing thing about the auction was a person invited to the dinner who paid 300,000 euros by a lot of things formed by the Real Madrid goalkeeper's shirt, gloves and a ball. The captain was the most surprised when he saw the price reached his jersey. Had never happened him something like that.

Iker Casillas at the charity dinner

A lot of money that will go to the Next Generation Foundation, which is dedicated to raising money to promote the sport and improve early childhood education indisadvantaged areas of China. In addition to the millionaire batch, also were auctioned a Spanish jersey signed by the international Spanish world champions, a Jabulani ball, the Adidas official ball for the World Cup 2010, and another Casillas's jersey of the Spanish national team.

Besides the acts to which he attends every day, the captain of Real Madrid goes to sightseeing with his girlfriend Sara Carbonero and his agent Carlo Cutropia. This is his third trip to China, but had always been with the team and never had time to visit the most emblematic of the country. On Wednesday, he was seeing the Forbidden City and yesterday, first thing in the morning, wanted to move to the Great Wall of China.

Today, on his last day in China, is scheduled he visits a football school at the heart of Beijing and meets with one hundred children who would like to be goalkeepers. This is the main act of the week. Then, Casillas will fly to Madrid because the preseason begins.

Zidane: Director of football of the Real Madrid first squad

Zinedine Zidane, who until now held the position of adviser to the Real Madrid president said that he is "Director of football of the first team". In his decision says that "Mourinho has influenced but Florentino more". These statements were made ​​in the charity game organized by the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Mourinho and Zidane

On the tasks that he will assume has not been very specific: "We will see. Everyone asks me the same thing, but I will be there from next Monday until the end of season", he said.

Also, the former player talked about the signing of Varane: "He has a tremendous future, it is good to go so young to Real Madrid. The coach thinks he is good for the team so he is signed. He has the ability to play on this team. Although there are very good defenses as Ramos, Carvalho... Raphael can help and be a starter in the future".

As for the name of the summer, Neymar, Zidane said: "He looks a lot like Robinho but is better because he has a little more instinct to the goal". "He's a player who may be interesting to Real Madrid", he added. Also, understand that Barcelona was interested in taking the services of Brazilian: "It is natural because all teams want him. The season begins Monday and will see what the club decides. The decision will be quietly. We have to go step by step" .

Note: Garay transferred to Benfica

Ezequiel Garay has been transferred this morning to Benfica by 5.5 million euro. Real Madrid keeps 50% of any subsequent transfer made ​​by the Portuguese side. Garay, who is playing the Copa America, will not join his new teammates until the end of the tournament.

Real Madrid have made ​​clear that this transfer is not part of the 'Coentrao operation', but all negotiations began at the same time, what can be understood that the proceeds from the sale of Garay has been used to pay the signing of Portuguese defender.

Real Madrid: Spanish League 2011-2012 Schedule

Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid's Director of Institutional Relations, shared his view on the 2011/12 La Liga draw. During the General Assembly, he was presented with the Pedro Zaballa Fair Play award as acknowledgement of Real Madrid's charitable gesture towards victims of the May 11 Lorca earthquake (the team played a benefit match in Murcia whose proceeds were invested in aid for the victims).

"Our calendar is difficult from day one because we will face great opponents. We have a fantastic squad and our reinforcements improve on it even more. It's important to meet the fans' expectations and achieve our targets".

In reference to the possibility of rescheduling the December 11 match Real Madrid vs Barcelona due to the FIFA Club World Cup, he commented: "December is a long way away and we will see what happens. A rescheduling would not be a problem. I do believe that playing the first Classic of the League at the Bernabeu is something new in recent years".

