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Tag: Real Madrid

  • Leaving Real Madrid was easy – Ronaldo

    Cristiano Ronaldo says it was “an easy decision” to leave Real Madrid for Juventus, Skysports reports.

    Ronaldo left the Bernabeu after a glittering nine-year stint, in which he won four Champions League titles, moving to Turin for £105m.

    The Portugal forward, 33, spoke of his astonishment at the reception he received when being unveiled at the club’s stadium, and has high hopes for Juventus’ future.

    In an interview with broadcaster DAZN, Ronaldo said, “I never expected to play in this team, but some things happen naturally, for me it was an easy decision, what was done in Madrid is incredible, I won everything, my family lives there, but it’s part of the past.

    “The small details make the big difference at the end of the day so. I would say what I saw in the stadium helped. And, of course, when the people start to applaud me in the stadium I was like: ‘Wow’.

    “It surprised me a lot because this has never happened in my life, so it was an unbelievable moment.”

    Ronaldo, who played a huge part in each of Real Madrid’s Champions League successes, says winning Europe’s biggest club title is the aim for his time at the club.

    Juventus have won the European Cup twice, the last coming in 1996, and have been runners-up five times since.

  • Ronaldo exit no excuse for Madrid loss to Atletico – Casemiro

    Real Madrid cannot use the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo as an excuse for underachieving this season, midfielder Casemiro said after losing the UEFA Super Cup 4-2 to Atletico Madrid in Real’s first competitive game since their talisman joined Juventus.

    “Of course we miss Cristiano, but that’s in the past now,” Casemiro told reporters after his side were overpowered by their city rivals in extra time in Tallinn in coach Julen Lopetegui’s first match since succeeding Zinedine Zidane.

    “We cannot talk about Cristiano to cover things up, because any team would miss Cristiano. We are upset about losing a trophy but this is just the start. We have total confidence in our coach and giving excuses is not what Real Madrid do.”

    Real have not yet signed a replacement for the man who scored 451 goals and led them to four Champions League titles in the last five seasons.

    The club received 105 million euros (£93.82 million) from Juve for Ronaldo in July, but the only new recruit at the Bernabeu has been goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea.

    Casemiro, however, said the loss to Atletico did not mean his side had to go out and make urgent signings.

    “One result doesn’t mean we have a better or worse squad, those in charge of the club will decide whether or not we need more signings,” added the Brazilian.

     

  • Super Cup preview: Real Madrid prepare for first game without Ronaldo

    Real Madrid will play their first competitive game without Cristiano Ronaldo when they take on city rivals Atletico Madrid in the Uefa Super Cup in Estonia, on Wednesday

    New Real manager Julen Lopetegui takes charge of his first game since replacing Zinedine Zidane as manager.

    Real have won just one of their past 10 La Liga meetings with Atletico.

    However, the European champions beat Diego Simeone’s side in the Champions League in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    Simeone remains suspended from the touchline after he was sent off in Atletico’s Europa League semi-final against Arsenal and was handed a four-match ban. He will be serving the third match of the suspension.

    Team news

    Forward Vinicius Junior, an 18-year-old signing from Flamengo, could feature but defender Alvaro Odriozola, bought from Real Sociedad, will miss the game in Tallinn with a minor groin injury.

    New Atletico signings Thomas Lemar, Rodri, Nikola Kalinic, Gelson Martins and Santiago Arias have all travelled to Estonia.

    World Cup winners Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Hernandez are also expected to play.

    ‘We never feel beneath anyone’

    Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui: “My first official game is a final. A match that Real Madrid have earned the right to play in once again.

    “Atletico are a team we know well and it will be a local derby. It’s all set up to be a great match and a great final. They are a great team with great players, and a coach who has been there for years leading them in the right direction.

    “It’ll be a tough game both physically and tactically. It’s a final and these two teams will bring the best out of each other. We’re focused on what we need to do to beat Atletico.”

    Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone: “The important thing is the emotion, the hope. This game could be decided on an emotional level.

    “The arrival of good players guarantees good individuals but not a better team until we are all working in the same direction. Obviously our budgets are not the same. But in terms of motivation we never feel beneath anyone.

    “In this match we will do everything we can to take the game where we want it.”

