Casillas confident in captaincy '
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First leg of Real Madrid-Barcelona Spanish Super Cup tie on 14 August '
Return leg to be held at the Camp Nou on 17 August
The first title of the 2011/12 season will be the Spanish Super Cup, set to pit Real Madrid and Barcelona against each other. The first leg will be held at the Bernabeu on 14 August, while the return match will take place at the Camp Nou on the 17th of the same month.
Real Madrid to face Athletic Bilbao on Week 1 of La Liga '
The Whites to face Barcelona at the Bernabeu on 11 December; both sides to clash at the Camp Nou on 22 April
The draw for the 2011/12 La Liga season has determined Real Madrid's first game in the championship will be against Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu on 20/21 August. The Whites will face Barcelona at the Bernabeu on 11 December and at the Camp Nou on 22 April. The first derby against Atletico Madrid will take place on Week 14 (27/28 November).
| REAL MADRID'S CALENDAR IN THE 2011/12 LA LIGA SEASON | ||
| 1st LEG | 2nd LEG | MATCH |
| WEEK 1 21 August | WEEK 20 22 January | REAL MADRID - Athletic Bilbao |
| WEEK 2 28 August | WEEK 2129 January | Zaragoza - REAL MADRID |
| WEEK 311 September | WEEK 22 5 February | REAL MADRID - Getafe |
| WEEK 418 September | WEEK 2312 February | Levante - REAL MADRID |
| WEEK 521 September | WEEK 2419 February | Racing Santander - REAL MADRID |
| WEEK 6 25 September | WEEK 2526 February | REAL MADRID - Rayo Vallecano |
| WEEK 72 October | WEEK 264 March | Espanyol - REAL MADRID |
| WEEK 816 October | WEEK 2711 March | REAL MADRID - Betis |
| WEEK 923 October | WEEK 28 18 March | Malaga - REAL MADRID |
| WEEK 10 26 October | WEEK 29 21 March | REAL MADRID - Villarreal |
| WEEK 1130 October | WEEK 30 25 March | Real Sociedad - REAL MADRID |
| WEEK 126 November | WEEK 31 1 April | REAL MADRID - Osasuna |
| WEEK 1320 November | WEEK 328 April | Valencia - REAL MADRID |
| WEEK 1427 November | WEEK 33 11 April | REAL MADRID - Atletico Madrid |
| WEEK 15 4 December | WEEK 3415 April | Sporting Gijon - REAL MADRID |
| WEEK 1611 December | WEEK 35 22 April | REAL MADRID - Barcelona |
| WEEK 1718 December | WEEK 36 29 April | Sevilla - REAL MADRID |
| WEEK 188 January | WEEK 37 6 May | REAL MADRID - Granada |
| WEEK 19 15 January | WEEK 3813 May | Mallorca - REAL MADRID |
| LA LIGA 2011/12, WEEK 1 (20/21 August) | ||
| REAL MADRID | - | Athletic Club |
| Real Sociedad | - | Atletico Madrid |
| Espanyol | - | Granada |
| Osasuna | - | Valencia |
| Villarreal | - | Sporting |
| Racing | - | Getafe |
| Levante | - | Zaragoza |
| Rayo Vallecano | - | Mallorca |
| Malaga | - | Barcelona |
| Betis | - | Sevilla |
Real Madrid sign Fabio Coentrao '
Real Madrid have agreed to sign Portugal left back Fabio Coentrao from Benfica for a fee of 30 million euros ($52.3 million), the Portuguese club said today.
The completion of the deal is subject to the player passing a medical and agreeing personal terms with the Spanish club, Benfica said in a statement.
Coentrao, 23, had a contract with Benfica until 2016 and is regarded as one of the most promising left backs in Europe.
Portuguese newspapers reported on Monday that the player was in Madrid to complete the formalities.
Coentrao joined Benfica from Rio Ave in 2007 as a winger but failed to make an impact in his first season and went on three consecutive loan spells, including a short and unimpressive one at Spain's Zaragoza.
Benfica coach Jorge Jesus recalled Coentrao in 2009 and converted him into a speedy and tricky left back who became a key member of the team who won the Portuguese Premier League title in 2010 for the first time in five years.
Coentrao's fine club form earned him a place in the national team and he impressed at last year's World Cup.
