Real Madrid 1 - 2 Atletico Madrid (2013 Spanish Cup Final)

It was not to be. Finals are often decided on the finer details and all of them went against Real Madrid. Three shots against the woodwork and a shot blocked by Juanfran on the line took the match to extra time following the first half in which Cristiano Ronaldo put the Whites ahead and Diego Costa levelled the match. Five minutes before the end of the first half of extra time a goal from Miranda gave Atletico the win. The chances that continued to come Real Madrid’s way, some of them whilst playing a man down following Cristiano Ronaldo’s sending off in the 109th minute did not produce the result that the team deserved, both for how they played and the opportunities that they created, and instead hit the post or were stopped by an inspired Courtois.

Football was unfair on Real Madrid

Real Madrid and Atletico fought for the last title of the season in Spain. They did so in the stadium which has hosted the most Copa del Rey finals. A unique setting for a top level derby. The Whites started the match dominating possession and with a suffocating press that prevented Atletico playing the ball out of the back. In fact, as soon as Atletico took the kick-off Real Madrid won the ball and then went on to have about two minutes of possession that could only be broken down with fouls. It was no wonder then that the first shot on goal came from the team that were playing as the home side. Cristiano Ronaldo's shot was took a deflection off of a defender but Courtois made the stop without any problems in the 5th minute.

Carvajal: "I want to return to Real Madrid"

Daniel Carvajal, Bayer Leverkusen's right side and former player of Real Madrid Castilla, has already taken the necessary step to return to Madrid: "I depend on their decision, but my desire is to return. I grew up there and for me is the best club in the world. It's my home," he said.

Dani Carvajal

To date, there is no official information or confirmation from Real Madrid, that will have to pay just over 6 million to Bayer Leverkusen if they want to recover the footballer: "Nobody from Real Madrid has talked to me and I have not said anything. When the season is over, will be time to think in the next year."

However, the Spaniard thinks that play a year more in Germany would be a great thing: "I feel at home. Bayer people are great and my adaptation has been very good. Moreover, we have achieved a great season, getting a place to play the Champions League the next season."

For Real Madrid, the signing of a right side seems a priority for the next year. Essien will go back to Chelsea, Arbeloa is not at his best and Sergio Ramos has shown that his true position is center. With all the data, re-signing Carvajal seems to be the best option.

PSG's counter-attack: Cristiano Ronaldo

Florentino Perez, in his eagerness to sign Ancelotti as Mourinho's replacement for next season, has gotten into marshy ground with the owner of PSG, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. As reported yesterday the newspaper L'Equipe, the prince and future Emir of Qatar has sent a message to the white president; would agree to talk about Ancelotti, who still has one year left on his contract with the French club, if Real Madrid negotiates the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ancelotti, alongside Al-Thani, owner of PSG and future Emir of Qatar

The heir to the throne of Qatar was upset with the call of the white club's general director Jose Angel Sanchez to the PSG president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, asking to speak to Ancelotti. He resists the idea of leaving to go the coach and aims to harness the efforts of Florentino to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, the great dream of sheikh, already tempted on more than one occasion.

Spanish Cup Final: Cristiano Ronaldo does not fail in finals

Atletico de Madrid has always been a dangerous team in the finals and more in recent years, since Falcao plays in the red-white ranks. But Real Madrid can boast a player at least as reliable as the Colombian striker. Cristiano Ronaldo, a player who uses to be decisive in that kind of games. So much so that nine years ago he played his first major final (with a defeat) in which he scored. It was with Portugal against Greece at Euro 2004.

Cristiano Ronaldo with the Spanish Cup trophy (2011)

That was the first big disappointment of Ronaldo in the football world, but that year he had met the friendly face of high competition. With Manchester United in his first season, won the FA Cup beating Milwall in the final. The Portuguese opened the scoring in a game his team won 3-0.

Gareth Bale: Tottenham negotiates from 80 million euros

Tottenham knows that will be difficult to retain Gareth Bale if the team fails to qualify for the next Champions League. For now, the 'Spurs' team is on the fourth position with a two points distance with Arsenal, but the 'Gunners' with two matches remaining and Tottenham only one. Villas-Boas has already expressed in all the ways the need to renew the player; Bale's contract ends in 2016 (witha a salary of 4.5 million euros a season). In the Premier there are no termination clauses and chairman Daniel Levy is a tough negotiator. Real Madrid knows this because white team had to pay 30 million euros for Modric in the last minute of the past summer market.

Gareth Bale

In the English press has emerged that Tottenham will not sale Gareth Bale for less than 80 million euros. That's the starting price for which will have to negotiate. The 23 year old Welsh was recently voted best player of the season in the Premier by the players union. He has scored 20 goals in the league, only behind Luis Suarez (23) and Van Persie (25). Only Bale's decision to order the Transfer Request, a gesture not binding legally that would force Tottenham to negotiate, could down the price of the operation. In Real Madrid there is the belief that will have to make a payment similar to Neymar's termination clause of 70 million euros.