    Match facts

    Head-to-head

    It is the first time in 43 seasons that both sides in the Super Cup have come from the same city

    The Champions League holders have won 23 of the 42 editions

    This will be the fourth time in the past five years that the Super Cup will be contested by two Spanish sides

    It will be Spain’s 15th Super Cup triumph. Italy have nine with England on seven

    Real Madrid

    Real Madrid can become the first side to win three successive Super Cups

    They have won four of their six games in this competition

    It is Real Madrid’s seventh appearance in the Super Cup (W4, L2)

    Atletico Madrid

    Atletico have won both of their past two games in the competition

    They can become the first club to make it three victories from three in this competition; they are currently level with Anderlecht, Juventus and Valencia

    The two teams have met nine times in Uefa competition but Atletico have never beaten Real Madrid in a final or eliminated them in Europe

    BBC

  • BREAKING: Thibaut Courtois joins Real Madrid on six-year deal

    BREAKING: Thibaut Courtois joins Real Madrid on six-year deal

    Belgian goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois has completed his move to Real Madrid from Chelsea, and has been unveiled by the Spanish club.

    The former Chelsea stopper, 26, was given a hero’s welcome on his arrival at the Bernabeu as he finally bagged his move to Spain on a six-year deal.

    Courtois has been angling for a move back to Madrid all summer in order to spend more time with his family.

    Just a day before the Premier League transfer window shut, the ex-Atletico star got his wish.

    In return, they allowed Courtois to walk, while Mateo Kovacic moved the other way, joining the Blues on loan for the season.

    Courtois won two Premier League titles in his four seasons as Chelsea’s number one, raking in over 100 appearances for the club.

    The Belgian international was awarded the Golden Glove at the World Cup this summer for his efforts with his country in Russia.

  • Chelsea sign Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid

    Chelsea sign Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid

    Chelsea have completed the signing of Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid on a season-long loan.

    The 24-year-old moves to London as part of the deal that takes Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid.

    The Croatian international leaves the Spanish capital after three years at the club following his move from Inter Milan in 2015.

    Kovacic made just 17 appearances in La Liga last season and moves to the Premier League in search of regular first-team football.

    He also played five games during Croatia’s run to the World Cup final this summer.

    Kovacic told Chelsea’s club website: “I am really happy and excited to be here at Chelsea. It is an amazing feeling. I will try to do my best for this club.

    “It is a new league for me, the beginning is always tough but I am sure the coach and my new team-mates will help me and I am looking forward to a great season.”

    Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia added: “We are very happy to welcome Mateo to the Chelsea family. He is a perfect fit for us this season, his style is well suited to how Maurizio wants to play and we are sure he will prove to be a valuable asset for the club.”

  • Chelsea agree courtois deal with Real Madrid, Kovacic to arrive on loan

    Chelsea have agreed to sell Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid, with midfielder Mateo Kovacic arriving on loan from the Spanish club.

    The Blues say the deal is still subject to Courtois agreeing personal terms and completing a medical.

    Real plan to present the 26-year-old, who will sign a six-year deal, as their new signing on Thursday.

    Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa Arrizabalaga arrives Chelsea as his replacement for £71m – a world record for a goalkeeper.

    And Croatia midfielder Kovacic, 24, will have a medical on Wednesday before joining on a season-long loan.

    He has spent the past three campaigns at Real since joining from Inter Milan, and played in Croatia’s run to the World Cup final in July.

    Courtois has been a Chelsea player since 2011, when he signed from Genk.

    He was immediately loaned to Atletico Madrid, where he played until 2014, before returning as the Blues’ number one.

    On Monday he was absent from Chelsea’s Cobham training ground, where he was due to take part following his involvement at the World Cup.

    Courtois was voted best goalkeeper at the tournament, with Belgium beating England in a third-place play-off.

    Kepa, 23, arrives Stamford Bridge after a release clause in his contract was met, with the deal surpassing Alisson’s £66.8m July move to Liverpool.

    He is Spain’s number two behind Manchester United’s David de Gea and has one international cap.

  • Courtois absent from Chelsea training amid Real Madrid links

    Courtois absent from Chelsea training amid Real Madrid links

    Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, did not report for training with the Premier League club on Monday.

    And it is understood the Blues do not know when the 26-year-old Belgium international will return.

    Courtois has been a Blues player since 2011, when he signed from Belgian club Genk and was loaned to Atletico Madrid.

    Chelsea winger Eden Hazard has also been linked with Real, but did attend training with the Blues on Monday.

    Courtois was named best goalkeeper at this summer’s World Cup in Russia, where Belgium beat England in the third-place play-off.

    He has played 154 times for Chelsea, keeping 58 clean sheets and conceding 152 goals.

    Speaking on Friday, new Blues manager Maurizio Sarri said he was unsure whether Courtois would stay.

    He said: “At the moment Courtois is the goalkeeper of Chelsea. I don’t know in the future. It depends on the club, it depends especially on him, but I hope Courtois will be our goalkeeper.”

