TheNewsGuru

Tag: Real Madrid

  • Real Madrid never considered me – Hakimi

    Real Madrid never considered me – Hakimi

    Paris Saint-Germain wing-back Achraf Hakimi admits Real Madrid never really rated him.

    Hakimi will face his former club in the Champions League round of 16 this week.

    He recalled, “It was due to a little on the lack of maturity and a little on the confidence. When you arrive from the youth academy it is normal that the club does not bet so much on you; then I had two great seasons at Dortmund and I had to decide what to do, since Real still didn’t consider me.

    “I knew I could play at high levels; when Inter bought me, Real had an option but didn’t exercise it.

    “I’m happy that other big clubs have invested in of me.”

  • Harry Redknapp played important role in my career – Modric

    Harry Redknapp played important role in my career – Modric

    Real Madrid star Luka Modric says former Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp was a big influence on his career.

    Modric left Spurs a decade ago for Real Madrid.

    He told the Daily Mail, “Harry Redknapp played an important role in my career.

    “He was almost there since the beginning when I joined Spurs – he joined us after seven or eight games.

    “He had great influence on us, on our team, our playing style and me. He gave me a freedom, he showed me the trust from the beginning which is always important for the young players.

    “He was a great coach, great manager, very nice person. I had great relationship with him, he was very important for me.”

  • Neymar resumes training ahead of Champions League clash with Real Madrid

    Neymar resumes training ahead of Champions League clash with Real Madrid

    Paris Saint-Germain forward, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, who turned 30 on Friday, has returned to training, ahead of their forthcoming Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

    His progress is very good

    The club’s coach, Mauricio Pochettino, said on Thursday that Neymar will not be fit for PSG’s Ligue 1 match on Friday against Rennes, four days before a Champions League last-16 first-leg clash with Real Madrid.

    “He will not be in the squad for Rennes. His progress is very good. All the great players want to play the big games. He has the experience and maturity to manage himself, and channel his energy, to arrive in the best conditions when he can play,” Pochettino said.

     

    Adding that the player was back training with the first team squad.

    The Brazilian has been out of action for more than two months after he was stretchered off with an ankle injury during their 3-1 victory over Saint-Etienne on November 28.

     

    PSG’s Champions League campaign resumes on Tuesday when they host Real Madrid in the first-leg of their Round of 16 clashes.

     

    Neymar took part in a 15-minute session at training Thursday morning and pictured laughing alongside his team-mates, including Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

     

    His return to training will give PSG fans some hope that they start him alongside Messi and Mbappe against Los Blancos.

     

    However, since Neymar’s arrival in 2017, he has missed five of his team’s eight Champions League last 16 appearances due to various injuries, including the double-header against Barcelona last season.

  • La Liga: Eden Hazard suffers new injury setback

    La Liga: Eden Hazard suffers new injury setback

    Real Madrid attacker Eden Hazard has been hit by another injury setback.

    Mundo Deportivo says Hazard is now facing a fight to be fit for their clash with Villarreal this weekend, after picking up a knock in training.

    The 31-year-old could face yet another setback in his injury-hit Madrid career, although the knock is reportedly not a serious one, but it has seen the Belgium international missing training before subsequently working in the gym.

    Hazard should be fit enough to play by the time the weekend roles around, but it’s an added stress boss Carlo Ancelotti did not need.

    Madrid have struggled with injuries of late as they were without star striker Karim Benzema for Sunday’s win over Granada, while Ferland Mendy also missed out.

  • La Liga: Nothing personal against Hazard – Ancelotti

    La Liga: Nothing personal against Hazard – Ancelotti

    Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti insists there’s no issues around Eden Hazard.

    However, Ancelotti says the Belgian hasn’t done enough to warrant a start.

    He said, “When I say that nothing has happened, I’m referring to his personal situation and the relationship. Nothing has happened in terms of his fitness, he’s fine and is training well. Besides that, there’s another decision I have to make.

