Bale gunning for Atlético

Gareth Bale will not be fit in time for Real Madrid's Champions League first leg against Roma. His recovery from a right calf-muscle injury was on course for him to make the showdown against the Italian side on 17th February, but those plans have now been scuppered.

Sources have told MARCA that Bale has not suffered a relapse but has indeed been advised to ease off on the rigorous training programme he was following to prevent the injury becoming more serious.

It was initially estimated that the 'Los Blancos' forward, who picked up the injury in the match against Sporting Gijón, would be sidelined for three weeks, which would have seen him packing his bags to head to Rome's Stadio Olimpico without any problem. The original recovery schedule even allowed for a possible return for Saturday's match against Athletic. The focus now, however, is on being ready to face Atlético Madrid on 27th February.

Neither Zinedine Zidane nor the medical team, the club, or the player himself, are fans of taking chances when it comes to muscle injuries.

 

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Neville in spotlight for cup non-event

When the Copa del Rey semi-finals draw was made, nobody would have thought that the second leg at the Mestalla would be a damp squib.

However, Valencia's brutal 7-0 hammering by Barça at the Camp Nou makes tonight's match a write-off and a game that both teams could probably do without. Where the 'Azulgranas' are concerned, because it is another fixture in a long, long season and comes at a time when they would rather be saving their strength to make a definitive move in the title race. 'Los Che' also have their sights firmly set on La Liga, albeit for the opposite reason: they desperately need a win this weekend against Espanyol to stave off fears of being dragged into the relegation battle.

Considering the first-leg scoreline, Luis Enrique has no reason to bring out his big guns and will definitely be resting many of his first-choice stars. The Catalan giants are already thinking ahead to their next two league encounters, at home to Celta on Sunday and away in Gijón next Wednesday, winning both of which would open up a six- and seven-point lead respectively over Atlético and Real Madrid at the top of the table. After that, the Champions League tie against Arsenal looms large.

Valencia will also field an almost unrecognisable line-up, with under-fire coach Gary Neville having drafted several B-team players into the fold to ensure none of his key men picks up an injury ahead of the Espanyol crunch match.

 

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Barcelona are taking the kids to Valencia for Copa clash as Messi, Suarez & Neymar stay at home

Barcelona travel to Valencia with a new-look squad. Those being given a break are as important as those being given a chance. Given the 7-0 lead Barça hold heading into Wednesday night’s semi-final second leg at Mestalla against Valencia in the Copa del Rey, Luis Enrique has rotated his squad to the extreme.
The Barça boss has called up all five of the B team players that have been training with the first team this week. Wilfrid Kaptoum, Sergi Samper, Dani Romera, Juan Camara and Gerard Gumbau. In addition, he has also included Juvenil player Carles Aleña, who is the surprise inclusion in the squad. 
Meanwhile, Barcelona have left all the components of the trident - Messi, who’s recovering from a kidney procedure, Neymar and Luis Suarez - at home, while Claudio Bravo, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Dani Alves, Arda Turan, Andres Iniesta, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba also miss out.
The squad is: Ter Stegen, Masip, Douglas, Rakitic, Bartra, Munir, Sandro, Sergi Roberto, Adriano, Aleix Vidal, Vermaelen, Mathieu, Kaptoum, Samper, Romera, Camara, Gumbau, Aleña.

 

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Zidane: "Messi? Cristiano Ronaldo is the best"

Zinedine Zidane gave an interview to Mexican sports paper Récord in which he revealed his lofty standards at Real Madrid and praised the quality of the squad at his disposal.

The French coach did not hold back when asked to compare Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, stating categorically that "Cristiano Ronaldo is the best". "Messi is his rival and that rivalry is good for football. It's what people want to see", he went on.

"Many things are said about Cristiano, but deep down he is a good person", Zidane added, before outlining his high expectations of himself and his charges at the Bernabéu: "We set out to win every match. That's Real Madrid's goal".