Santos president Luis Oliveira confirms Real Madrid enquiry for Neymar '
The Brazilian club's leader has admitted a formal approach by Real Madrid, but repeated his prized asset is not available for sale.
Santos president Luis Oliveira has confirmed that Real Madrid are one of the sides who have come knocking for Neymar.The Spanish capital club have been mooted as one of Europe's giants closely monitoring the situation of the 19-year-old, who is currently with the Brazil national side for Copa America.
Oliveira revealed last week he would not cash in on Neymar, and he has now affirmed his stance, while confirming Real Madrid have made enquiries about the player.
"We are interested in pleasing Neymar and we will offer him whatever is necessary for him to stay in Brazil and not go to Europe," the Santos supremo told La Sexta.
"Five club presidents who want to sign him and offer him a lot of money have contacted me but when the 2014 World Cup arrives, he will be here.
"[Real Madrid president] Florentino Perez is one of those who have called me, but if he had not done that, he would be a president with no vision for football."
Neymar was a starter in Brazil's 0-0 draw in Copa America with Venezuela, a match that his side were expected to win. However, he and his team-mates failed to impress.
Morinho changing Real Madrid
There are many ways Mourinho is changing Real Madrid. The 3 ways he is changing Real Madrid now are as follows. To some these may be a bit too obvious, but it never hurts to state the obvious, one more time. So here we go:
- Mourinho is planning to take Casillas’s captains arm band and giving it to someone else.
Preferably an outfielder. That is something he has done in his all previous teams. Terry at Chelsea, Zanetti at Inter and now someone other than Casillas at Real Madrid. According to reports, this is will make Real Madrid a bit stronger on the field when it comes to talking to the referee as Casillas is always far too away from the action.
Casillas will still be in charge of other affairs that a captain normally handles like negotiating bonuses and such. The only thing he would be stripped off would be his armband on the pitch. I think Mourinho, in all likelihood, will give it to Ronaldo. Ronaldo is a leader on the pitch when it comes to picking up a team and performing well (though not so well against the Elite clubs) and most of all, he is big and powerful.
He is an outfielder too, so he is the perfect candidate for captaining Real Madrid. Though it has to be said that Mourinho should show a bit more respect to Casillas by giving him a chance to improve his communications while on the field. One could legitimately say that Casillas has captained Spain both at the world cup and in the Euros and they did pretty well at those tournaments didn’t they?
Some may see this as a move only to beat Barcelona. Ofcourse, everything Real Madrid are doing right now is to overtake Barcelona. There is no other team that can match Real Madrid at the moment and we showed that last season. Not even Barcelona when we are on song.
- Second way Mourinho is changing Real Madrid is by signing Coentrao.
The deal is far away from being complete. The player has run away from his club to Spain in order to hold talks with Real Madrid so that means that Benfica no longer have the upper edge in this deal . The player wants to leave and wants to leave bad. This leaves Benfica in no position to demand an asking price.
Chelsea are said to be interested in the player as well and they are ready to offer 30 million. Question is why? They have cole. Coentrao is definitely not going to play on the bench even for Chelsea. He has no time for that. It has been a tough journey for Coentrao in rising to the top of the world in his position and I think he will respect that.
Benfica say that the offer made by Real Madrid is not enough. Real Madrid say that it should be enough. So lets see what develops.
- Mourinho might also change Real Madrid if he decides to sell some key players
Reports have it that Chelsea are interested in Pepe. Pepe is said to be not so happy at the lack of progress on his current deal at Real Madrid. Isn’t that what the media always say about a player who is settled at Real Madrid. Could they not find another reason?
Anyway, I do not think Mourinho would remain at Real Madrid if Pepe is sold. He is our midfield general, especially against Barcelona. Take into account the fact that Chelsea did not cooperate when Mourinho wanted to sign Essien for Inter and I think for Real Madrid too. So don’t expect Mourinho to block this deal just to get in equal terms with Chelsea.
What do you guys think? Should Real Madrid swap Pepe with Essien?
Xabi Alonso favourite to replace Iker Casillas as Real Madrid captain '
Jose Mourinho is reportedly considering dropping goalkeeper Iker Casillas as Real Madrid captain in favour of moving the armband to one of the out-field positions.
