Pogba, Niang, Varane – The future of French football suddenly looks bright again

COMMENT
By Robin Bairner

After years of false optimism, there is finally once again promise that France could rediscover their place as one of the world’s foremost international superpowers. Les Bleus might have crashed out of Euro 2012 in a limp manner, but a gaggle of exciting young players are in the midst of making their names at some of the continent’s greatest clubs, providing fresh hope in l’Hexagone ahead of its hosting of Euro 2016.

The national team has spent much of the last decade lurching from disaster to disaster. Aside from reaching the World Cup final of 2006, France have tended to under-perform grossly at major tournaments, with their feeble exit at the hands of Spain during Euro 2012 all too typical of their inability to find cohesion on the greatest stage.

Fast forward eight months, and the future of the game suddenly looks bright for les Bleus. About to break through into the senior national side are some of Europe’s brightest young players, who have been produced by a competitive domestic academy system before being honed by the game’s elite abroad.

There is no more competitive a club to make a name at than Real Madrid, yet young centre-back Raphael Varane appears set to enjoy a long relationship with los Blancos after a storming performance in the Clasico only a week ago. Brought up in the Lens youth system, the 19-year-old produced a man-of-the-match performance in his first appearance in the world’s biggest club fixture, even scoring the levelling goal in a 1-1 draw.

“He’s still only 19-years-old and it is quite something to then play against Barcelona without making any mistakes like he did,” said Madrid legend Emilio Butragueno, who overlooked the fact that Varane did not only enjoy an error-free match, but actually spent much of the game clearing up mistakes made by the vastly more experienced Ricardo Carvalho alongside him.

Quick, strong and a good reader of the game, he would have made his international debut against Germany on Wednesday had he not been forced to pull out of the squad injured. Nevertheless, with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Mamadou Sakho still at the beginning of their careers, France looked well stocked for centre-backs in the years to come.

In the midfield, there is another 19-year-old catching the eye, this time with Juventus. Paul Pogba came through Le Havre’s impressive youth system before being sold to Manchester United. Unhappy he was not getting first-team football at Old Trafford, the midfielder pushed through a move to Serie A in the summer.

Critics considered him arrogant as he stormed away from the Premier League leaders, yet his decision has been vindicated fully this season as he has been featuring regularly for the Old Lady, albeit as first alternative to the midfield trio of Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio, and performing to the highest standard.

Over the course of the campaign, he has been described as everything from “the best teenager in the world” to the next Frank Rijkaard, and even to “a Dali painting”. Paris-born Pogba is a player who seems to have the world at his feet with the Turin giants, with whom he has displayed an ability to dictate games that belies his years.

Another French youth making a name for himself in Italy is M’Baye Niang, who became AC Milan’s second youngest goalscorer in history when he struck in a Coppa Italia fixture against Reggina in December.

“Niang is better than Balotelli,” president Silvio Berlusconi boasted only a few days later to Radio Mars, before swooping to sign the Manchester City forward in January.

Even prior to the arrival of ‘Super Mario’ at San Siro, the young forward was being compared in style to the Italian, and his off-field antics did nothing to quell the comparisons. Niang admitted to RMC that he went “a bit mental” when he joined Milan, and he is presently serving a ban from the national team after breaking a curfew while on duty with the Under-21 squad in the autumn.

Still, the 18-year-old has calmed down and is reaping the benefits on the field. At the side of Balotelli last Sunday against Udinese, he contributed immensely to the cause and is now ready to establish himself as one member of Serie A’s best offensive lines.

Additionally, there is a terrific supporting cast of players bubbling away. Moussa Sissoko at 23 is a little older, but with Newcastle he is showing signs of reaching his fearsome potential, while Lille left-back Lucas Digne is another teenager destined for a massive future in the game. Meanwhile, Lyon’s Ligue 1 title push is being led by youths who have shown they have the skill, desire, belief and team work to match Paris Saint-Germain’s dollar, with the likes of Samuel Umtiti (19), Alexandre Lacazette (21) and Clement Grenier (22) amongst their most impressive performers.