 

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Alarm bells at Real Madrid: Bale injury flares up again

 

Gareth Bale is practically certain to miss out on the Roma game due to another relapse of his calf injury. According to Sportyou, Bale has suffered a relapse of the calf injury that has plagued him and will miss Real Madrid's first eliminiation-round encounter against Roma in the Champions' League. The Welshman's superb run of form with Los Blancos was cut short on January 17 against Sporting Gijón in the Santiago Bernabéu.

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Sissoko: Shelvey can be as good as Cabaye

 

 

Moussa Sissoko believes Newcastle United have finally found their replacement for Yohan Cabaye in Jonjo Shelvey.
Shelvey joined Newcastle from fellow Premier League strugglers Swansea City last month, and the England international has already impressed his team-mates.
So much so that Sissoko has likened the former Liverpool prospect to France international Cabaye, who left St James' Park for Paris Saint-Germain in 2014 before linking up with Crystal Palace.
"I really believe that he is the replacement, two years after [Cabaye's departure]," Sissoko said.
"Jonjo, like Yohan, is a very good player. He sees the game so easily and delivers great balls.
"For me, he is the same style as Yohan and has the same qualities so for me, yes, he is an excellent signing for us.

"He has now played four games for us and you can see what he brings to the team. It has to be good for us."
Shelvey played a key role in Newcastle's 1-0 win over West Brom on Saturday, with the new signing setting up Aleksandar Mitrovic for the game's only goal in the 32nd minute.
The result helped Newcastle out of the relegation zone and a point clear of the drop.
Sissoko added: "Now we have to grow with him, make sure we make the most of his vision and his range of passing to pick up as many points as we can between now and the end of the season.
"When we lost Yohan, the club did not bring in another player like him. There was a gap.
"We still had good players like Cheick [Tiote] and Jack [Colback] but they are very different styles. They were not like Yohan.
"With Jonjo, he is the perfect style for us because he fits in so well. Players like myself and Gini [Wijnaldum] like to go forward and he can pick us out so easily.

"It makes such a difference and now we must feed off him. It worked against West Brom with Jonjo spotting Mitro [for Mitrovic's goal] and it will happen again. "He has already become a very important member of this team because he is different."
 

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West Ham may have to offer Dimitri Payet a new contract to keep him at the club, admits Slaven Bilic

West Ham may have to offer Dimitri Payet a new contract to keep him at the club, admits Slaven Bilic

French playmaker Payet is only seven months into a five-year deal following his £10.75million summer switch from Marseille.
But such has been the 28-year-old's impact at Upton Park, Bilic knows he will have admirers among Europe's elite.
"The club is moving, with the new stadium and everything, and the most important move is to keep your best players," said Bilic.
"Dimitri Payet is our best player. And of course I would love to have him happy, long-term, at the club.
"He only signed a few months ago, but he has made a huge impact and while he has a long contract he is in a good position.
"We all want to keep him for a long, long time."
Payet has scored six goals and helped create plenty more this season, although he was not at his best during last week's win over Aston Villa or Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Southampton.
But Bilic, who has compared the midfielder to Arsenal's Mesut Ozil, insists people cannot expect miracles from him every week.
"It's hard if you set yourself a standard, like the second half against Bournemouth when he scored a great free-kick and made a brilliant assist," added the Hammers boss.
"I can't expect from him every week to score goals and make some great things.
"Ozil? He did it at the weekend but two weeks ago he didn't. Those positions are the most difficult ones. Did David Silva do it at the weekend? No, he didn't. Is he dropped? No, he's a great player."
Payet is expected to start Tuesday's FA Cup fourth-round replay against Liverpool but defender James Tomkins is out with a calf injury.

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Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool need to resolve ticket dispute with fans

 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp returned to work less than 48 hours after having his appendix removed and immediately set about trying to cure some of the club's own ailments.

The German missed Saturday's 2-2 draw with Sunderland after being rushed to hospital for an operation and so did not witness the 77th-minute walkout of fans protesting at the rise in ticket prices next season.
Klopp was prevented from answering questions on the matter in his press conference ahead of the match, but, having discovered what happened at Anfield at the weekend, he waded straight into the row.