The decision is thought to be strategic, so as to offer a voice on the pitch to talk to referees, and reflective of the Portuguese Coach’s experience of working with out-field, energetic captains such as Javier Zanetti and John Terry.
Casillas is likely to maintain influence and a say in the dressing room, with Mourinho keen to impress upon club hierarchy the role change is thought more for functionality.
The Madrid-based publication Marca ran a survey to discover the fans’ choice to take the captain’s armband from the No 1, should Mourinho follow through on these reports, with Xabi Alonso receiving an overwhelming majority of the votes.
His 75% eclipsed the 15% second placed Sergio Ramos received, and the 10% for third choice Cristiano Ronaldo.
Jose Mourinho considering replacing Iker Casillas with outfield player as Real Madrid captain
The Madrid coach is reportedly thinking over the prospect of naming an alternative, with Casillas set to relinquish the armband.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is considering dropping goalkeeper Iker Casillas and appointing an outfield player as the club's captain in 2011-12, Marca reports.
Mourinho sees the position of captain as an important means of communication with the referee on the pitch, and for that reason is thinking of replacing the Spain international.
The Portuguese has always worked with outfield players as his leaders in the past, with centre-back John Terry his Chelsea skipper, while Javier Zanetti wore the armband when Mourinho was in charge at Inter.
No final decision has been made about who will be handed the position if Mourinho indeed decides to remove the experienced shot-stopper, but defender Sergio Ramos and midfielder Xabi Alonso appear prime candidates for the role.
Mourinho is wary of the consequences of dropping Casillas as club skipper, however, and is ready to hand him a position in charge of internal affairs such as negotiating bonuses, meaning that he would effectively only lose his captaincy status on the pitch.
Ronaldo plans to stay at Real Madrid to win Champions League '
Cristiano Ronaldo, who wishes to return to England and the Premier League, is not leaving Spain yet as he is determined to achieve his current sporting goal to win the Champions League with Real Madrid.
Ronaldo, who left Manchester United for Madrid in an 80 million pound transfer two years ago, was flattered by Manchester City's overtures to him earlier in the summer.
Ronaldo said: "I think if I went from Spain it would be to the Premier League - but not now. First we have to win the Champions League. If I went back to the Premier League it would have to be with a club in the north west. I don't like London."
The Sunday Mirror reported last month how Ronaldo was being wooed by relatives of the super-rich Abu Dhabi owners of Manchester City, with claims that the Sky Blues would pay him 350,000 pound a week to join them.
There was no suggestion that the club had made a direct approach but that a third party connected to Sheik Mansour had sounded out the player.
Ronaldo said: "It's flattering to be offered like £20m a year - it's very good, but I spoke to my agent and I think it's better to stay in Madrid because this year we're going to be the best.
"This season we are going to be a big force. Jose Mourhino is staying at Madrid so I stay. If he went to Chelsea then I would have left. I would have gone to Manchester City. But now he's staying, I'm staying."
Sahin excited by Madrid challenge '
Real Madrid new boy Nuri Sahin cannot wait to get started for his new club and is confident he will be a regular in Jose Mourinho's line-up.
The 22-year-old Turkey midfielder agreed a six-year deal with the Spanish giants in May after helping Borussia Dortmund land last season's Bundesliga title.
He missed the last six weeks of the 2010/11 campaign with a knee injury, but will be raring to go when pre-season gets under way next Monday.
"I'll be there the first day," he said in Spanish newspaper AS. "I am as good as before the injury. There is no sign of those aches and my intention is to train as fast as my new colleagues.
"I really want to start this new chapter. It's rare to want to finish your holiday as soon as possible to start working!"
He continued: "I have great faith in myself that I will be in the starting line-up. I have no doubt and I will work hard for it. [Zinedine] Zidane is one of my idols and I want to look at what he did in Madrid."
Sahin is still coming to terms with having joined one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"My signing for Madrid is a dream," he said. "From the time I heard of their interest to the moment I picked up the pen to sign the contract. Recent weeks have flown by and I still cannot digest how big this is.
"It was a very special moment. Someone suddenly told me that Real Madrid were going to call. Five minutes later, stunned, answered the phone. I said, 'Yes?' and I heard, 'Hi, it's Jose Mourinho'.
