Vicente Del Bosque faces a decision headache when it comes to selecting the 1st name on his team sheet this evening. Iker Casillas would normally be his 1st and only choice to play between the sticks. However, the stopper from Mostoles hasn't played in a competitive match for his club side since January. … [Read more...]
Galactico-Gate for Bale and Özil on Deadline Day
There had been much hype and headlines this summer over Gareth Bale's protracted move from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid. Not many doubted that the deal would actually take place, but the announcement of Gareth Bale's transfer to Real Madrid went tantalisingly down to the last day. The big surprise and story for the UK media on deadline day, however, was the late news that Mesut Özil would be moving in the opposite direction to Spurs great rivals Arsenal, for a club record fee of £42.4 million (interestingly, it is also the highest fee Madrid have ever received for a player). … [Read more...]
Real Madrid’s Bale Conundrum
On the surface, there would appear to be little wrong in Madrid. The club, fresh from a 3-1 win against Chelsea in the final of the Guinness International Champions Cup, are preparing for a new Welsh-inspired era of dominance. That will cost the princely sum of £105m. Oh, and they have Cristiano Ronaldo and Champions League-winning coach Carlo Ancelotti. So a new season for Real Madrid and what might it hold? … [Read more...]
Transfer Latest: Have Real Madrid pulled the plug on Gareth Bale?
Gareth Bale to Real Madrid; a transfer saga that was once so talked about that even your neighbour's cat would have formed an opinion on whether the Welshman will go the Bernabeu or not. Yet here we are, smack bang in the middle of August and all looks very quiet on the Castillian front, perhaps a little too quiet one may hasten to add. … [Read more...]
Gareth Bale – would he fit in as a Real Madrid player?
“Real Madrid offer world record offer for (insert player name here)” has been a common headline since the “Galacticos” era of Real Madrid under the stewardship of Florentino Perez. In came world record transfers Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane, followed eight years later by Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo for a combined £136 million. Real have always had the allure of attracting the world’s biggest and best, since the glory days of European domination in the 1950’s right through until the present day. … [Read more...]
Mourinho’s Madrid legacy
Jose Mourinho leaves Real Madrid at the end of the season, as everybody expected he would, following a season of discontent, public spats and underwhelming performances in a trophyless campaign. If Chelsea is to be his destination following his Madrid exit then he will add to the list of managers in the decade since Roman Abramovic took charge of the Blues, a club whose modern legacy began under 'The Special One'. The list of departed managers at the Bernabeu extends longer then Chelsea's does however, but do Mourinho's achievements in Spain merit his tenure to be classed a success? … [Read more...]
Copa del Rey Final Preview
In what is set to be one of Jose Mourinho's final games in charge of Real Madrid, the Portuguese manager aims to bow out of Spain on a high as he so usually does by beating arch rivals Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey Final. 'The Special One' has led Real to one league title, one Super Copa and a Copa del Rey already in his three years in charge but defeat would mean he ends the season trophyless for the first time in five years. Atletico meanwhile will be vying to overturn their horrific record against Real having not beaten their neighbours in over 13 years. … [Read more...]
Cristiano Ronaldo reaches 200 Madrid goals – a visual representation
During Real Madrid's 6-2 thumping of Malaga last night Cristiano Ronaldo managed to reach 200 goals for the illustrious club with a neat goal from an indirect free-kick. The Portuguese striker managed to reach the total in just 197 games having joined the club just four seasons ago from Manchester United. Despite rumours linking Ronaldo with a move away from the Bernabeu back to Old Trafford, Madrid's number 7 will go down in history as one of the club's finest ever strikers. Here is a graphical representation of his 200 strikes. … [Read more...]
Camp Nou clamours for another epic night of pride
The dream of an all Spanish Champions League final ended last night with Real Madrid’s elimination from the competition by 4 goals to 3 on aggregate to Borussia Dortmund. Real Madrid had a good opening 15 minute spell and an heroic last 8 minutes that would have seen them through with one more goal. Alas it wasn’t to be and apart from those short spells at either end of last night’s 90 minutes, Dortmund were the better side over the two legs and deserved to go through. F.C. Barcelona will face an even harder task this evening in the 2nd leg of their semi final against the newly crowned … [Read more...]
Can the ghosts of the past inspire a Real Madrid fightback?
After their defeats at the hands of the top two in Germany last week, the Spanish big two must produce comebacks of epic proportions if they are to realise their dreams of a Clásico final at Wembley in the Champions League showpiece event. For tonight’s match against Borussia Dortmund, a communication went out to all Real Madrid club members asking them to wear their white shirts and have their Madrid scarves at the ready to create as much of a hostile atmosphere in an attempt to intimidate their teutonic opponents. The current Spanish champions will rely on memories of great battling … [Read more...]