 

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Madrid lodge appeal over revoked coaching license

 

Real Madrid have lodged an appeal to the State Sports Council (CSD) in an attempt to get the decision take by the Spanish Football Federation to revoke the license of Zidane's assistant, David Bettoni. The club describe Bettoni's role as being “in charge of equipment”. For that reason, Bettoni has not appeared in the technical area during Real Madrid's last two league matches against Espanyol and Granada.

The problem originates from the fact that Bettoni doesn't have the documentation which is required to act as an assistant coach. Since last summer, the Federation demands that all assistant coaches have the same qualifications as the head coach and Bettoni only has the ‘UEFA A’ license which is inferior to the ‘UEFA Pro’ license which allows coaches to carry out their duties with teams in the top three divisions in Spain.

To get around this requisite, Real Madrid listed Bettoni (defined as “Assistant Coach” on the club's official web page) as “in charge of equipment” with the Madrid Football Federation, the body in charge of processing registration of professionals (coaches apart) who are permitted in the technical area during matches.
The RFEF's Coaching Committee have investigated to see whether Bettoni's license corresponds with the functions he is expected to carry out and have reached the conclusion that it doesn't which is why they have withdrawn his registration.
Article 231 of the RFEF's regulations states: “only the coach, understood as the first or second coach, has the ability to leave the bench to give instructions to the team.  Violation of this rule is liable to punishment according to the disciplinary code”.

 

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Barcelona confirm Lionel Messi's kidney problems - player to undergo tests and studies on Tuesday

 

FC Barcelona have confirmed in a press release on Monday evening that Lionel Messi will undergo a “series of tests and studies” on Tuesday to evaluate the “kidney stone problems” which he suffered from during December at the Club World Cup in Japan. He missed the semi-final win over Chinese side Guangzhou. 
The statement, in any case, plays down any fears and assures that “the player will return to training with his team-mates on Wednesday”, so it seems evident the problem is a minor one with an easy solution. 
Messi will head to the Dexeus Clinic early on Tuesday morning for the procedure - according to unofficial sources - which should see the elimination of the kidney stones once and for all. It’s probable he’s been struggling with them since December. 
It seems likely his presence in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey game against Valencia will be ruled out, above all because the 7-0 win at Camp Nou in the first leg has already sentenced the tie.

 

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Cristiano: "I'll stay here another two years, and then we'll see"

 

Cristiano Ronaldo reiterated that he will fulfill his contract with Real Madrid, which ends on June 30, 2018. "This is the best league in the world, although I also played in the Premiership. It's fantastic, competitive, and with great players. It is a privilege to leave my mark on it. I want to stay here two more years. And the future, we'll see. The two years I'm talking about take me to the end of my contract."

The Real Madrid star, who recently turned 31, also sent a message to fans: "I hope they continue to support us. We will give everything on the field and aim to win the Champions League."
He dedicated his Pichichi trophy, given to the top goal scorer, that was presented to him at a Marca gala, to others. "This is for everyone at Madrid. They work with me every day."

 

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Mourinho hints at Premier League return: "London is our home"

 

Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that he is "ready" to return to coaching, but only in the Premier League and not in Spain because La Liga is not "competitive" enough.
In his first television interview since leaving Chelsea, the Portuguese told 'Sky Sports' that he wants to stay in England with his family. "At the moment, I don't have a job. I don't know where football will take me because, in football, you never know, but for sure, as a family, our home will be in London", he said. "As a manager, I've worked since 2000 and I last stopped when I left Chelsea in 2007. I stopped for a few months and now is the second time I've stopped in 15 or 16 years, so it's not a drama, but for sure, I will go back soon. As a professional, I'm ready to move", he continued.
Mourinho also ruled out making a return to La Liga. "I always say that I need competition and I need competition every week and in Spain, I was at an amazing club but I had four matches a year: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, Real Madrid vs. Barcelona and after that we'd win 4-0, 5-0, 4-1, 6-1", he explained. "It was difficult to win the league because you are competing against another team that also win and win and win like you do, so in the end, I was champion in Spain with 100 points and I lost a league in Spain with 91 points", he recalled. "In England, you can win the leagues with 75 points, maybe less, so I needed competition", he concluded.

