Sale operation is paused

The four players that Real Madrid wants to sell (Gago, Lass, Altintop and Ricardo Carvalho) still do not give a clear answer to the club about their future intentions, showing a closed stance, especially Gago and Lass, to a negotiated settlement with another team.

Mourinho and Lass Diarra

The Argentine and French have a year contract remaining and are using it as a weapon to negotiate. The strategy of their representatives is to be strong with the sign of transferable that Mourinho has given them and the target they have set is that with the passage of time and proximity of the date of the start of the pre-season (15 July), the club will finally allow them go free.

To leave Real Madrid with no cost is for them an advantage to negotiate a good contract with their new teams and this position is being supported by the teams interested in signing the players. Everything involving transfer discounts, will be rewarded by the contract they will sign.

In this tough negotiations, Real Madrid is required to exhaust all possibilities. Real Madrid moves to find teams that are interested in them and pay to white team an amount that reports an income. But the club needs their collaboration or acceptance to close what is a three party agreement. And it is not easy.

An example, Gago. The Argentine is ready to wait all the time it takes to go free. If Real Madrid asks for money and that hinders and improvement of his salary, he is willing to stay the season remaining of his contract. Roma, the club interested in him knows the play of the player and is willing to wait until 31 August.

Lass is not in a hurry. Nothing is known of him. He has rejected several offers and his brother, who is leading his business, is waiting for a Real Madrid move. Ricardo Carvalho's issue is other thing. He cost 8 million two years ago and neither team seems willing to pay for a player who has barely played this past season and is 34 years old.

Santos Laguna to face Real Madrid in Las Vegas

Following the announcement of Juventus Torino from the cancellation of its North American tour, Real Madrid ran out rival to dispute the second friendly match in American soil on August 5, in the 'World Football Challenge" (Mourinho's team won last edition), a competition that aims to promote football in United States.

Despite the cancellation, the company organizing the tournament has found another rival team for Real Madrid to play a preparatory match on the same date and that rival is the Santos Laguna, which won the Clausura Trophy 2012 in Mexico. The Mexican squad has a Spanish player, Marc Crosas, who announced through his account on the Twitter social network the news about this friendly to play in Las Vegas.

The Mexican team president, Alejandro Irarragorri, also said on Twitter: "We are pleased to announce that on August 5 in Las Vegas will face Real Madrid and we hope all the Santos fans supports us". The club vice president, Alberto Canedo, also commented the match against the white target: "Play against one of the biggest teams in the world not always happen, in addition, they and we are champions of our respective leagues" he said.

Link: Real Madrid Pre-season 2012-2013

Real Madrid promotes a contest to remodel the Bernabeu

The board of Real Madrid approved a restricted contest of architectural ideas, in which Spanish and international firms will present their projects in an attempt to convert the Bernabeu Stadium in an icon of the Madrid city and international reference as a sports facility.

Santiago Bernabeu Project

As explained by the club in a note, it was a choice of the best architectural studies for a profound transformation of the installation. They applied the criteria of ability, competence, merit and experience in sports facilities and urban interventions, to select participants.
The board at its last meeting, selected Spanish architects like Rafael Moneo, who helped in the construction of the extension of the Prado Museum and the Lamela Studio, which participated in the two other renovations of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

The competition also includes international names. The elect are the Norman Foster's Studio, designer of the new Wembley Stadium, Herzog & De Meuron, who projected the Allianz Arena (Munchen), and Populous Architects, who have designed many facilities for the Olympic Games in London this year.

Villas-Boas thinks Real Madrid wants to sign Modric

As The Guardian reported yesterday, Villas-Boas, the Portuguese coach, who is negotiating a move to Tottenham bench, has known that the Spurs could sell Luka Modric to Real Madrid. As noted by English newspaper, the coach, who is also upset because president Daniel Levy is "talking with other ten coaches", would have said "no" to the transfer of the Croatian footballer, 26 years old, as a condition for his signing. Meanwhile, Levy, who needs incomes because his team did not classify for the Champions League, would prefer sell the player to Real Madrid (both clubs have a good relationship after the transfer of Van der Vaart). The other options are Chelsea and Man. United.

Luka Modric

Real Madrid has in mind the option of Modric, star of the Premiership since joining Tottenham in 2008 from Dinamo Zagreb for 20 million euros, if Silva transfer operation fails. But the Spanish midfielder remains as the major target of the white team. David Silva would be the star signing of the summer. Besides Tottenham would sell Modric for about 40 million euros. The same price Real Madrid is willing to pay to sign Silva.

