Real Madrid extends Albiol's contract until 2017

Raul Albiol isn't hiding the happiness which he has been overcome by after his contract with Real Madrid was extended until 2017. The only thing on the mind of the Real Madrid defender, who kicked off the season by playing against Los Angeles Galaxy, is to reciprocate, on the pitch, the trust shown by the club, Mourinho and the fans: "I'm really excited and want to stay on at Real Madrid. The club and its coaching staff trust in me and now I have to show them they are not wrong. I am very happy and I hope to be here until I retire."

Raul Albiol

Congratulations on getting your contract extended until 2017. I guess you must be very happy...
I am very happy because this means that the club and its coaching staff trust in me being here. I really feel at home at Real Madrid and I'm very happy. Now I have to show that they are not wrong and that I can be a good player for the team.

Also, this trust comes a month after another reason for celebration: your second European Football Championship.
We're seeing, with Spain, some wonderful years which will be remembered forever. I'm lucky enough to be living though them from the inside and the team is fantastic and has proven that during the last championships. Let's hope it carries on like that for many years to come. Although we know it's difficult, the team will never be short of ambition.

Having your contract extended brings you closer to your goal of being at Real Madrid until you retire.
In the world of football you never know because anything can happen during each season. I'm really excited and want to stay on at the club. I'm very happy here and hope to be here until I retire.

Liverpool joins the bid for Nuri Sahin

While Nuri Sahin spends the U.S.A. tour playing games as left-back, the player is an object of desire for several teams in the Premiership. Liverpool is the last club that has joined the bid for Real Madrid midfielder, who does not fit into the plans of Mourinho. The white club is interested in a transfer (on loan) and it would come in the next days.

Nuri Sahin training with Jose Mourinho

Liverpool, which is going through a delicate economic situation, would be willing to accept the only condition of Real Madrid to allow the Sahin's leaving: A loan or, alternatively, a sale with an option to repurchase affordable.

In favor of Liverpool is also the presence of Brendan Rodgers as their new coach, a coach who landed in the Premier from the hand of Jose Mourinho. Rodgers was chosen by Mourinho to coach Chelsea's reserve team at the stage of the Portuguese coach as head coach of the blues.

When Brendan Rodgers joined Liverpool as the coach for their new project, Mourinho said: "With Rodgers the glory days will come back at Liverpool". Now, because of their relationship, Mourinho could try to convince Sahin that Liverpool can be an ideal destination for him.

Santos Laguna 1 - 2 Real Madrid (Friendly)

Second straight win for Real Madrid in their US tour. This time the opponent was a little tougher and the conditions were not the best for football because of how stiflingly hot it was in Las Vegas. Santos Laguna did not make things easy, they were a tough opponent who showed pride and strength, taking the match as seriously an official match rather than a friendly. Mourinho’s team played seriously and concentrated, showing the spirit of champions and the competitive gene that this team have. The Whites continue to beat attendance records wherever they go. This time 29,105 spectators saw Real Madrid win.

Sani Khedira celebrates the goal with his teammates

Real Madrid appeared in Las Vegas in sweltering heat, with a desert climate and the Sam Boyd stadium practically full. The rivals Santos Laguna of Mexico, were a slightly tougher opponent than last Thursday’s LA Galaxy. The Mexican champions started highly motivated against a Real Madrid team that included the front three trio of Ronaldo, Özil and Higuaín. In the 14th minute the first goal came for the Whites from a sensational Xabi Alonso strike from outside the area. A great goal that put Mourinho’s team ahead on the scoreboard. The goal opened up the game and the Whites began to break into the opposition’s area with ease. In the 18th minute a great piece of play by Higuaín who then passed to Özil in the area, but the German narrowly missed. The Mexican team responded strongly and with occasional attacks against the general run of play.