Bale is being followed by Zinedine Zidane. Even some of his statements appeared in France setting the price of the player at 65 million euros. He added: "There are few players like him. I am impressed, he is one of the best". Bale is a fast lefty. Villas-Boas has often placed him on the left wing but he also played many matches as second forward to take advantage of his shot. In Real Madrid, he would play on the right. But this is only an assumption.

Carlo Ancelotti to leave PSG

Carlo Ancelotti has decided to leave the PSG and in the next 48 hours will communicate it to Nasser Al-Khelaifi. The Italian coach was deliberately ambiguous in his statements after winning the French Ligue 1 on Sunday in Lyon: "Now I will speak with PSG about the future, calm and quiet." He did not want to be the central figure in a night of happiness for Parisian fans, French champions after 19 years of drought. Yesterday, during the parade through Paris, said nothing except to dedicate the title to Nick Broad, one of his assistants who died in an accident in January.

Carlo Ancelotti

But his decision to leave PSG is firm. Although Ancelotti has a right relationship with Al-Khelaifi and Leonardo (sporting director and his former player), the coach does not forget the first attempt to fire him last December 1 after losing in Nice (2-1). It was the third straight loss. Before, the team lost against Saint-Etienne (removal in French Cup) and Rennes. The team had dropped to fourth place, five points behind Lyon. Nerves broke and Ancelotti's dismissal was almost sealed. Leonardo would lead the team until the end of the season.

Real Madrid's transfer market: 40 million euros for Rooney

Wayne Rooney has asked Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United to facilitate his leaving, but the English team opposes and has tried to convince him. It seems that the striker's decision is non-negotiable and firm. It also affects that his relationship with David Moyes, new Manchester United manager, is not very friendly, although the coach was who gave him the opportunity to compete in the Premiership with 16 years in the ranks of Everton.

Rooney and Ferguson celebrating the Premiership Championship

"We declined that idea. I think he should think about it better. He's angry because he was substituted sometimes this season and has not played as much as he would like," he said yesterday Alex Ferguson on Rooney situation. The Scot, on the day of his departure as coach of United, ended by saying that the final decision will be taken by the player and Moyes.

So, today in England claim that Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, met in secret in recent weeks with the Manchester United's chief executive, David Gill, for negotiating the transfer of the player. Real Madrid would be willing to offer up to 40 million euros. The Red Devils intention is to bring positions facing the possibility of trying to buy back Cristiano Ronaldo, an option that the white team rules out absolutely.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi: PSG owner asks for respect

Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the owner of PSG, is upset by the Real Madrid's intention of signing the coach Carlo Ancelotti and asked the white club respect in an interview with L'Equipe newspaper (it will be published tomorrow). "I told the Real Madrid 'respect us'. If Carlo leaves the team, it will be a problem. Few days ago, the general direct of Real Madrid, Jose Angel Sanchez, called me to ask for him" revealed the Qatari Sheikh.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi with Carlo Ancelotti

The Parisian club president was blunt about the mode of action of the white club and said his intention is to fulfill the contract signed by Carlo Ancelotti. "I said, 'If you try to sign Carlo, you must know that he has a year of contract ahead with us. So please respect us, respect the contract. We respect all clubs and expect the same treatment. We currently do not have the importance of Real Madrid, but that does not mean we do not deserve the same respect. And he (Jose Angel Sanchez) said he thought Carlo's contract ends this season and would consider it."

In that vein, the French club owner was optimistic and confident that Ancelotti will remain at the forefront of the team next season. "We want him to continue. Everyone is delighted with him; players, fans ... I love him too. I supported him since he came and I will support him to his last day here. I'm optimistic in this regard," he said.

The Italian coach won yesterday the Ligue 1 (French Football League) after 19 years of PSG's drought. "The PSG will continue to win, I also ... It is not the time to discuss my future, during the celebration. I will speak to the club at the end of season," said the Real Madrid's favorite coach to replace Mourinho.

Espanyol 1 - 1 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 35)

Real Madrid, who are unbeaten in their last four visits to the Cornella-El Prat Stadium, drew with Espanyol in what was their fourteenth consecutive unbeaten league match (12 wins and 2 draws). The match started badly. Varane's injury and Stuani’s goal following a corner, made things tough for Real Madrid, but Higuain, who continues his good scoring record against the Catalans, scored in the second half for a share of the points six days before the Copa del Rey final against Atletico.

Real Madrid said goodbye to the Spanish League

Real Madrid came into the match against Espanyol with the clear goal of getting their seventh consecutive win in the championship and prolonging their romance with the Cornella-El Prat, in which they have won on their previous three visits. The start of the match was not very promising. First came Varane's injury in the 17th minute whilst challenging for the ball against Wakaso and six minutes later came Stuani’s goal, which made things even more difficult for the visitors. It could have been worse had it not been for the reflexes of Diego Lopez, who prevented the Uruguayan striker’s second in a clear one-on-one as the match was approaching the half hour mark.