Modric tried to leave Tottenham last summer. Then, Chelsea (coached by Villas-Boas) submitted a bid of 27 million euros and the answer was "no". His contract ends in 2016 (signed the renewal in 2010) and is fully affected by the salary policy that Tottenham will impose shortly (top earnings: 4.2 million euros a year). He has played well against Spain and Italy at Euro 2012 and before that and knowing the news about the possible transfer to Real Madrid he said: "Real Madrid is the best club in the world".

Jose Mourinho has said several times that Modric is a great player. The Portuguese coach commented during Euro 2012 that the player can play as a playmaker and as a midfielder (could play alongside Xabi Alonso). Luka is an elite player in European football, with quality and goal skills who is not 27 years old yet.

The commitment of the player is to leave Tottenham, where he thinks he has already completed a cycle after four seasons. Luka wants to change and enjoy other challenges. His salary will not be low. The Croatian manages more offers, so he would not sign for less than 5 million euros per year.

Maicon would reduce his salary to sign for Real Madrid

On June 13, last Wednesday, was the first rapprochement between Maicon and Real Madrid. Ernesto Bronzetti who is mediating in the transfer operation, called by phone to Maicon's agents to stop any negotiations with other clubs (because the player has decided to leave Inter Milan and there are several options on the table) until Real Madrid was asked about its interest to sign the Brazilian player. The next step was a meeting in Porto Alegre. There, Maicon and his representatives set the base to develop a negotiating strategy.

Mourinho and Maicon at Inter Milan

At the meeting, the player, who earns 5 million euros net at Inter Milan (the player has a year of contract remaining), agreed to charge a little less to move to Real Madrid and sign a two years contract with one more depending on the number of matches he is going to play in the second season, or lower his salary drastically, to 3 million euros net and sign for four years. On the other hand, the agents believe Inter would sell Maicon for about 8 million euros. Moratti, the president of the Italian team, would save 10 million of the salary and would take 8 (total; 18 million euros) A good operation for Inter because is rumored that the team is struggling to meet the financial fair play that UEFA imposes.

Therefore, Maicon has been offered to Real Madrid, which still thinks about him as a possibility. But it's been two years since white team tried to sign him for 35 million euros and although there is no a better right-back in the market, Real Madrid staff thinks that there is an option in the youth squad: Carvajal.

Juventus cancels friendly against Real Madrid in Las Vegas

According to The Washington Post, Juventus announced the cancellation of its North American tour, so the friendly match Real Madrid was going to play against the Italian squad on August 5 has been cancelled. This friendly was as part of the 'World Football Challenge', a competition that aims to promote football in the U.S.A.. Real Madrid won the tournament last year.

Despite the cancellation, it is expected that the tournament organizer is able to find another rival for Real Madrid in order to play a friendly match on the same date and in the same place (Las Vegas). The other Italian club matches on North American soil were a friendly against DC United in Washington and other match against Paris Saint-Germain in Montreal.

Link: Real Madrid Pre-season 2012-2013

Adan declines to renew his contract with Real Madrid

Antonio Adan has refused to renew his contract with Real Madrid. Some days ago, the club offered him a contract extension until 2016, two seasons longer than what is remaining on his current agreement but does not want to stay if he cannot play as many minutes as he wants. Real Madrid wanted to sign him an extension to cut the wishes of clubs which have been interested in him and to have an ideal replacement for Casillas.

Antonio Adan

Adan, 25 years old, has come up through the youth teams at Real Madrid (he has played for white team since he was 7 years old), and now he wants to have more opportunities and more regularity. During next season, he will go on being a substitute to Iker Casillas, but if he has not accepted the extension on his contract, he demonstrates that has realised that his time at Real Madrid is ending. He wants to leave. He does not want to stay under the shadow of Casillas.

Mourinho has spoken several times with Adan to show him support and appreciation for the work he is doing everyday and to encourage him to continue working because in the new season he will have a different role. Mourinho talked to him to play the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) and the club offered him the renewal, but after analyzing it, the goalkeeper has decided to refuse the contract extension.

Adan stays, but with his contract until 2014. When next season finishes, the player will only have a year contract remaining and Real Madrid will have to revisit the issue because the player could go free. Mourinho solves a problem in the short term but Adan will fly searching a team that gives him more chances to play, in that spirit to enjoy the competition as starter player.

