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Topic: Primera Liga/ La Liga (Read 9332 times)
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SPECIAL-DESIFAN
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Madrid president says he will extend Beckham's contract
« Reply #216 on: August 17, 2006, 11:13:38 PM »
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MADRID, Spain (AP) - Real Madrid's new president Ramon Calderon is prepared to offer former England captain David Beckham a new contract.
"We have talked to his agent and we agreed to extend his contract," Calderon told sports daily As on Thursday.
Calderon said Beckham wants to continue with Madrid, even though the club hasn't won a major trophy since his arrival from Manchester United in 2003.
"Beckham tells me he is happy in Madrid, that his children are happy, that (his son) Brooklyn speaks Spanish," he said.
Beckham's current contract expires in June and, if he hasn't signed a new deal by January, he will be free to negotiate with other clubs.
Doubts about Beckham's future have increased following several postponements of negotiations earlier this year. Reports have suggested Madrid's aim is to keep him for a further two years, when he will be 34.
Sports daily Marca said Wednesday that Simon Fuller, the agent of both Beckham and his wife Victoria, will negotiate the player's image rights with Madrid in September.
Half of this portion of Beckham's income goes to Madrid, and Fuller reportedly hopes to reduce the figure to 20 percent. This demand is believed to be preventing a new deal from being struck.
Calderon said Beckham remained important to Madrid both as a player and a commercial asset, which he suggested was demonstrated during the team's recent exhibition matches in the United States.
"For Madrid he is an essential player because of the way he plays and what he represents. You should have seen him in the United States," Calderon said.
Beckham said in February that he was almost certain to sign a new contract with Real Madrid.
However, in the aftermath of the resignations of two club presidents, Florentino Perez and Fernando Martin, talks were shelved.
Beckham will probably be free to concentrate on Madrid this season after being dropped by England. He previously stood down as England captain following the team's World Cup elimination.
Beckham will be keen to impress new Madrid coach Fabio Capello, who has left him out of the starting lineup in several preseason friendlies.
However, Beckham did himself no favors by arriving late for training on Wednesday evening, leaving him liable for a fine.
Source: Fox Sports
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Capello says Ronaldo won't move to Milan
« Reply #217 on: August 17, 2006, 11:14:10 PM »
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MADRID, Spain (AP) - Ronaldo won't be leaving for AC Milan or his former club Inter.
"Yesterday I spoke with Ronaldo for a while but it was a chat like with the rest (of the team). I don't see any possibility of Ronaldo joining Milan or Inter," Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello said Thursday.
Speculation about Ronaldo's future has increased since Madrid president Ramon Calderon said earlier this week that Milan had made contact about signing the striker.
The Brazilian, who last season threatened to leave Madrid due to criticism from supporters, is reportedly considering leaving because he may lose his place in Madrid's attack next season to new signing Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Spanish reports have also suggested the Spanish club could offer Ronaldo to Milan in exchange for Kaka, whose arrival was promised by Calderon in campaigning for the club's presidential election in July.
Capello's remarks were supported by Calderon in an interview with sports daily As, published on Thursday.
"If a team comes with a bag of money and Ronaldo doesn't want to go, he won't go. I don't think anything will change. For me, he is the best center forward in the world. And Capello wants him," said Calderon, who is hoping to end Madrid's three-year drought without a trophy.
Ronaldo, who spent five years with Inter before joining Madrid in 2002, has two years left on his contract. He has yet to play under Capello as he is recovering with a knee injury.
Source: Fox Sports
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Barcelona beats Espanyol 1-0
« Reply #218 on: August 17, 2006, 11:15:31 PM »
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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Ludovic Giuly's 43rd-minute goal gave FC Barcelona a 1-0 victory over crosstown rival Espanyol in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup on Thursday.
Ronaldinho created the goal by sending a pass to an unmarked Giuly, who shot past advancing goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz.
The deserved victory gave Barcelona the advantage when it returns to Camp Nou stadium for Sunday's second leg of the matchup between the league champion and the Copa del Rey winner.
Barcelona's win in its first competitive game of the new season came three months after it enjoyed one of the best seasons in its 106-year history by winning the European Champions League and retaining the league title.
The Spanish league season kicks off on Aug. 26.