PSG, meanwhile, have a band of their own bright prospects coming through, the best of whom is 17-year-old Adrien Rabiot, who has been forced on loan to Toulouse in order to earn first-team football.

So the future certainly does look bright in France, and with Varane, Pogba and Niang, who are arguably the best teenage trio any nation in the world can boast, the long-term future of les Bleus looks to be in safe hands.

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Birthday boy Ronaldo has big decisions to make over his Real Madrid future

SPECIAL REPORT
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer

Birthdays are often a time for reflection. As the years pass by, a new anniversary brings extra questions; thoughts concerning projects, plans and dreams, the next steps in life: the future. And all of that is likely to be running through the mind of Cristiano Ronaldo right now.

The Portuguese celebrates his 28th birthday on Tuesday and, although exhibiting the finest football in what has been a wonderful career, the forward is now approaching the final few years of his playing days – with his Real Madrid future far from certain.

So will he stay at the club where he is now an idol? Should he leave and make one last big move? Can Madrid afford to lose him? Can they even afford to keep him?

Cristiano’s current contact expires in 2015 and changes in tax laws in Spain mean Madrid will need to fork out a fortune to retain the services of their prized possession. But with Ronaldo keen to see out his present deal, the Spanish side also risk losing their star man – for whom they paid €94m in 2009 – for a reduced fee in the summer of 2014. One way or the other, then, a decision must be made in the summer. 

Ronaldo was upset at Madrid and made his feelings publicly known after scoring twice in the 3-0 over Granada in September. The Portuguese was unhappy at the lack of support he was receiving from senior figures at the club as he attempted to win the Ballon d’Or. He needed to feel loved.

Madrid faced Granada once more on Saturday and it was Cristiano’s unfortunate own-goal (the first of his career) which separated the two teams this time.

Much, however, has changed in between those two matches. Madrid may be 16 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, but Ronaldo has been the one shining light in a calamitous campaign so far for Jose Mourinho’s men. And he has looked especially impressive since the disappointment of missing out on the Ballon d’Or to rival Lionel Messi earlier this year. Cristiano now has 10 goals for his side in 2013 and 179 in total for the capital club – in just 178 appearances.

KAKA COULD HOLD THE KEY
Kaka joined Madrid in the same summer as Ronaldo, in 2009, as Florentino Perez returned to the presidency, but while the Portuguese has gone on to become a Madridista idol, the Brazilian has struggled and, having previously insisted he will stay and triumph at the Bernabeu, he must now accept his days at the club are numbered.

Kaka has been used less than any other first-team player in 2012-13 and could have moved to AC Milan in the January transfer window.

Madrid, however, are still holding out for around €18m for the player, who earns the same in wages as Ronaldo and is also under contract until 2015.

If, as expected, he moves on in the summer, the money recouped plus savings made on his wages will be used to try and fund Cristiano’s contract.

Ronaldo right now is seventh on the list of all-time Madrid goalscorers, just two behind 1960s legend Paco Gento – having played well under a third of the games completed by the wonderful winger from Cantabria. Remain at the club for several more seasons and Cristiano will no doubt surpass the lot – including Alfredo Di Stefano (308) and his former team-mate Raul (323).

But will he stay?
 
The Portuguese earns around €10m after tax on his present deal, but with his representatives keen to negotiate a new arrangement worth €15m in net wages, as well as exclusive image rights, Madrid may be left out of pocket by agreeing to a new deal.

The image rights are currently split 60/40 in Ronaldo’s favour and Madrid would lose that income should they agree to their player’s difficult demands. More of a concern, however, will be his wages.

The problem lies in the abolition of the so-called ‘Beckham Law’, which allowed foreigners who had lived in Spain for less than 10 years and who earned above €120,000 per annum to pay a lower tax rate of around 23 per cent and not the usual 45%. David Beckham was one of the first to take advantage of the law after his move from Manchester United in 2003.