 

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Capello warns Real Madrid: "Roma are dangerous. It won't be easy"

Fabio Capello looked back over current events at Real Madrid on Cadena COPE's 'El partido de las 12'.

Will Barcelona win the league? "Barça still have a lot of games to play and the easy games are the most complicated because the players let their guards down. We made up nine points in 11 games. If Barça relax anything could happen".

On the Real Madrid vs. Roma Champions League game: "A month ago, Real Madrid were clear favourites, but they're less relaxed now. Careful, careful, careful. Roma are dangerous and you can't just think that it's going to be an easy game. Watch out for Spalletti. They've won three games and implemented another playing style. The players are more confident and have more belief in their coach. They're a much more organised team, one which presses much higher up the pitch and wins the ball back quickly. They're a different team".

On Zidane: "He has charisma, international experience and can triumph. I never spoke with Real Madrid about replacing Rafa Benítez".

On Ronaldo: "He easily has three years of football ahead of him. He'll have more experience, he looks after himself and could easily play until he's 34".

On Guardiola in the Premier League: "Manchester City can rest easy. They have the best team in England and Pep knows what to do with his players. They just need to sign two or three players to strengthen the squad, amongst them a centre-back".

 

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Mascherano: If Neymar wants to be the best, he has to stay at Barça

FC Barcelona player Javier Mascherano has some advice for team-mate Neymar regarding his future as he tries to thrash out a new deal with the Catalan club. 

"I'm not one to talk about personal subjects, but the truth is I see him happy and comfortable in Barcelona," Mascherano said.

"If he hopes to be the best in the world in the future, he has to stay at Barcelona, because it's the team which bests suits his style. But it's a personal decision."

In any case, the Barça defender doesn't think Neymar is affected by his problems with the tax office: "I have experienced a similar situation. 

"We all have problems in our lives, but the dressing room has experienced desperate situations, such as illnesses. Everything else can be resolved." 

Speaking about the win over Levante, Mascherano said that "something we've evolved in respect to other years is that we can win these types of complicated games."

He credited Luis Enrique for that: "He's a manager that has been able to make us an unpredictable team, although we don't have many secrets because we don't know how to play in any other way."

Mascherano also compared the current crop to the Pep Guardiola side: "Now we have more decisive players in the final third and we don't need to have as many touches and as much possession to reach the opposition's goal." 

With respect to Rafael Benitez's Real Madrid dismissal, he said that he is "not obejective" because "in the three and a half years I had with him at Liverpool he was a very important person - both professionally and personally."

 

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Perez wants Bale, not Ronaldo, on Madrid's free kicks

It is evident that Cristiano Ronaldo's performances are way below the standards he has set for himself. Not just because he's not shown up in the big games, where he has disappeared, but also because of his lack of effectiveness from free kicks, something he excelled at when he arrived at Real Madrid. 

. It's data which makes for tough reading for the Portuguese star, who has even stopped the 'show' which used to come before he took free kicks. 

Such is Madrid's disappointment with Ronaldo's free kicks, not even president Florentino Perez has been capable of repressing his feelings on the matter. According to Diario AS, Perez admitted a few days ago that Gareth Bale is much better than Ronaldo from dead ball situations. 

In an event attended by Perez in his role as president of ACS, an assistant attending the event asked about Ronaldo's future, rejecting the idea of selling him: "You cannot sell Cristiano, he's Madrid's best player!"

Perez's response was as blunt as it was surprising: "Yes, but Bale takes the free kicks, not Cristiano..." 

For a few months now the relationship between Florentino Perez and Cristiano Ronaldo has been progressively deteriorating. So much so that the president wants Neymar or Lewnadowski, or both, to take the Portuguese international's place.

 

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Ronaldo casts doubts on long-term Madrid future again

Cristiano Ronaldo has once again put his long-term future in doubt after picking up the Pichichi award for last season at the Premios MARCA on Monday. 

Asked about his current situation at Real Madrid, he said: "I have been in Spain for six years and for me it's the best league in the world. I was also at Manchester United, but [England] is a very competitive league, with players with great potential. For me it is a privilege to leave my mark. I want to stay here for a couple more years, which is how long my contract is, and in the future we'll see." 