Four people were slightly hurt after a group of Barcelona supporters threw stones and attacked passers-by close to Espanyol's Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium before the match, Spanish national radio said. Police made 10 arrests.
Espanyol, playing its first competitive game under new coach Ernesto Valverde, almost took the lead in the 19th minute but Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes parried a powerful shot by striker Luis Garcia.
Barcelona, which began with all three of its off-season signings - Eidur Gudjohnsen, Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta - on the bench, responded 20 minutes later with a well-worked move which culminated in a save by Iraizoz from midfielder Xavi Hernandez.
Espanyol began the second half brightly with midfielder Eduardo Costa shooting just wide and Garcia having an equalizing goal disallowed for offside.
The visitors, which replaced Giuly with Argentine teenager Lionel Messi in the 60th minute, then took complete control and Barcelona midfielder Deco chipped over the bar in the 65th minute.
Iraizoz later denied Messi on two occasions and also Ronaldinho as Barcelona mounted waves of attacks in search of a second goal.
Former Juventus defender Zambrotta, who helped Italy win the World Cup last month, appeared in the 82nd minute to make his official debut for Barcelona.
Source: Fox Sports
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La Liga: Barca favourites despite Real revolution
« Reply #219 on: August 17, 2006, 11:17:03 PM »
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MADRID, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Such has been Barcelona's dominance of the Spanish footballing landscape over the past two years that it will come as a major shock if the Catalans do not wrap up a third successive league title this season.
Frank Rijkaard's side cruised to the title in imperious fashion last season and still had enough left in the tank to clinch an elusive second European Cup with a 2-1 win over Arsenal in the final of the Champions League.
In keeping with their recent policy, continuity has been the order of the day at the Nou Camp for the season starting on August 27 with the club making minimal changes to a squad that have carried all before them.
Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen has been brought in from Chelsea to replace Swedish veteran Henrik Larsson and add further firepower to the team's intimidating forward line led by the electric Samuel Eto'o.
The club took advantage of the fall-out from the Italian match-fixing scandal to strengthen their back four with the addition of World Cup winner Gianluca Zambrotta and the ultra-experienced French defender Lilian Thuram from Juventus.
Relieved of the burden of pressure to win the Champions League, Barca are likely to play with more freedom than last season, while the disappointing performances of Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi at the World Cup could also work in the club's favour.
The Brazilian, the catalyst to the club's revival since his arrival in 2003, had a poor tournament and will be keen to show he has not gone off the boil, while the talented Argentine youngster will have a point to prove after being restricted to a bit-part role in Germany.
Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid will be pulling out all the stops to end the Catalans' hegemony and win their first major trophy in four years.
Following three seasons of disappointment on the pitch and incessant upheaval off it, the club's new president Ramon Calderon is banking on Fabio Capello to oversee a renaissance at the club.
The decision to appoint the Italian coach has been accompanied by the arrival of two other Juve old boys, Italy's World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro and Brazilian midfielder Emerson.
Doubts over the fitness and commitment of leading striker Ronaldo have prompted the decision to bring in Ruud van Nistelrooy from Manchester United to spice up the Real attack.
With all three players aged 30 or over, the signings smack of a quick-fix solution to the club's problems, but Capello has an impeccable record and his no-nonsense, pragmatic approach is bound to make Real a difficult side to beat.
It is difficult to look beyond the big two for the title, but Valencia, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Real Zaragoza look to be the pick of the bunch when it comes to fighting it out for the remaining Champions League places.
Valencia have spent close to 13 million euros on striker Fernando Morientes and left back Asier del Horno after their disappointing Premier League adventures at Liverpool and Chelsea respectively.
But playmaker Pablo Aimar has jumped ship to Zaragoza and centre back Roberto Ayala is at loggerheads with the club over a contract dispute.
Atletico have dug even deeper to bring some appetising new recruits to the Calderon and stumped up a club record 23 million euros ($29.4 million) for Argentine pearl Sergio Aguero.
The arrival of the 18-year-old forward should take the pressure off Fernando Torres, but the club's most important signing is likely to be Mexican coach Javier Aguirre who steered unfancied Osasuna to fourth place last season.
The long-suffering Atletico fans have become so accustomed to false dawns, however, that they will not be holding their breath.