When the match seemed under control for Real Madrid, Santos Laguna took advantage of indecision in the defence to make it 1-1 through Cristian Suárez on 25 minutes. Mourinho took that opportunity to make the first change and replace Jesé with Alex. Real Madrid reacted quickly and Granero was able to make it 2-1 when his shot took a touch off of a defender on the way in. Cristiano Ronaldo tried from distance but his shot in the 32nd minute went wide. Santos, a team fast in the transition from defence to attack looked to get in behind Real Madrid with long balls into the wings. A scuffle between Granero and Herculez Gomez resulted, surprisingly, in a yellow card for the Whites’ player. In the 39th minute Cristian Suárez found himself in front of Casillas but his shot went wide of the far post. Ronaldo, the most incisive for the Whites, tried his luck again in the 42nd minute with a diagonal shot that sailed through the area without anyone able to touch it into the net. Then the end of the half came.

The second half started with eleven different players for Real Madrid. Adán, Sahin, Ramos, Morata, Benzema, Callejón, Khedira, Kaká, Nacho, Pepe and Lass. Mourinho stayed true to his idea of making eleven changes in these pre-season matches despite the tight scoreline. The Whites had their first chance in the 48th minute after a great move from Kaká which ended in a Benzema shot from inside the 6-yard box that went just over. A minute later Morata had an opportunity but his shot did not find the target. The Whites shifted up a gear. Benzema had a chance to make it 2-1 with a shot from a corner kick but Sanchez made a great save.

Real Madrid kept looking for the goal but it did not come. Callejón had a chance in the 62nd minute but his weak shot went straight into the hands of the Mexican goalkeeper. The referee again to the forefront and gave Pepe a warning, but was inconsistent with other players. The match entered a tough period and this time the yellow was for Hérculez Gómez following a tangle with Pepe, who was playing tough with the forwards. Callejón failed to score with his shot being saved by Sanchez.

Interestingly, the Whites’ goal finally came from a piece of good fortune. In the 71st minute Benzema shot from inside the area and the goalkeeper’s save hit Khedira in the face of and ended up in the back of Santos’ goal. 2-1 and Khedira’s fortunate goal made the scoreline a fair reflection of the match, as the Mexicans barely created any dangerous chances in the second half. The home team pushed for an equalizer and Quintero had the best chance for his team in the 82nd minute but the Adán came off best the one-on-one with the forward. Madrid controlled the ball and the clock looking for to bring home their second victory in the American tour. The strong heat took its toll on both teams and the scoreboard and did not change. A well earned victory and Real Madrid remain unbeaten on their USA tour.

Summary

Stadium: Sam Boyd.
Attendance: 29,300
Goals: 0-1 (13'): Xabi Alonso. 1-1 (25'): Suarez. 1-2 (71'): Khedira.

Link

Ramos: "I'd give the Ballon d'Or to Casillas and Cristiano"

Sergio Ramos attended a press conference at UCLA’s sports facilities after the team’s training session in Los Angeles. One of the Real Madrid’s captains met with the press in California.

Sergio Ramos

The Spanish defender talked about his desire to start a new season with difficult challenges ahead: “A footballer should always be ambitious and try to win titles every season. We worked really hard last season and now the target is to defend the league title and to start again from scratch humbly".

Asked about the aspects of the team that had improved with regard to last year, Ramos said: “We grow over time, both personally and professionally. In every training session, we understand each other better and we have more confidence thanks to the coach. Mourinho knows the team inside out and gets the best from each player .There are few teams that can counterattack like Real Madrid, and we have improved the team’s level, both in terms of attack and defence”.

Manchester United wants to sign Sahin

Nuri Sahin's future is still in the air. Although it seems clear that he will leave Real Madrid in the coming days, where he will play is still unknown. The Premier is the championship that more is betting on the Turkish and he likes, but the operation is not straightforward. The last team interested in Sahin is Manchester United, a club that excites the player but puts conditions that directly conflict with the interests of Real Madrid.