The Portuguese won the top scorer award for the third year running and dedicated it to his team-mates: "I dedicate this prize to the team, the staff, to everyone at Madrid, because without them I couldn't have scored so many goals. It is for everyone from Madrid." 

Cristiano also joked that there should be an award for the best dressed man. 

The forward, who met with his former manager Carlo Ancelotti, who was also at the gala, made this season's desire clear: "We are going to try and win the Champions League."

 

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The day Neymar wrote 'Hala Madrid!' in a message

Neymar is the player Florentino Perez would most like to sign for Real Madrid. After the Brazilian rejected Los Blancos to sign for Barcelona, the capital club have not stopped thinking about eventually signing the 24-year-old. 

The speculation surrounding his future has come at the same time as Barcelona are in court regarding his signing from Santos in 2013. 

Now, keeping on the same line, new information has appeared regarding the talks Neymar and Madrid had before he signed for the Catalan club. 

According to elconfidencial.com, Juni Calafat, Madrid's man in Brazil, has in his power a message written by Neymar just a couple of years ago. 

It seems that Calafat, who was previously Madrid's main scout in South America, had a friendship with Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Kaka which allowed him to get close to Neymar and his family. It was Calafat that arranged a trial for a 14-year-old Neymar at Madrid in 2006 - a trial which didn't result in him staying at Real Madrid. 

However, it seems that the friendship between Calafat and the Neymars was maintained and when he came to Spain in 2014 for a family party he received a message from Neymar. According to one of those present at the party it said: "Juni, have you arrived in Spain OK? You know I am a Madridsta. Hala Madrid!" 

A wink to his Madrid friend which will lead to more speculation on Neymar's future at Camp Nou.

 

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Has Messi bought world's most expensive Ferrari?

Has Messi bought world's most expensive ferrari

Has Lionel Messi bought the most expensive Ferrari in the world? That is what the Proto Organisation have claimed, whose owner, Alessandro Proto, auctioned off the 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti in Paris for around 32 million euros. 

The buyer has remained anonymous, but claims suggest it could be Messi, according to a press release published by the Italian's company. 

Proto Organisation also say Cristiano Ronaldo was interested in the car (which was driven by Sterling Moss in the Cuban Grand Prix in 1958), but Messi won the bidding. 

That bidding began at 20 million euros and ended at 32 million euros, which is a record for the sale of a car. Sources close to the player, however, deny that Messi was behind the purchase. 

Alessandro Proto, who sold the Ferrari, is an Italian multi-millionaire who has been keen to get his name in the news recently. He was behind the story about Ronaldo being dropped from a film which was based on his life. 

He has also sold a luxury New York penthouse to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez for 60 million euros.

 

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Messi to undergo small kidney operation

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will undergo a small procedure on Tuesday to solve the same kidney problem which kept him out of the Club World Cup semi-final in December. 

The club had suggested he had been given two days off to solve personal problems. 

However, SPORT have learned that the reality is that Messi will have a minor operation on Tuesday to solve the persistent kidney problem.  

Messi will be able to return home on the same day of the operation and in principle will be back in training on Thursday.

Leo Messi did not train on Monday with his team-mates and the club said that personal reasons were behind his absence and that Luis Enrique had granted permission. Rafinha was the only other player to miss the session, which featured several B team players. 

After the win over Levante, Barcelona return to action on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Valencia. 

Following a 7-0 first leg win, Luis Enrique is able to take advantage of his squad and give certain players a rest. Messi will therefore be among those who don't feature at Mestalla.

 

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Barça look ahead to the Spanish Cup

Following their away win over Levante, the Barcelona first-team squad held their customary recovery session with one eye on the Spanish Cup.

The Catalans face Valencia at Mestalla on Wednesday in their Spanish Cup semi-final return leg, with the tie all but decided. That is why Luis Enrique plans to rest some of his theoretical first-choice players. With that in mind, Barça B's Sergi Samper, Gerard Gumbau, Wilfrid Kaptoum, Juan Cámara and Daniel Romera all trained with the first team on Monday and some of those players could be named in the squad for Wednesday's trip to Valencia.

 

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