Juventus 2 Real Madrid 1

So Juventus beat Real Madrid in the Peace Cup semi final by 2 goals to 1. Even though reports are saying Real failed to live up to expectations, they did leave out major players like new boys Raul Albiol, Kaka, Alvaro Arbeloa, and even existing players Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos.
It's only pre-season and i suspect some players didn't play their best, or was told to take it easy by their managers. Karim Benzema played for 71 minutes until he was substituted with fellow striker Gonzalo Higuain. Overall i sense that Juventus will be in the top four in Serie A yet again come next may, and i predict Real to be runners up again to Barcelona. With all their buying power, i just can't see them winning La Liga.

Out of Liverpool and into Madrid

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has finally broke his silence and has stated that he is happy that Real Madrid want him, and now he wants to fell Rafa the Gaffa's wrath, after the player said he wants showdown talks with the Liverpool manager.

Real have said that their spending is far from over, and Alonso is their next target.

And he said: "It is always a great feeling when Madrid want you, especially considering the phase of the career I am in now.

Real would think that offer 35 million pounds will be sufficient to get the Kop to rerlease Alonso.
So another one looks like he's going to play for Perez. Poor Perez, how's he going to fell when the season ends and there are no trophies in the cabinet? We'll find out next may.

Negredo to the English Prem

Real Madrid forward Alvaro Negredo is about to sign for English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, according to radio Cadena SER.
Spurs will pay between 18 and 20 million euros for the 23 year old who has returned from a loan spell with Spanish side Almeria.
This comes to no surprise as Real have acquired 4 new players so far, to a total cost of around 280 million dollars, and lack of space at the Bernabeu locker room.
Real's president Perez has stated the obvious, talking to Spanish television

"We need now to concentrate out efforts to convince some players that they will have to leave. A reasonable squad is 25 players, ours is now 35"

Among the ousted could be Dutch forward Huntelaar who has been linked to Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart and fellow Dutch international Van der Vaart, who could possibly join Huntelaar in the Bundesliga with Hamburg.

It's a fair amount.....for a show off.

Ronaldo is ready to show off (yet again) on Monday night when he gets the Prima dona treatment from Real Madrid as he is unveiled at the Bernabeu.
It took an astronomical fee, and a little 'tapping up' session last year to convince Ronaldo and Man UTD on a deal in which Madrid have received much criticism for spending so much money on one player.
But Ronaldo believes that the price tag is justifiable, and that he can live up to it.

He said: "It's a fair figure. If Manchester United and Real Madrid agree this amount, then there is nothing more to say.
"The great players cost a lot of money and if you want them you have to pay it. I'm happy to be the most expensive player in the world.
"I respect everyone's opinions but If Real Madrid have paid so much money, it's because they wanted me and have considered it a fair price.
"I'm going to try to do everything to play very well and I will show that the money they are paying for me has been a good decision."

Madrid have already presented Kaka and Raul Albiol following their moves from AC Milan and Valencia, while Lyon striker Karim Benzema is close to completing his switch to Madrid as Real's spending spree rapidly approaches the £200m mark.

Last season it was hard for Madrid, having to watch their fierce rivals Barcelona do the treble, Spanish League title, Copa Del Rey, and the Champions League, and not once in the last 5 years have Madrid broke into the last 16 of the Champions League. And with the Champions League final being held at the Bernabeu, Perez would want to be in the final in front of home fans. Everyone's eyes will be focused on Ronaldo to take his team there.

He said: "I've been used to having pressure for a long time - in this sense, I'm calm.
"This price tag isn't something I'm going to think about when I go out on to the pitch, so it's not going to affect me.
"I know that they are going to demand a lot of me to be successful at the club and I know that I'm going to have much more pressure than at Manchester United, because I was there for many years. But it means a new challenge and is going to help me be the best footballer.
"As well as that, Spain is a different league - with different players, a different club - and this is going to motivate me to continue working hard and winning things."
Ronaldo revealed that United boss Alex Ferguson will always hold a special place in his heart.
Ron added: "He's been my father in sport, one of the most important factors and most influential in my career.

"I have to thank him for all that he taught me. He's been fundamental.
"I'll always have great affection for him and he will occupy a special place in my heart."
Ronaldo explained why his move to Real did not go ahead last summer despite fevered speculation.
He said: "All the big players have to live with speculation. Last summer a lot of things were written, but life is like that. Simply, I decided to wait a season more and I think that I took the correct decision."
He admitted it came as a relief when the move was finally confirmed. "It was an indescribable feeling. Honestly, I felt very relieved. Things had finally been resolved and I was very happy, because everybody knew that I wanted to play at Real Madrid.
"When I signed for Manchester United, I was eager to play there for their history and for all the titles that they'd won.
"But I also hoped to some day play at Real Madrid, because they've always had great players. Now, I can say that I have fulfilled a dream to be part of the two best clubs in the world."

On Tuesday, Kaka (The Traitor) was paraded at the Bernabeu in front of around 55,000 fans, but it is said to be dwarfed because on Monday night Ronaldo is to be unveiled and every seat in the stadium is expected to be filled.

Ronaldo said: "It will be a very special day for my family, my friends and for me. I only hope that things go well. I hope I can experience a day as nice as Kaka did.
"To have 40,000, 50,000 or 60,000 people at your presentation is something incredible and special. I know that it's going to be a great moment in my life."