Sevilla will be hoping to build on last season's triumph in the UEFA Cup, Villarreal have no European distractions and Zaragoza look to have made a couple of tasty signings in the shape of Argentine duo Aimar and Andres D'Alessandro.
Source: ESPN
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Real seek to wrap up Reyes and Diarra deals
« Reply #220 on: August 17, 2006, 11:18:30 PM »
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MADRID, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Olympique Lyon midfielder Mahamadou Diarra, not Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes, is the top target for Real Madrid, club president Ramon Calderon said.
'We are missing Diarra but we are going to do everything we can to sign him,' Calderon said. 'On Capello's orders our efforts will be concentrated on getting Diarra.
'Reyes will come only if Arsenal meet our conditions. I'm not going to waste a euro. I feel sorry for the lad if the deal doesn't come off, but we have no arrangement with Reyes to sign him at all costs. Arsenal will have the last word.'
Diarra was quoted as saying in French sports daily L'Equipe on Wednesday that he wanted to join Real and was even prepared to consider going on strike in order to force the deal through.
'I told them (Lyon) of my desire to go to Real Madrid, but it appears that they haven't understood me,' he said.
'Maybe they don't understand the opportunity that I'm being offered. An offer from a club like Real Madrid happens once in your career.
'I'm capable of doing anything, including not turning up at training for Lyon or leaving for Mali if the club doesn't negotiate with Real.'
The French champions have said they do not want to lose the battling midfielder and Spanish media reported that they had told Real they would not even consider negotiating for anything less than 35 million euros ($44.98 million).
Source: ESPN
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veer
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Re:Why Real Madrid will flop miserably this year..
« Reply #221 on: August 18, 2006, 06:08:26 AM »
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I will be the first one to acknowledge the glorious culture, history and achievements of Real Madrid in the European Soccer.. Just i wanted to clear a couple of points and iam sure most of u will agree with me if u carefully manipulate on my points..Yea, agreed that Real Madrid r one of the giants in the European soccer, but then for the last few years, they have achieved very less in Europe and also in their own Liga..Well, if u gleam through the history of Real Madrid, all their major successes have come during the Franco regime which coincided with the presence of many luminiaries in their teams with Destefano and Puskas heading the list..They did maintain that record for quite some time but then, it seems they have fallen flat in the last 4 years..The reasons for this is definately not the lack of talent in the team but i think it is rather because Real Madrid has become rather market oriented now a days..Ironically, after they won the Champions in 2002-2003( remember they had won the previous edition too), they shockingly dropped the author of their success Vicente Del Bosque and their rock, yea the skipper who selflessly served them for 12 years, Fernando Heirro..
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it was shocking to be polite and in the same season, they brought in David Beckham( obviously for marketing reasons and after all it is a well known fact that the incumbent has a great fanfollowing in the crowded asian countries more for his marketing strategies..) Also, they got players like Graveson who would never fit in the scheme of things and in the way Real has always been known to play their soccer..The result was all there to see..Well, they have not seemed to learn from their mistakes and it was a shock to see them sign players like Emerson (no disrespect to him, but then he is similar to Graveson in his style) and Cannavaro( 33)who is probably at the prime of his career.. They surely lack the players of the calibre of Redondo( a wonderfully gifted midfielder who could run circles aroung opposite players)or Kaka or maybe Ronaldino..These players r the playmakers who can alter the match with a single moment of magic and yea, another big mistake was to let go Makelele who was a magnificient defensive midfielder..And with the retirement of Zidane, the place he has vacated is very tough to fill and with all main stars hovering around or above 30( Ronaldo, Rudd, beckham,Emerson, Canna,Guti,Helguera, Raul...), i dont see them giving Barca a run for their money in the domestic league or in the CL , i dont see them advancing further than quarters against the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, ACMILAN, Lyon, PSV,Arsenal, Bayern..
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It will be tough for Real this year. Addition of Cannavaro was crucial, but I think that key to possible success is Capello. He is a proven coach who has been succesfull wherever he went.
I still do not think that Real have the necessary depth, team spirit and mental strength to beat Barca in the long run of championship games.
Real need a true leader as a captain and a warrior in the midfield. Raul was a genius, probably the best Spaniard to have ever played. But he has disappeared recently, and I think it is mainly because Real have lost their game and concentrated on getting stars rather than building an United team.
