Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos says he hopes they can sign PSG striker Kylian Mbappe.
Off contract in June, Mbappe is expected to join Real at the end of the season.
Kroos told TVE: “It is interesting to sign Mbappé, he is a very, very top player and here we always want players like that.
“It is no secret that Madrid loves him.”
Kroos was also asked about the form of teammate Eden Hazard.
He added: “I trust him, from one day to the next you don’t lose quality.”
Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard is not interested in joining Newcastle United.
The Belgian has been linked with a move back to the Premier League and to the big spending Magpies.
However, El Nacional in Spain suggests the 31-year-old attacking midfielder does not see Newcastle as an option.
If he is to leave Real, he wants to join a team that is a “big player” in European football.
Chelsea may be interested in bringing Hazard back to Stamford Bridge in the summer, and such an option may appeal to the playmaker as well.
Paris Saint-Germain center-back Sergio Ramos has said he’s “going to die” for his club when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16.
The Spanish centre-back was asked about his emotions upon drawing his former club in Europe, and he left no doubts about his allegiance.
Ramos has only managed to play in one match this year for PSG amid prolonged muscular injuries, but he will hope to be available in the spring for the momentous two-legged clash.
Ramos almost played Manchester United instead of Real Madrid, but PSG were re-drawn against the Spanish side in an emotional turn of events for him.
“You know the affection and love I have for Real Madrid,” Ramos said. “Now it’s my turn to defend PSG and I’ll do everything possible to do it. It’s the team that bet on me. I’m going to die for PSG.”
“I would have liked not to have that confrontation [with Real Madrid], but returning to the Santiago Bernabeu is cause for joy [because] I could not have a real farewell because of Covid restrictions.”
Real Madrid defender David Alaba was delighted with their 4-1 win against Valencia.
Real Madrid currently sit top of the LaLiga table.
Alaba said: “We wanted to win this game and take the three points, especially after this week. We feel very confident after this. We’re where we deserve to be and where we have to be. Our goal is to win the league and to do so we try and win every game.”
On goalscorers Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior, Alaba also said: “They’re both hugely important for us. Not just today but over the last few months these two players have shown themselves to be big players for us.
“They’ve demonstrated how professional they are, how they live for the game and I’ve seen how hard they work day in day out, in particular how Vini Jr. has come on. You can see all of it reflected on the pitch. We know we always have to work as a team and we try to help Vini Jr., but above all we try and play as a unit.”
Real Madrid captain Marcelo says he intends to play out his contract this season.
The Brazilian’s deal runs to the end of the season and there was speculation he could leave this month.
After their Copa del Rey victory over Alcoyano, Marcelo said: “Since I arrived at the club I have always given my best.
“I will continue until the end of my contract, I owe a lot to this shirt and I will continue giving everything to the end.
“If I play less or more it does not matter; I have one history at the club, a successful career and I will continue to the end.”
Real Madrid have distanced themselves from a move to sign Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea.
The German is presently out of contract at the Stamford Bridge club in the summer.
He can sign a pre-contract with a foreign team this month, and leave for nothing at the end of the season.
However, Marca are reporting that Rudiger demanded too high a wage from Real during negotiations.
They have pulled the plug on signing the German, as they are happy with Eder Militao and David Alaba as their first choice defensive pairing.
Rudiger wanted £200,000 per week, and as he would possibly be third choice next season at Real, the Spanish giants felt the deal was too rich to conclude.
Real Madrid’s 15-game unbeaten run came to an end yesterday as they suffered a shock 1-0 loss at relegation-battling Getafe in La Liga.
Madrid’s surprise defeat gives fresh hope to the beleaguered chasing pack in Spain, after Eder Militao’s early error allowed Enes Unal to score the winner at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Madrid have taken command of the Spanish title race after a superb run of form that included 10 consecutive wins and 15 matches without defeat, their last loss coming at Espanyol on October 3.
But Carlo Ancelotti’s side were woefully out of sorts in their first outing of 2022 and, aside from a brief spell in the first half, struggled really even to threaten the Getafe goal.
Eden Hazard came on at halftime but again failed to shake his team into life while Karim Benzema was unusually quiet up front. Madrid certainly missed the penetration of Vinicius Junior, who was absent after testing positive for Covid-19.
Ancelotti’s mood was summed up in the second half when the deflated Italian on the bench slumped over and dropped his head after a Toni Kroos free-kick drifted harmlessly out of play.
Getafe lost eight games in a row earlier in the season but came in on the back of an upturn in form under Quique Sanchez Flores, having gone five games unbeaten, including a pair of wins over Cadiz and Osasuna.
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has dominated the stats in the first-half of the season.
The Frenchman tops the LaLiga Santander rankings in total shots produced, efforts on target and goals scored in this calendar year, with his numbers excellent once again.
No player has scored more goals than Benzema’s 15 in 2021/22, followed by Real Betis forward Juanmi (11) and Vinicius (10).
In 2021, Benzema registered 139 shots, followed by Lionel Messi (111), who departed Barcelona back in August.
The France international has also managed 66 shots on target compared to Leo Messi’s 48 and has scored 30 times in LaLiga Santander, with the Argentine netting 23 before leaving the Blaugrana.
Former Real Madrid defender Cicinho has recalled choosing the Spanish giants ahead of Manchester United 16 years ago.
Although he was close to moving to United from Sao Paulo, Cicinho ultimately signed with Real Madrid and he has explained why.
“Today marks 16 years since my arrival at Real Madrid,” he posted on social media on Tuesday.
“Sorry Sir Alex Ferguson, but in 2005 Roberto Carlos called me and asked me if I wanted to come play with him on the Galacticos team.
“Almost everything was ready for me to go to Manchester United, but how could I say ‘no’ to the opportunity to join Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos,[Zinedine] Zidane, [Luis} Figo, [David] Beckham, Robinho, Raul, Julio Baptista, [Iker] Casillas, Sergio Ramos and co.?”
Real Madrid players are expecting to be joined by Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger.
The Telegraph says Chelsea have been left frustrated during contract talks with Rudiger having failed to make progress and agree fresh terms – the German is said to be demanding double the £140,000 the club are currently offering.
Real Madrid are willing to stump up that salary, the report adds, with the Spanish giant’s squad now believing more than ever that Rudiger will join their ranks next season.
If Rudiger does move to the Bernabeu, he would join former Chelsea stars in Eden Hazard and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois – who both forced moves to the Spanish capital over the last few years.
Both players are likely to give Rudiger a glowing report of life in Madrid, it continues, despite Hazard’s struggles for form and fitness since making his £150million move in the summer of 2019.
Chelsea are intent on keeping Rudiger but are also concerned that they could be held to ransom as they continue negotiating contract, with fears the talks could set a precedent and cause issues in the dressing room.