This means that Real Madrid is forced to start looking at goalkeepers to be Casillas’s understudy. And the market does not offer anything worthwhile. Besides, to sign a player means an outlay of money. So currently, the club thinks about three options in the youth squad. Jesus Fernandez (24), Tomas Mejias (23) and Fernando Pacheco (20) are called to take the Adan's place. These are the guys who see Casillas like an idol and the coaches of the club know that one day they will have to defend Real Madrid's jersey. It will be necessary to speed up the training of these young goalkeepers. This will not be easy.

Altintop's agent negotiated yesterday at Bernabeu stadium

Altintop and Nuri Sahin's agent, Reza Fazeli, was yesterday in the offices of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. He arrived at 4:45 pm and left at 6:30 pm. In these nearly two hours he met with Jose Mourinho and with Jose Angel Sanchez (general director) to unblock the negotiations with Galatasaray in the transfer of Hamit Altintop.

Reza Fazeli was yesterday in Madrid

The Turkish club is best placed to gain the services of midfielder, signed from Bayern Munchen last season (he came free and earns 3 million euros per year). But for now they must wait for the player to complete his holidays to try to finally reach an agreement.

Altintop has always viewed with favor the option of signing for the Turkish club. But the negotiations came to a halt few weeks ago because the player wanted a 3.5 million euros annual salary and Galatasaray only reached 3. Now, the situation in the team coached by Fatih Terim has changed. It seems that they can play the Champions League and not be punished for the Turkish football federation because of intrigues in several matches of the Turkish Superliga. Although not official, the deputy president, Ali Dürüst, thinks that Galatasaray will represent Turkey in the Champions League competition. This would cause the club to increase its budget so could meet the financial claims of the player.

Although Altintop wants to play in Turkey for Galatasaray, is his favorite destination and seems to be his next team, the player and his agent manage offers from the Chinese league. This option seems the most remote because the player still wants to compete at the highest level. They also have proposals from Germany, where Altintop retains a good image. Reza Fazeli said that they have not yet determined what they will do: "Altintop want to choose the best option. He can stay in Madrid or may have other options. Competitive level, good economic conditions, welfare ... That's what important".

All the Real Madrid players will play the Euro 2012 quarterfinals

Real Madrid is the team with more presence in the Euro 2012 and all the Real Madrid players have passed to the next phase. Some of them are shining in the tournament. Casillas is always the same, Cristiano woke up on the last day and Pepe was the MVP in a match. Coentrao and Khedira seem others. Benzema has not scored yet.

Iker Casillas. Saint Iker against Italy and Croatia. Eleven stops at the tournament (five against Italy, four against Croatia). Superb stop in a Rakitic's goal chance with 0-0 against Croatia. That stop was decisive for Spain.

Raul Albiol. Bides his time. Summoned due to Puyol's injury, has watched all the matches from the bench. The European and World champion has not played a minute.

Ramos. The best in the defensive line of Spain. He has recovered 34 balls (Pique has recovered 31). They are a good couple. Very quick in defensive covers and good passing game. He has shot two times on target.

Xabi Alonso. He is just doing what Spain needs. He did not play his best. Has recovered 22 balls (Busquets, 28) in all three games. Good play and better defensive covering.

Alvaro Arbeloa. Doubts about his starting position. The right-back is the most discussed position at the Spanish team. Without safety in defense, without attacking (14 losses) and with lack of concentration in some moments of the matches.

Benzema. Irregular as France. France made his debut against England with a bad game and he was infected. Against Ukraine, the trident with Ribery and Nasri awoke, and Karim found his place at the midfield; two goal assists. Yesterday he was diluted again with his team (four shy shots). He has not scored yet.

Mesut Özil. He has showed glimpses of his quality. Against Portugal, was named MVP. He gave a recital of football with 42 good passes and only 9 bad. Against the Netherlands he did not play his best but was close to score. Against Denmark had a good performance (55 good passes). In addition, gave an assist.

Sami Khedira. He has more presence in attack. Plays more advanced than in Real Madrid as a box to box player; 4 shots on target and 11 steals. In addition, he passed the ball that Mario Gomez headed to score against Portugal.

Fabio Coentrao. Has recovered his best. Maybe because he feels better: "Here I have more confidence" he said. Well in defense (22 recoveries) and contributing in attack. He has shot three times on target as Postiga, the starting striker. Besides he assisted Varela in the decisive goal against Denmark.