    BBC

  • Gareth Bale stunner helps Madrid beat Juventus

    Gareth Bale stunner helps Madrid beat Juventus

    Gareth Bale’s stunning strike helped Real Madrid fight back to beat Juventus in a friendly which did not feature Cristiano Ronaldo against his old club.

    Juve led when right-back Dani Carvajal slid into his own net before Bale equalised with a thumping half-volley.

    Marco Asensio put Madrid ahead and then scored a third that Juve’s Wojciech Szczesny should have stopped.

    Ronaldo, who joined Juve last month in a £99m deal, has been given an extended break after the World Cup.

    Madrid allowed the 33-year-old to leave for the Italian champions after a nine-year spell which saw him score a club record 450 goals and win four Champions League titles.

    The Portugal forward’s departure appears to have secured Bale’s future at the Bernabeu for the time being, with new coach Julen Lopetegui saying the Wales forward can “help fill the void” this season.

    Lopetegui is also hoping a number of young players can also step up this season for the European champions and, on the evidence of this pre-season friendly in Maryland, USA, it looks like they can.

    Several younger players impressed in the second half as Bale, Germany midfielder Toni Kroos and striker Karim Benzema came off.

    Spain international Asensio, 22, took his chances in front of goal, while 18-year-old Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior – who joined this summer in a £38.7m deal – was a constant problem with his sharp and direct running.

    The pair linked up for the European champions’s second goal, Vinicius skipping into space on the left before squaring for Asensio to roll in.

    Juventus had little answer to the pace and energy of their opponents after that, although Federico Bernardeschi did see an injury-time free-kick pushed onto the bar.

  • Chelsea must let Courtois join Real Madrid, says agent

    Chelsea must let Courtois join Real Madrid, says agent

    Christophe Henrotay has appealed for the Blues to do the decent thing and allow the goalkeeper to move closer to his children in the Spanish capital
    Thibaut Courtois’ representative has urged Chelsea to allow the goalkeeper to join Real Madrid.The Belgium international shot-stopper holds a desire to move back to Spain, where he spent two years on loan at Atletico Madrid, in order to be closer to his family.

    Los Blancos have been keen to make a move, but thus far the Blues have refused to budge on their £40 million (€45m/$52m) valuation of the player.

    While no deal is in place, manager Maurizio Sarri did not appear confident on Friday that the Stamford Bridge will be able to retain their No.1, while former Belgium coach Graeme Jones says that a move is “definitely” on the cards.

    “I have been reading everywhere that Chelsea are saying it is up to Thibaut, but he has made it clear to the club that the best option for him is to move to Madrid,” Christophe Henrotay said, according to The Sun.

    “For him this is a big decision because he wants to be near his family, and there is an offer in place for Chelsea to accept.”

    Some supporters have criticised the 26-year-old as they feel that his desire to move to the Bernabeu is being financially driven, but Henrotay has dismissed those claims out of hand.

    “We have seen suggestions that it is about money, and it is true he could get an increase with a move.

    “But he has turned down a better offer elsewhere because this is more than a financial decision.

    “Throughout this it has important for everyone to be reasonable, and the buying club has come up with a reasonable offer for a player who has one year left on his contract when they know they could sign him without a fee in 12 months.

    “Chelsea could get a fair fee for him now and sign a replacement. Or they would still have to sign a replacement next summer, but without getting a fee for Thibaut.

    “It is understandable people might be upset because he wants to leave the club, we accept that.

    “But this is a human decision based on someone wanting to be close to his children – and that is a reasonable thing too.”

    With the English transfer window set to shut next Thursday, time is running out for Chelsea to find a replacement should they decide to sell.

    Meanwhile, Courtois is expected to report back to training on Monday, just five days before Maurizio Sarri’s side begin their Premier League campaign with a fixture against Huddersfield Town.

  • Inter Milan contact Madrid for World Cup MVP

    Inter Milan contact Madrid for World Cup MVP

    Inter Milan have made contact with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric’s agents over a move, according to Sky in Italy.

    Modric is understood to be open to the move after initial discussions took place with the midfielder’s representatives.

    The 32-year-old played in 43 games for Real last season, which culminated in their third straight Champions League title, and Modric has since captained his country to the World Cup final in Russia, winning the Golden Ball award for best player.

    Inter, who are actively pursuing midfield targets as a priority, will compete in the Champions League for the first time in six years this season after a final day victory over Lazio.

    The Serie A club, managed by Luciano Spalletti, are believed to have lined up Bayern Munich’s Arturo Vidal if they cannot sign Modric.

    Modric’s countrymen Marcelo Brozovic, Ivan Perisic and Sime Vrsaljko, who joined from Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, are already at the San Siro.