Nuri Sahin

At Real Madrid want to leave Sahin on loan one year or, in the worst case, make an option to buy in case of transfer. But United does not agree. Ferguson wants the player and does not provide anything other than sign him and keep it in property. Man. United conditions make it nearly impossible, unless a large offer that would change the plans of Real Madrid. Sahin is a player with great conditions and Florentino Peres was one of its leading proponents and therefore he will not sell the player so easily.

Mourinho also appreciates the virtues of Sahin, but after a year on the sidelines, he thinks the player would grow as footballer in another club. Nuri Sahin will not play regularly in a team from the requirement of Real Madrid, with Xabi, Khedira, Lass and Granero as midfielders and waiting for Luka Modric, another player who can perform in this demarcation.

Apart from United, two clubs in the Premier want to sign Sahin. One is the Arsenal, which is closer to get the player. The agreement between Sahin and Wenger's team is almost complete, but the clubs need to agree on the percentage of the salary to be paid by each. Tottenham has also been interested in Sahin, but Real Madrid wanted to include him in Modric's operation and the London team wanted to separate the two operations.

The player is waiting for news in Los Angeles, crestfallen after checking that has not place in the Mourinho's plans but wanting to find a new team to play regularly. Sahin hopes his future is resolved, no later than next week. Wants to end this uncertainty and start working with his new team to win a starting lineup place. He does not want to delay his move and harm his year when the new season has not started yet.

Cristiano Ronaldo: "I would like to win the Ballon d'Or again"

Cristiano Ronaldo spoke to ESPN and acknowledged that he has hope for winning the Ballon d'Or. He thinks the Spanish league is the hardest to win and expect to see justice done. Also, thinks that Real Madrid and Barca will draw the same difference to their rivals this season.

Cristiano Ronaldo

"I will not lie. To win the Ballon d'Or would mean a lot to me. It is something I want because it is something that always excites me a lot. I think we are in the lot of the best. What I want is justice to be done because the Spanish league is the most difficult in the world and we compete against a big rival like Barcelona and we were the best. So I would love to win and I think my coach also deserves it", said the Portuguese.

The Portuguese star player spoke about his duel with Leo Messi: "I do not see other colleagues as individual rivals. He does his job for Barcelona and I do mine for Real Madrid, as I did in Manchester too. I'm a person who likes challenges and I will always be, but not challenges with a single player. I do my work when I play and I try to do better always", he said.

Villas-Boas hopes to convince Modric to join the team

Luka Modric continues training alone and Villas-Boas continues to exert a mediating role with the Croatian footballer. Although the player is adamant in his position of leaving London for Madrid, the Portuguese coach has taken a conciliatory stance. Yesterday, just returned from the U.S. tour of the team, spoke at the British press about his intention to 'rehabilitate' Modric with the rest of the group. "I have to talk to Luka and I think he will understand the situation because he is a great professional. I have the hope that we will get him back, but if this not happens, I will continue monitoring the situation and improving his fitness with individual training".

Andre Villas-Boas

However, Villas-Boas said he will remain steadfast in his position: "Ideally, he would be with the team" and added: "He refuses and in this situation you should remind the player his responsibilities with Tottenham". Spurs coach acknowledged that the case of Croatian midfielder is a stone in his shoe, "Luka has to understand that it is a difficult situation for him, but also for us, because the level of bids received did not reach the level that we ask".

Luka Modric trained yesterday earlier than usual in the sports city of Tottenham to avoid meeting with coach Villas-Boas and his teammates, who returned on the morning of the U.S. tour. Croatian midfielder, who often goes to train about 10:30 am and remains on the facilities of the English team until 2:00 pm, left the clubhouse about 11:30 am.

Tottenham will play on Sunday its next preseason game against Watford. Villas-Boas will have to decide if he calls Modric for the match or the player continues training: "Now in London we will decide what is best for Luka and for us. He is currently working on double session. We will see".