Cristiano arrived while that law was still in force and continues to benefit from the arrangement. However, the Spanish government has since scrapped the initiative and any new deal would see Ronaldo required to pay 52% of his salary to the taxman. Madrid, therefore, are faced with a difficult dilemma. Give in to their player’s demands and they will be hit with an annual outlay close to €31m – just to pay the Portuguese the net €15m he has asked for.

That may seem a huge hardship for the club, yet the alternative is even more unthinkable. Without Cristiano, Madrid look an ordinary team and there is simply no replacement for the Portuguese. Lionel Messi, unlike Luis Figo back in 2000, would never swap Camp Nou for the Bernabeu, while Neymar (who also celebrates a birthday on Tuesday) is far from the finished article and looks likely to join Barcelona anyway. Tottenham’s Gareth Bale and Atletico’s Radamel Falcao have also been named as twin targets should Ronaldo walk away, but those two would cost a combined €100m, maybe more, while the Welshman admitted recently that he would be delighted to be even half as good as the Portuguese. So he has some way to go yet.

For his part, Ronaldo has responded positively on the pitch, shown a more generous attitude towards defensive duties and recently defended Mourinho publicly. A change in body language, demeanour and a more humble approach off the pitch have seen the Portuguese’s popularity peak at the Bernabeu, where he has been hailed with chants of “Cristiano, Balon de Oro” in recent games, and in the dressing room, as he has developed a closer relationship with the Spanish stars such as Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos, having previously formed part of the group of foreign players.

Problems with the club have also been resolved following a conversation with president Florentino Perez and today’s Ronaldo is a much happier version than September’s sad and sorry soul. Madrid now believe he is willing to stay and be part of the club’s future, with or without Mourinho, while they are also aware of his immense importance to their hopes of challenging both Barcelona at home and Europe’s elite in the Champions League.

If Madrid can make the sums add up – not an easy ask, but one that will be facilitated by the sale of Kaka – then the chances of a new deal being agreed for Ronaldo in the summer are favourable. It’s what Ronaldo, the fans, and the club are truly wishing for as the Portuguese superstar blows out his 28 candles.

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Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid better than Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo is confident that Real Madrid have what it takes to overcome Manchester United in the Champions League round of 16.

The Portugal international, who represented the Red Devils between 2003 and 2009, has stressed that the Premier League leaders will pose a stern test, but has insisted that his side are superior.

“I believe things will go well. In my opinion Real Madrid have a better team, but we have to show that on the pitch because United are a very united team and always have been in recent years,” the attacker told Uefa’s official Champions League magazine.

“They’re a team that always do well, every year they’re at the top and therefore a team we respect a lot. It will be an extremely difficult match, especially in Manchester.

“The game at Old Trafford will be a match in which I will feel a lot. I was there for six years. I have a lot of friends there, people I will see with great pleasure, it will be a match with a lot of emotions.”

The first leg is scheduled to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on February 13.

Copa del Rey semi-final second leg dates announced

The dates for the much-anticipated second leg clashes in Spain’s Copa del Rey semi-final have been announced.

Barcelona will host Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Tuesday, February 26 with the game nicely poised at one goal apiece.

The second semi-final will conclude the following day, with Atletico Madrid looking to hold onto their slender 2-1 lead from the first leg against Sevilla.

The final is due to take place on the May 18, with the hosting ground to be announced by the Spanish Football Federation once the finalists are known.

Cristiano Ronaldo: I will play for Portugal whether or not I'm 100% fit

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has declared himself available for Portugal’s midweek friendly with Ecuador, but has admitted he is not fully fit.

The 27-year-old is believed to be suffering from a muscle strain and Portugal boss Paulo Bento is expected to make a decision on the inclusion of his captain on Tuesday, following a fitness test.

And Ronaldo has revealed he hopes to play some role in Wednesday’s game despite his minor fitness worry.

“I give my body and soul to Portugal. It is an honour to represent my country and I will contribute whether or not I am 100% fit on Wednesday,” Ronaldo told a press conference.

If the forward is passed fit, it will see him come up against the man who replaced him at Manchester United, Antonio Valencia, and the United legend has spoken highly of his successor at Old Trafford.

He added: “He [Antonio] is a very fast player with great technique. It will not be an easy match.”