"I thought someone was playing a joke, but even so the conversation flowed. He said he had been following me throughout the season at Dortmund and wanted me for his team.
"The coach wants me to take care of the organisation in midfield."
Sahin and his new team-mates will be looking to wrest the Primera Division title off Pep Guardiola's Barcelona, who have been league champions for the last three seasons.
Despite Barca's recent dominance, the youngster believes his new employers can still lay claim to being the world's best.
"Barca are a team in excellent shape, but Real Madrid have been chosen as the best club of the century by the football authorities," he added. "Therefore, Madrid remains the best club in the world."
Happy birthday, Don Alfredo '
Alfredo di Stefano was born on 4 July, 1926. The Argentinean is regarded by many as the best player in football history.
Don Alfredo's arrival at Real Madrid in 1953 marked a turning point in the Club's history, leading it to win five consecutive European Cup titles. Di Stefano has been player and coach at Real Madrid, and he is currently its Honorary President.
Happy birthday, Don Alfredo!
Ronaldo: I would have joined Man City '
Cristiano Ronaldo was willing to consider a move to Manchester City, but will not leave Real Madrid while Jose Mourinho remains in charge.
The Portuguese winger was the subject of reported interest from free-spending City earlier this summer, with record-breaking transfer fees and bumper pay packets discussed.
Ronaldo responded to the rumours by hinting that he could be tempted back to England if the price was right.
He has, however, sought to play down any chance of that happening this year by insisting that he will not leave the Santiago Bernabeu while countryman Mourinho is overseeing events in the Spanish capital.
Ronaldo said in the Sunday Mirror: "It's flattering to be offered £20million a year - it's very good, but I spoke to my agent and I think it's better to stay in Madrid because this year we're going to be the best. This season we are going to be a big force.
"Jose Mourinho is staying at Madrid so I stay.
"If he went to Chelsea then I would have left. I would have gone to Manchester City. But now he's staying, I'm staying."
While his immediate future remains in Madrid, Ronaldo has revealed that he does intend to take in a second spell in the Premier League.
Having enjoyed a successful six-year stint with Manchester United between 2003 and 2009, he admits he would welcome the opportunity to return at some stage in his career.
"I think if I went from Spain it would be to the Premier League - but not now," he said.
"First we have to win the Champions League.
"If I went back to the Premier League it would be with a club in the North West. I don't like London."
Real Madrid confirm Sarabia sale '
Real Madrid have confirmed the sale of Pablo Sarabia to Getafe.
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder, a Spain youth international, has agreed a five-year contract with Getafe.
However, Real Madrid have confirmed the deal includes a buy-back option for the highly regarded youngster who found his progress blocked at the Bernabeu.
Marca: Chelsea offer Pepe €5m-a-season to lure defender from Real Madrid '
It is not just the English papers that make up rumours on Sundays. Marca today lead their coverage with the claim that new Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas wants to sign Real Madrid defender Pepe.
Chelsea are reportedly willing to pay big money for Pepe with Roman Abramovich offering five million euros-a-season on a five-year contract to lure the Portugal international defender to Stamford Bridge.
Pepe had agreed a new four-year-deal worth four million euros-a-season at Real Madrid but had not put pen to paper before leaving for his summer holidays.
In truth, whilst this is a juicy rumour likely to be lapped up with “exclusives” on Monday in the English press, it is hugely unlikely that Pepe would leave Real Madrid and questionable whether Chelsea will even sign big money defensive players this summer.
He is one of Jose Mourinho’s most trusted lieutenants at the Bernabeu, is an uncompromising defender and was given the key task of shackling Lionel Messi in the marathon run of Clasicos at the back end of 2011/2012. Pepe’s sending off in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final with Barcelona was arguably the key moment of the tie.
It seems very likely that this rumour was planted in Marca by Pepe’s agent to speed up the signing of his new deal. Rumours linking Manchester United with Barcelona’s Thiago Alacantara achieved the same purpose last week.
New Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is also unlikely to be spending lavishly on defenders with the likes of John Terry and David Luiz available and expected to start the season as first choice centre back pairing. Especially with Branislav Ivanovic and Alex, both highly capable defenders, also available.
The Blues will likely be on the look out for full backs, creative midfielders and perhaps a striker to get the best out of misfiring mega signing Fernando Torres.
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