Pepe. He scored against Denmark and was the MVPof the match. His play at Euro 2012 is outstanding. A wall in defense, only has committed a foul in three games. He also contributes in attack. He scored against Denmark and was voted the best in the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo. He played a great match against Netherlands. He tried against Germany; shot four times and was the most important player of the Portugal team but did not defeat Neuer. Against Denmark played wrong. He missed two clear chances and lost eight balls. He was criticized and Danish fans sang "Messi, Messi ...". He played his best against Netherlands scoring two goals and was the MVP. He is the player with more shots on target in the tournament: 13.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Nuhazet: Battling cancer

Cristiano Ronaldo and his agent, Jorge Mendes, are living these days, a story that was alien to them until just a month ago, but where both are now fully involved: Nuhazet's history, a child of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, nine years old, who suffers from cancer since he was two.

Cristiano Ronado and Nuhazet at Bernabeu Stadium

As reported www.canariasinvestiga.org, the player and his agent decided to fund a pioneering treatment for Nuhazet a month ago, after the match between Real Madrid and Mallorca at the Bernabeu stadium. Nuhazet attended the match, invited by an association, in what was presumed as one of the last great adventures of his life.

It seemed no hope for the child, who has been battling cancer since 2005. Since then, have been removed three tumors from his body, although the latter, Nuhazet was operated in October 2011, could only be partially removed. This past March, an MRI revealed metastases in three different points of the spine.

His parents, Fabiola Guillen and Silvestre Guardia, revive the trance: "The doctor had discussed with colleagues and said us that there was nothing to do. That it was best to leave him so the child would not suffer. We asked if there was anything anywhere in the world, but doctor said that whatever there was, was experimental. We sent the reports to the University of Navarra, and all the doctors told me the child should rest and not suffer. He has spent seven years with this disease, and we accepted the idea that it was the final".

David Silva: Real Madrid expects a price to sign him

David Silva is the first choice that members of the technical staff of Real Madrid have in mind to strengthen the midfield and they just hope that Manchester City sets a price. The Spanish international has made that Florentino Perez, Mourinho and Real Madrid fans agree. The three parties think about the player like the suitable signing to have the perfect squad.

David Silva

The only problem that exists is the Manchester City's refusal to sell a key player for the team, a player with a main role in the Premier champions. But with Florentino's precedent in this kind of transfer operation (Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo ...) nothing seems impossible. Real Madrid could pay for the genius midfielder between 35 and 40 million euros (Man. City hired him in July 2010 by 29 million euros).

What thinks the player about it? At the Bernabeu stadium, the staff members are confident that Silva will step forward and make it clear that he would like to change Manchester for Madrid. In fact, it is expected to follow the steps that Xabi Alonso took in 2009 to leave Liverpool; to apply for the transfer request. This is a diplomatic channel through which the player can ask officially to his current team to agree to negotiate his departure. This only exists in the Premiership and Manchester City knows it.

Silva has enjoyed the best year of his career. His own teammates in Man. City voted him as the best player of the year. He beated Kun Aguero, despite the Argentinian was the scorer of the epic goal that gave them the Premiership title. But first, Real Madrid has to sell Kaka to release about 30 million euros of the Brazilian's salary remaining until 2015. Without Kaka, Silva will be closer.

Roberto Carlos: "Maicon has what Real Madrid needs"

Maicon, the right-back Mourinho likes for signing, who is being meticulously radiographed, almost obsessively, by the white team before deciding whether his transfer is a risk because of age (30 years) and the salary (4 million euros net), has the approval of Roberto Carlos, one of the best left-back of football history. Roberto Carlos knows his compatriot, with whom he came to share his last games for Brazil, and has no doubt that Real Madrid would be correct with the hiring of Inter Milan player.

Roberto Carlos

"I know that Mourinho wants to Maicon and I know he has great respect and appreciation for the Portuguese coach. If he finally comes to Real Madrid, you can be sure that nobody is going to regret this move. Maicon has everything what Real Madrid needs; experience, power and a good shot from distance. He has goal skills. He is a great back", said Roberto Carlos, who usually returns to Madrid from Moscow to spend a couple of days.

He compares Maicon to Cafu, another right-back that made history: "For me he is more like Cafu and with that I say a lot. Maicon is very good and has football on his boots because he is physically privileged. He is a force of nature, of those players that make you win big games, and championships. He is a guarantee".

Roberto Carlos insists that in the squad of Real Madrid there is no player with Maicon's features: "You can not compare him to a Real Madrid player. Like him there are few in football. Marcelo is a more skilled player, who likes to drive the ball. Maicon has a tremendous power and comes from behind to brake the rival team. He fulminates you. I also think it would be good to Arbeloa because he can keep learning and growing".