I agree with the Anti-Real and I think that it all started when Makelele left. His importance is clearly demonstrated at Chelsea even at the age of 34!!! Real's defense is probably worse than that of Villareal or Osasuna. Roberto Carlos is a good player, but bad at defending. He needs to have two reliable centre backs to cover him. Michel Salgado is getting old, Helguera and Pavon should play in Segunda Division, and Sergio Ramos is not a CD.
And most impotrantly, ZIZOU is impossible to replace. My guess is Real will be in the top three at the end of the season and make it to the 1/4 of CL. But no more
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veer
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Re:Reyes transfer to Real in danger
« Reply #222 on: August 18, 2006, 06:16:48 AM »
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Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon insists Arsenal hold the key if they are to sign Jose Antonio Reyes from the London club.
Calderon said signing Mahamadou Diarra from Lyon was the club's priority.
"Reyes will come only if Arsenal meet our conditions," he told Spanish daily AS. "I'm not going to waste a euro.
"I feel sorry for the lad if the deal doesn't come off, but we've no arrangement to sign him at all costs. Arsenal will have the last word."
Reyes, 22, did not play in Arsenal's win over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League and it seemed he was set for a move to the Bernabeu after not being cup-tied.
"My dream of wearing the Madrid shirt is growing ever nearer," Reyes said recently. "It's hard to stay calm at a time like this.
"Madrid's offer cannot be turned down. Now all that is left is for the offer also to be good for Arsenal."
Arsenal are believed to want £16m for the winger or Julio Baptista to move to the club as part of any deal.
But the two clubs appear to be at a stand off as negotiations threaten to collapse.
But Reyes added: "The coach knows that I have had problems in adapting to the lifestyle in England.
"If agreement isn't reached, it will be bad for Arsenal and for me."
Source: BBC Sport
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If he really made these comments then he is definately an idiot. I remember about a week ago i was attacked vehemently by some fans that felt i was unfairly attacking Reyes. If these boy leaves, what he would have done to Arsenal will be worst than what Anelka did and i will be sitting here watching when he joins the sinking ship called Madrid and sinks with them. I remember how players like Anelka, petit, Viera and recently Bapista have tried to re-engineer moves back to Arsenal after dissing them, i hope you fans out there dont forget what this kid has done to Arsenal and start asking Arsenal to re-sign him because he already knows ur system.
If Arsenal lost to Dynamo in that game that this stupid boy choose to sit on the bench, ur season would have been over and ya'll would have had ur creditors breathing down ur neck. He was ur record signing but doesnt deserve to put on an Arsenal jersey.
I hope the players left can rally around and form a strong bond that will enable them win this season.
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veer
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Re:Real seek to wrap up Reyes and Diarra deals
« Reply #223 on: August 18, 2006, 06:18:42 AM »
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MADRID, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Olympique Lyon midfielder Mahamadou Diarra, not Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes, is the top target for Real Madrid, club president Ramon Calderon said.
'We are missing Diarra but we are going to do everything we can to sign him,' Calderon said. 'On Capello's orders our efforts will be concentrated on getting Diarra.
'Reyes will come only if Arsenal meet our conditions. I'm not going to waste a euro. I feel sorry for the lad if the deal doesn't come off, but we have no arrangement with Reyes to sign him at all costs. Arsenal will have the last word.'
Diarra was quoted as saying in French sports daily L'Equipe on Wednesday that he wanted to join Real and was even prepared to consider going on strike in order to force the deal through.
'I told them (Lyon) of my desire to go to Real Madrid, but it appears that they haven't understood me,' he said.
'Maybe they don't understand the opportunity that I'm being offered. An offer from a club like Real Madrid happens once in your career.
'I'm capable of doing anything, including not turning up at training for Lyon or leaving for Mali if the club doesn't negotiate with Real.'
The French champions have said they do not want to lose the battling midfielder and Spanish media reported that they had told Real they would not even consider negotiating for anything less than 35 million euros ($44.98 million).
Source: ESPN
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frankly, if i was Lyon's president, I would let Diarra go to Mali and sit out the remainder of his contract - unpaid of course. Lets see if after he sits out for 1, 2 or whatever years, Real Madrid is still ineterested in him.
Either Madrid pays up, or he's stuck at Lyon or Mali in this case.
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