TheNewsGuru

Tag: Real Madrid

  • Ronaldo liked women and parties – Fabio Capello

    Ronaldo liked women and parties – Fabio Capello

    Former Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello says offloading Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario sparked their amazing comeback for the 2006/07 LaLiga title triumph.

    Ronaldo was allowed to leave for AC Milan that January.

    Capello recalled: “The decision to fire Ronaldo and sign (Antonio) Cassano helped create a winning spirit in the team.

    “We won nine points back from Barcelona in the final stretch of ten games and I’m still proud of that today. I remember Silvio Berlusconi calling me to ask me how was Ronaldo.

    “I told him that he didn’t even train and that he really liked parties and women, so hiring him for Milan would be a mistake.

    “The next day I saw the newspaper headlines: ‘Ronaldo in Milan’. It was a lot of fun.”

    Capello also said at the Festival dello Sport in Trento: “What is beauty in football for me? Scoring after three passes, for example. Beauty is also getting the result based on the players you have at your disposal. Beauty is also the sudden genius of footballers like Messi, for example.

    “Two players who embody beauty: Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi, because they transformed difficulties into easy things. They had personality and they transmitted it to the public, they managed to make an impact.”

  • I intentionally made errors at Chelsea to awake sleeping fans – Rudiger

    I intentionally made errors at Chelsea to awake sleeping fans – Rudiger

    Former Chelsea defender who presently plies his trade for Real Madrid, Antonio Rudiger, has revealed that he intentionally made some errors at Chelsea to awaken the sleeping fans.

    He said his intentions while making those mistakes was to increase the volume inside Stamford Bridge.

    Rudiger departed Chelsea at the end of season 2021/22 for Spanish Clubside Real Madrid.

    The German international left Chelsea for Madrid this summer as a free agent

    It brought an end to five seasons at Stamford Bridge where he won the Champions League, FA Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup.

    And now the 29-year-old has revealed he deliberately caused chaos by producing errors on the pitch to stir Chelsea fans when he felt they were too quiet during matches.

    “I’ll be honest: I deliberately made a few mistakes because it was just too quiet in the stadium for me during this game,” Rudiger told German outlet Sport1.

    “I wanted to wake people up with it.”

    Antonio Rüdiger is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Real Madrid and the Germany national team.

    Rüdiger began his career at VfB Stuttgart, representing their reserves in 3. Liga and the first team in the Bundesliga.

  • Joining Real Madrid not a dream come true – Rudiger

    Joining Real Madrid not a dream come true – Rudiger

    Real Madrid defender Toni Rudiger admits making the move to the Spanish was beyond his wildest dreams.

    Rudiger signed for Real in a Bosman deal this past summer after coming off contract at Chelsea.

    He said, “I can’t call it that (a dream come true), it’s a fantasy, something that was not within my reach.

    “It was always my dream to play in the Premier League, Real Madrid was a fantasy, something bigger that was not within my reach.

    “I realised that after I moved, it was when I couldn’t believe it, it was a brutal feeling. I never thought I would live something like this.”

    Of how quickly he has settled, Rudiger added: “Never has a team made it so easy for me.”

  • Real Madrid defender, David Alaba donates toilet to Ogun community

    Real Madrid defender, David Alaba donates toilet to Ogun community

    The Federal Government on Friday commended David Alaba, a renowned Real Madrid footballer, for donating a biodegradable toilet to Ogere Remo community in Ogun State.

    The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, in a statement on Friday, said private sector involvement was critical if Nigeria would end open defecation practice by 2025.

    According to him, private sector and Diaspora engagement and support through accelerated provisions of toilets by philanthropy will go a long way.

    The commissioning was made possible through collaboration with Organised Private Sector in Water Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS- WASH), Clean Nigeria Campaign (CNC) and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.

    The minister reaffirmed that Clean Nigeria Campaign was targeted at mobilising high-level political support, resources and the entire populace towards building a new culture of safe sanitation.

    He added that such commendable project by Alaba and his foundation was worthy of emulation, saying the quest to end open defecation required the contribution and commitment of all stakeholders.