REAL MADRID: LA LIGA 2011/12 SCHEDULE

1st ROUND

1. Real Madrid - Athletic Bilbao (08/21/11)

2. Zaragoza - Real Madrid (08/28/11)

3. Real Madrid - Getafe (09/11/11)

4. Levante - Real Madrid (09/18/11)

5. Racing Santander - Real Madrid (09/21/11)

6. Real Madrid - Rayo Vallecano (09/25/11)

7. Espanyol - Real Madrid (10/02/11)

8. Real Madrid - Betis (10/16/11)

9. Malaga - Real Madrid (10/23/11)

10. Real Madrid - Villarreal (10/26/11)

11. Real Sociedad - Real Madrid (10/30/11)

12. Real Madrid - Osasuna (11/06/11)

13. Valencia - Real Madrid (11/20/11)

14. Real Madrid - Atletico Madrid (11/27/11)

15. Sporting Gijon - Real Madrid (12/04/11)

16. Real Madrid - Barcelona (12/11/11)

17. Sevilla - Real Madrid (12/18/11)

18. Real Madrid - Granada (01/08/12)

19. Mallorca - Real Madrid (01/15/12)

2nd ROUND

20. Athletic Bilbao - Real Madrid (01/22/12)

21. Real Madrid - Zaragoza (01/29/12)

22. Getafe - Real Madrid (02/05/12)

23. Real Madrid - Levante (02/12/12)

24. Real Madrid - Racing Santander (02/19/12)

25. Rayo Vallecano - Real Madrid (02/26/12)

26. Real Madrid - Espanyol (03/04/12)

27. Betis - Real Madrid (03/11/12)

28. Real Madrid - Malaga (03/18/12)

29. Villarreal - Real Madrid (03/21/12)

30. Real Madrid - Real Sociedad (03/25/12)

31. Osasuna - Real Madrid (04/01/12)

32. Real Madrid - Valencia (04/08/12)

33. Atletico Madrid - Real Madrid (04/11/12)

34. Real Madrid - Sporting Gijon (04/15/12)

35. Barcelona - Real Madrid (04/22/12)

36. Real Madrid - Sevilla (04/29/12)

37. Granada - Real Madrid (05/06/12)

38. Real Madrid - Mallorca (05/13/12)

Real Madrid: Spanish Super Cup 2011 Schedule

The second leg of the Spanish Super Cup that will play Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Nou Camp, will be held Wednesday August 17 at a peculiar time; 11:00 pm (CET). That is, the champion of the first Spanish title of the season will be announced at the earliest at 00:45 am of the next day. However, if there is extra time or even penalties, the resolution would go until about 2:00 am.

That same day, will be played the matches of the last heat of the Champions League and UEFA will not allow to play matches for other competitions in the same time slot. This season, the schedule is very tight (and Barcelona also plays the European Super Cup), so that, according to the Spanish Federation, there is no alternative to change the date of the second leg. The first leg will be played at the Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday 14 at 10:00 pm.

REAL MADRID: SPANISH SUPER CUP 2011 SCHEDULE

1st Leg: Real Madrid - Barcelona (08/14/11)

2nd Leg: Barcelona - Real Madrid (08/17/11)

Coentrao is the most expensive transfer in the summer

"A left side for 30 million euros... It is an excellent deal for Benfica", in this way Rui Costa, the Portuguese club's sporting director, defines the sale of Coentrao. He is right, the side has become the most expensive transfer in the summer market. It has exceeded the 25 million that Manchester United paid to Atletico for De Gea.

The 30 million euro that has cost Coentrao clash with the amount of money that has been spent in the transfer market during the summer by Real Madrid. He alone has cost more than other contracts made ​​by the club. So far the Madrid had invested 25 million to sign four players: Sahin (10), Varane (10), Callejon (5), Altintop (free).

With this amount Coentrao equals the transfer of Pepe and, along with central defender, becomes more expensive defender in the history of Real Madrid. As in the case of his countryman, Coentrao aims to make forget the cost of his signing on the field.

Other hand, Garay will become new Benfica player today. The Portuguese club will pay 5.5 million euro for half pass of the player. At first, the player was reluctant to leave Spain, but the good conditions at Benfica would have made him change his mind at the last hours. If Benfica wants the whole pass of Garay, should pay another 5.5 million so the transfer would be 11 million euro, one more than Real Madrid paid to Racing Santander in the summer of 2009.

Interview: Fabio Coentrao

FABIO COENTRAO: "I ALWAYS DREAMED OF PLAYING FOR REAL MADRID"

Ceontrao at the Real Madrid trophy room

Coentrao promises effort, distributes praise and confesses that his only desire was to play in the Bernabeu. "From childhood I always dreamed of playing for Madrid", revealed the Portuguese player in his first interview in white.

You always said you wanted to play for Real Madrid, so this must be a dream come true.Yes, that's true. Every footballer dreams of playing for Real Madrid. I wanted to since I was a child. I used to imagine playing for this team. It was my dream and it has now come true. I hope to earn continuity and to show people I am ready to play here.

What went through your mind as you signed your new contract with Florentino Perez?
I honestly didn’t think of anything. I was just nervous. Being here with the President and signing a contract is like a dream.

Are you anxious to start working with Mourinho and your new peers?
Of course I am. He is the best coach in the world and has been officially acknowledged as such. It makes me proud to have the chance to work with him and a template full of great players.

You will have to compete with quality players as Marcelo for a starter place in the team, but competition is good in order for a player to grow…
It is good, especially for Real Madrid. Having quality players like Marcelo is good for any side. I will work hard to play, and so will he. We will compete for a spot every week and the team will benefit from that. That’s all that matters.

You know the Spanish League from your stage at Zaragoza. What’s your opinion about it?
It is a very competitive League and it has many solid teams. I am anxious to play in the championship and to win it with Real Madrid, which is the best club in the world.

Coinciding with many players from the Portuguese national team may ease your adaptation process.
Yes, I believe it may help me considerably. I have just arrived at the greatest club in the world and, despite the fact that Benfica is also an important club, it is always rather strange. It’s important to have friends here because it will make things easier for me.

Among all the players of Real Madrid, Who do you want to play with?
With everyone. Here there are players of great quality and I have really wanted to share the game with everyone.

What can Coentrao add to Real Madrid?
I consider myself a player who works hard. I try to do everything for my team wins every game. That's my best attribute, I can run, shoot...

You've had more offers. Why did you choose Real Madrid?
It is true that I have had several offers at this time, but I always had clear it; join Real or stay at Benfica. I did not want to leave from there if not to come to play for Real Madrid.

What is your dream for this season?
I have it clear. Win all the competitions we play.