And Roberto Carlos still thinks about Maicon like one of the best in the world, even ahead of Dani Alves, the Barcelona back: "Do not forget that until recently days he was the starter in the Brazilian team, ahead of Alves. He has not played for Brazil because he suffered an injury. But Maicon will remain in Brazilian national team". Maicon operation is ongoing.

Real Madrid could offer 40 million euros to sign David Silva

David Silva at Euro 2012

The British newspaper 'The Sun' has published that next week Real Madrid will present to Manchester City a bid for David Silva; the amount will be about 40 million euros. The Spanish international midfielder was sold by Valencia team two seasons ago to the English club. The transfer cost 29 million euros. Before that, Real Madrid negotiated by the player, but Mourinho chose other player, Özil.

Now, the Portuguese coach, according to The Sun, gives priority to the arrival of Silva, 26 years old, a key player to Manchester City in the Premier League (the team won the championship) and an important player for Spain in the Euro 2012.

Real Madrid also wants to close the signing of midfielder Lucas Moura, 19 years old, from Sao Paulo. In this operation, white team will have to fight with Chelsea because Roman Abramovich is willing to offer 40 million euros for the player, but his agent insists he will remain in Brazil until 2014.

Khedira: "I have to thank Mourinho"

Khedira

How is your relationship with Jose Mourinho?
Mourinho talks bluntly, he does not care what players do with our spare time, whether we drink beer or we go to bed at two o'clock. All that matters is that we are one hundred percent in training. It's like children: if you do not allow them to do something, they will try to do it with more interest. You learn to be responsible for your actions, and that is important for taking decisions in the field.

Are you a leader?
As a teenager I always wanted to play well, give everything and go home. I was never one of those who give speeches on the field. But my coaches asked me that and I am gradually growing in that too. And I enjoy it.

What about tactics?
As a teenager I played in the Stuttgat youth squad, our coach at that time, who is still my friend, said: "If you learn to read the game, you will be able to become professional. Go see Stuttgart and check the Zvonimir Soldo's game". And that's when I realized that as a player, I would be able to lead a match.

And have you improved at Real Madrid?
I have learned how to face a game. When I was younger I saw a free space and pressed ten or fifteen times in the same way. Now I prepare mentally for a particular opponent and I know when I can go to press and leave my position without endangering my team. I am better prepared, and I have to thank Mourinho.

How does Mourinho teach you?
In individual conversations or in the field. Sometimes in training he says: "Stop! Why do you leave your position? Why are you leaving now?". Often, I watch my games two times and check players like Xabi and then try to improve my game.

Are you improving intuition?
Yes, the experience gives you this. You are able to make decisions more quickly. It's like learning a language. At first, you have to consider carefully the words you use, how to put together a sentence. Then, at some point, everything goes smoothly.

Football changes over time, before the 6 was the ordinary defensive midfielder...
Yes, they only cared to get the ball and not about score goals. I like to win in defense fights, but also get forward. To put it bluntly, in the German team, the central defenders are responsible for creating the game, and Klose and Gomez are also defending. That's the idea.

Marcelo: "Cristiano Ronaldo is having a fabulous season"

Marcelo, Real Madrid left-back, already has his eyes on the upcoming Olympics. The Brazilian defender will come to this event in good conditions after playing a good season with the white team. Marcelo talked with Brazilian media during his holidays.

Marcelo

"We had an historic and extraordinary season because, besides winning the title, we also broke many records, such as those in points, victories and goals" he said to Brazilian journalists. "The entire team made such progress that playing on it was like paradise for a player. Our confidence was so high that we knew it would be hard for others to stop us if we did our best".

He thinks the contribution of Cristiano Ronaldo was key: "Cristiano Ronaldo is a machine. He is having a fabulous season. It is amazing to score so many goals. I think he has had the best stats in his career. He is a great teammates and an exemplary professional. He trains extra and works hard".

What happened in the Champions League, the worst memory: "Losing the UCL semis was the great disappointment of the season because it happened in the penalty shootout. I believe we should have killed the game earlier, but that's football. We will return stronger next year to try to win it. I am calm because I think we will win the title soon".

Personally he thinks his season at Real Madrid was good: "I think I had a good season. I had the chance to help my teammates win games, which is what really matters to me. I have made progress in my game. I still have to work on some aspects of my game to be the best in my position. I have worked hard to improve in defence since I arrived on the team. Many people saw me as Roberto Carlos' successor and wanted me to make progress as fast as he did, but I was only 18; I was very young and was still learning. I liked to attack, but in time I have become a true left back, one that both defends and attacks. I still love to attack, but a defender's priority is to defend".