    The minister urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to mobilise support for the campaign through private sector engagement, adding that under the Clean Nigeria Campaign, 84 LGAs were now Open Defecation Free (ODF).

    “Jigawa is on the verge of achieving a state-wide ODF status with just one more LGA to go, Nigeria has been given the hosting rights for the 2022 World Toilet Summit and we want active participation,’’

    Governor of Ogun State, Mr Dapo Abiodun, said Alaba was a true Nigerian, saying the gesture was a new dimension in community development for a better society.

    Abiodun, represented by his Commissioner for Special Duties, Olufemi Ilori-Oduntan, appealed to the people to always incorporate toilets into their building plan.

    He, however, pledged the state government’s resolve to maintain toilets in public places such as parks and markets.

    The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the initiative was in tandem with NiDCOM’s mandate of harnessing the potentials of Nigerians in Diaspora for national growth and development

    Dabiri-Erewa, represented by Mr Oladipo Odebowale, urged other Diasporans and Nigerians to emulate the worthy gesture, as a support to national development efforts.

    The Coordinator, OPS-WASH, Dr Nicholas Igwe, emphasised the significance of collaboration and partnership, saying the private sector would continue to work with and all stakeholders to achieve the 2025 ODF target.

    Clean Nigeria Campaign Coordinator, Mrs Chizoba Opara, said ODF Nigeria was achievable with the right political will and collective support of all stakeholders.

    High points of the occasion were the unveiling of the toilet facility and the distribution of autographed Real Madrid Jerseys to three successful winners by the David Alaba Foundation.

  • UCL: Manchester City, Real Madrid, secure maximum points on matchday one

    UCL: Manchester City, Real Madrid, secure maximum points on matchday one

    English Champions, Manchester City defeated Spanish side  Sevilla by 4-0 to open the 2022/23 Champions League season.

    Norwegian striker, Erling Haaland scored a brace, while Phil Foden and Ruben Diaz scored one each in the encounter.

    Real Madrid defeated Celtic 3-0, thanks to goals from Vinicius Jr, Luka Modric and Eden Hazard to lauch the UCL’s defending champions back on track.

    Paris Saint-Germain survived a second-half fight from Juventus to win 2-1 at the Parc des Princes.

    Kylian Mbappe’s brace gave the Ligue 1 champions a comfortable lead, before McKennie pulled one back for the Italians.

    Chelsea suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in the early kick-off.

    Meanwhile, hostilities continue today in the UCL, with Liverpool travelling to Naples to confront Napoli while Inter Milan host Bayern Munch at the San Siro Stadium.

  • Real Madrid, Liverpool know opponents as UEFA holds Champions League draws today

    Real Madrid, Liverpool know opponents as UEFA holds Champions League draws today

    The winner and the runners -up will proceed to the second round while the third placed team will graduate to the Europa league.

    Since UEFA changed the criteria for seeding, champions of the highest-ranked European leagues are guaranteed to be in the main pot. Therefore, the Champions League winners and La Liga Real Madrid will be accompanied in pot 1 by Eintracht Frankfurt, the champions of the Europa League.

    Pots 2, 3 and 4 contain the remaining teams, seeded based on their 2022 UEFA club coefficients.

    In pot 2 includes, Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, RB Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspur.

    RB Salzburg, Shaktar Donetsk, Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Bayer Leverkusen are the other teams that make up pot 3.

    The fourth – and yet to be concluded pot – will have the weakest teams, although it contains some tough teams like Marseille. The French side finished second in Ligue 1 last season.

    Others in pot 4 include Club Brugge, Celtic, Viktoria Plzen, Maccabi Haifa and the three winners of the playoff rounds: Dinamo Zagreb-Bodo Glimt, PSV-Rangers and Trabzonspor-Copenhagen, yet to be decided.