    “The fact that Hazard doesn’t play in a particular game is because I choose to play another player, but Hazard against Elche and scored. He’s played when I believed that he could help the team and he has done that. However, it’s nothing to do with his fitness or for personal reasons, we’re not hiding anything here.”

  • Copa del Rey: Benzema to miss Real Madrid’s clash with Athletic Bilbao

    Copa del Rey: Benzema to miss Real Madrid’s clash with Athletic Bilbao

    Karim Benzema has been left out of Real Madrid’s squad for the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday due to a hamstring injury.

    The France international’s fitness has been a source of concern since he hobbled off in the second half of Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw with Elche in LaLiga on Jan. 23.

    During his pre-match news conference, Carlo Ancelotti was hopeful the striker would be fit for the trip to San Mames.

    He has been in sensational form this season with 24 goals in 28 games in all competitions.

    But Ancelotti insisted no risks would be taken.

    Benzema’s name was not in the 22-man squad for the match against Athletic Bilbao which was released later on Wednesday.

    This prompted concerns about his fitness for the UEFA Champions League last-16 meeting with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in less than two weeks.

    Mariano Diaz and Ferland Mendy also miss out through injury, while Marcelo is ineligible due to suspension.

    However, Marco Asensio could make his return from a hamstring injury sustained in the Supercopa de Espana success against FC Barcelona.

  • Tuchel places Real Madrid defender top of Chelsea shopping list

    Tuchel places Real Madrid defender top of Chelsea shopping list

    Premier League side Chelsea are interested in Real Madrid defender Eder Militao.

    AS says Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel wants to see the Brazil international signed this summer.

    Tuchel needs to reinforce his defensive options this year with Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta and Toni Rudiger all off contract in June.

    And it’s suggested Militao is now top of his summer shopping list.

    The stopper has a deal at Real Madrid to 2025.

  • I play for Real Madrid for a reason – Valverde

    I play for Real Madrid for a reason – Valverde

    Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde says he’ll lean on his club experience to help Uruguay.

    Valverde is hoping to go to the Qatar World Cup with his Uruguay, having been an important player for his country for a number of years now.

    The midfielder put in an impressive performance as Uruguay claimed a big win over Paraguay, and he knows he’ll have to do the same in another crucial game against Venezuela.

    “I have to do my part,” Valverde said at a press conference this week. “I have to be more of an important player.

    “This is an important period and I have to hold my head up, stick my chest out and show why I’m here. I play for Real Madrid for a reason.”

  • UEFA order Carlo Ancelotti back to school

    UEFA order Carlo Ancelotti back to school

    Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is being ordered back to school.

    Il Corriere dello Sport says the Italian’s coaching license expired on December 31 and UEFA have already informed Ancelotti.

    To renew his license, Ancelotti must take a 15-hour course.

    However, the Spanish Federation has already spoken with Ancelotti to assure him that he will speak with UEFA to resolve the situation.

    In Italy, industry insiders say it is very surprising and many describe it as “embarrassing” because they do not understand that Ancelotti, with more than 1,200 games on the bench and with 21 titles to his credit, has seen his license expire and must take courses to renew it.

  • La Liga: Bale told not to leave Madrid through the backdoor

    La Liga: Bale told not to leave Madrid through the backdoor

    Real Madrid forward, Gareth Bale’s family are urging him to leave Santiago Bernabeu the right way.

    Marca says it’s clear that Bale’s career as a Real Madrid player will be over at the end of the season, yet with the return of Carlo Ancelotti, the Welsh international has been allowed to live in peace.

    There has been the occasional moment of action in the first-team, whilst there is complete respect between the Italian coach and the player.

    It is this relationship that has opened the door for Bale to leave the club in the right way, as a player who arrived from abroad and won four Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, two LaLiga Santander titles, three Copa del Rey titles and three Supercopa de Espana titles.

    The message from his family and friends was a request to leave the Spanish club, but to do so on his own terms, not via the ignominy of the back door.

    His family feel that he can’t simply leave Madrid silently, as if he were just another run of the mill player, but instead he has to leave as someone who achieved everything possible with the Spanish giants.