Sorry Ronaldo, you will never convince me that this deal was not about the fame and money, because you were adored by 70,000 fans every time you played at Old Trafford, and even when you had a big part of getting Wayne Rooney sent off in the 2006 World Cup, the fans forgave you.
So to say that it is special to have 60,000 people show up just to see you, you already had that, AND you were winning something almost every year with Sir Alex, i don't think it's going to happen at Madrid for you. I'm not sad to see you leave UTD, they will be better off.

Cole could join the overpaid

Real Madrid are almost ready to bid for Ashley Cole after he rejected a new contract at Chelsea. The England Left Back has turned down an offer which would leave him £30,000-a-week short of the club's big money boys. Cole swapped a red shirt for a blue three years ago when he signed from Arsenal, and now he wants to stay at Chelsea but the money has to be right.

A source said: "Ashley loves Chelsea and is genuinely excited about working with new boss Carlo Ancelotti. He wants to give the best years of his career to the club but the deal has to be right for such an important contract. He needs to feel as valued as any of the club's other top players."

Cole is currently on £70,000 a week, and he has attracted interest from La Liga and European Champions Barcelona. But it is their rivals Real Madrid who have furthered their interest in Cole because Madrid president Perez has noticed that the club's defense needs to be strengthened and new manager Pellegrini is a long term fan of Cole.

I don't understand why players today have to just jump ship every time someone offers them more money. To me, they the same: Real Madrid have the money to spend, so do Chelsea but yet neither of them won their respective domestic leagues. I guess it's the owners and players fault why football is like this today.

I think there is too much money in football and too many foreign owners in the Premier League who want the distinction of owning a football team. Yet when they don't win anything inside two years they are quickly willing to sell them on to the next foreign owner with a dream. Maybe I'm just getting old...

Ribery on the move?

Bayern Munich General Manager Uli Hoeness has possibly given Perez and Real Madrid some hope that the German outfit would listen to offers for the French international star Franck Ribery.

"We would only consider it if somebody did something crazy," said Hoeness.

Now, maybe it's just me, but why would you say that if you really don't want to sell him. If he's such an asset, you just say "No, go away"! Am I right? I believe I am!

Ribery is a fine, skillful player who I think would fit in anywhere (except Liverpool.....mainly because of Benitez' "fine tuning"). To me, this means that Hoeness doesn't really care if Ribery goes, because if he did, Hoeness could possibly buy 4 or 5 good players with the money from this transfer, if it ever happens.

Another one to the Bernabeu?

Real Madrid are ready to buy Karim Benzema from Lyon £30m but could possibly rise to £35m depending on his success. The 21 year old French international was also reported to be a target for Man UTD but is certain to sign for Real, set to join the new boys, Kaka, Raul Albiol, and Cristiano Ronaldo. (With all three totaling £148m so far.)

Former player Zidane, who is now an adviser at Real, is believed to have recommended Benzema to club president Perez after talks with David Villa to join the new Galacticos went belly up.

"Lyon announce they have reached an agreement with Real Madrid on the details of the transfer of their international attacker Karim Benzema," said a statement on the Lyon website. "A few days ago Karim Benzema informed the club president Jean Michel Aulas of his desire to move to the Madrid club, which had always been his favourite club after Lyon, earlier than he had foreseen. "The player wanted to seize the opportunity which Real Madrid offered him to be one of the major elements in their new ambitious project based around the greatest players of the world." Lyon accepted Karim Benzema's decision and negotiated the conditions of a transfer which satisfies all the different parties. According to Lyon, "the club wishes Karim the greatest success with Real Madrid."

Benzema joined Lyon's youth setup at the young age of nine and came through the club's ranks before making a first-team debut at age 17. He scored 31 goals in 51 games during the '07-'08 season and finished Ligue 1 top scorer. Benzema scored 23 goals in all competitions last season but could not prevent Lyon ending the season without league title for the first time in eight years. The striker is now expected to sign a six-year contract when he completes his move to Real Madrid.

If Benzema does in fact join Real, it will be interesting to see how many games he plays with Kaka, Ronaldo, Raul, Huntelaar, Van Nistelroy, Higuain, who can all play as strikers. But Iguess these days you cannot have too many strikers, right?.......or can you?

Red Carpet rolled out for The Traitor!....sorry..for Kaka!

So Real Madrid have done it. They paraded Kaka around the Bernabeu like he's a god. Kaka is an exceptional player, and he's joining a long list of exceptional players and I think that will be the problem for Real Madrid for this coming season.

Many teams in the Premier League, in Italy, have had to learn the hard way that too many great players who are built up to be the best on that particular team, telling them week in and week out that they're the star of that team, it goes to their heads. Then before you know it they get too comfortable and think they don't have to fight for a place in the squad anymore, so they get upset when they're finally told by the manager or the press that they are playing crap...and then suddenly they want to leave. And now Real Madrid will have the same problem. All their players are talented, without a doubt. But as my Dad used to tell me........one man doesn't make a team.

Sir Alex Ferguson has a knack for dealing with problems such as this. He finds these players either from his youth squad, or buys them as decent players, but makes them into great ones, but the minute they get too big for team (are you listening Cristiano) he'll let you go. The reason why Ferguson keeps winning is because he cares about the team first, and anyone who isn't on the same wavelength can go their own way, they'll always be someone to replace them.
So Kaka, enjoy your time at Real Madrid, but i don't think that it's going to be all happiness, not if Guardiola, Messi and Co. has anything to say about it.