    Title holders Real Madrid and the rest of Europe’s elite clubs will be able to start plotting their route to Champions League glory when the draw for this season’s group stage is made in Istanbul on Thursday from 1600 GMT.
    All going to plan, the journey will end back in the Turkish city on June 10 next year for the final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, the same venue where Liverpool defeated AC Milan on penalties in 2005.
    Another late change was required last season, with Saint-Petersburg being stripped of the final after Russia invaded Ukraine, and Paris instead stepping in to host Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool.
    The Spanish giants have now been crowned kings of Europe 14 times, twice as many times as the competition’s next most successful club, AC Milan, and they started this season by defeating Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt in Helsinki to lift the UEFA Super Cup.
  • Former Manchester United player, Sinclair tips Casemiro for greatness at Old Trafford

    Former Manchester United player, Sinclair tips Casemiro for greatness at Old Trafford

    Former Manchester United and England star, Trevor Sinclair is pleased with the club’s latest transfer deals in the ongoing season.

    Sinclair believes the acquisition of Casemiro will add quality to the club side going forward, saying he will play like Fernandinho in the defensive Midfield position.

    He told talkSPORT: “He puts himself about. He’s probably not as mobile or as quick as Fernandinho,” Sinclair said.

    “But when you are talking about anticipating where the ball is going to land and giving it to other players, he’s second to none. He is one of the best in the world at that.

    The Brazil international has completed his £59.5million move from Real Madrid to Old Trafford and was paraded in front of United fans before kick-off in Monday night’s win over Liverpool.

    Trevor Lloyd Sinclair is an English football coach, professional footballer, and pundit. As a player, he was a winger who notably played in the Premier League for Queens Park Rangers, West Ham United, and Manchester City. He also played in the Football League for Blackpool and Cardiff City where he retired in 2008.

  • I haven’t joined Man Utd for money – Casemiro

    I haven’t joined Man Utd for money – Casemiro

    Departing Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro says he hasn’t joined Manchester United for money.

    At his farewell ceremony today at the Santiago Bernabeu, Casemiro took questions from the media.

    He said, “It wasn’t that fast. After the Champions League final there were already talks that my cycle was ending. It was a very important decision for me. It was very difficult for me to talk to the president, but honesty is one of my values and I always have to be honest with him.

    “I think the feeling that the cycle was over.”

    Asked if it was a question of money, Casemiro continued: “People who think that know I’m not like that. If it was for money I would have left four or five years ago. The club has always behaved well. It is my decision, to close a cycle. He who thinks like this does not know me.”

    On moving to United, he said: “I want to transmit my values. What Real Madrid taught me here I want to teach here. The mentality of winning titles, games, training… I want to learn from the League. I’m really excited. I am in the best moment. I’m still enjoying it.”

    And on a reunion with former Real teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro added: “I have not spoken with him, but I am very excited to play with him. El Bicho will continue to be a football legend. I hope he stays there. He is one of the best of all time. I’m excited to play with him and with more teammates.”

  • Luka Modric is immortal – Ancelotti

    Luka Modric is immortal – Ancelotti

    Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has hailed midfielder, Luka Modric after victory over Celta Vigo.

    Modric scored in the 4-1 win.

    Ancelotti said, “Modrić is immortal.

    “He’s clever, well prepared and is playing really well. His goal changed the game, because until the goal it was an even match and it was really competitive. Celta pressed in the first half.

    “They pressured us well and we had difficulty in possession. In the second half they lowered the intensity and we worked the ball well out from the back and the transitions were spectacular.”

  • Ancelotti confirms Casemiro’s move to Man Utd

    Ancelotti confirms Casemiro’s move to Man Utd

    Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has announced Casemiro is set to leave for Manchester United.

    At today’s LaLiga presser, Ancelotti confirmed Casemiro had asked to be sold to the English giants.

    He said: “I have spoken with him. He wants to try a new challenge, and the club understands that. We would like to respect Casemior’s wish, after all that he has done for the club.

    “Negotiations are underway, but nothing is official yet. He is still our player but he wants to leave us. If that happens, then we have the resources to replace him.”

    Ancelotti was asked whether he had tried to convince Casemiro to stay.

    “No, I only listened. He has helped us a lot. I listened to his wish and there is no going back. If everything goes well for him and there is an agreement, we will wish him the best and look at what we have.”