Real Madrid News

The full-back is hopeful that the former Manchester United star will ink a contract extension and does not fear the competition of Daniel Carvajal

Alvaro Arbeloa has stressed that it would be a huge boost for Real Madrid if Cristiano Ronaldo were to ink a contract extension.

The Portugal international has been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu side on more than one occasion, but club president Florentino Perez stated earlier this week that he expects that the attacker will stay at Madrid until the end of his career.

Ronaldo has a contract with the Liga giants until the summer of 2015, but Arbeloa is hopeful that the 28-year-old will ink a new deal this year.

“The best signing Real Madrid could make would be Cristiano Ronaldo renewing his contract,” the defender told La Sexta.

“I hope that Cristiano will stay at Madrid for many more years.”

The full-back then took the time to reflect on the return of Daniel Carvajal from Bayer Leverkusen and stressed that he does not fear the youngster’s competition.

“There has always been stiff competition for places at Madrid. I will only benefit from his arrival.”

Carvajal, 21, left Madrid for Leverkusen in 2012, but the Spanish giants re-signed him this summer after he impressed in the Bundesliga this term.

With the European season over, Goal looks at the business set to be done by the Ligue 1 newcomers this summer

ANALYSIS
By Robin Bairner

For most promoted sides, the aim of their first season in the top flight is simply survival, yet Monaco have promised to arm themselves with some of the top players in the world and are set to be the headline event of the summer transfer window. Backed by wealthy Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev they are threatening to spend on a scale unprecedented in Ligue 1 and perhaps even the footballing world.

Already they have made several high-profile moves in the window and there could be even more to come by the time transfer season ends on August 31, despite a dispute with France’s professional clubs over their tax-exempt status.

Goal looks at what the summer might bring for the team everyone is talking about.

The transfer window is not even officially open in France but Monaco have already signed a wealth of talent for lavish fees.

Radamel Falcao’s arrival last Friday was the most notable, with the Atletico Madrid striker rumoured to have cost the principality side €60 million, though they have insisted that the actual fee is below this figure. Regardless, it is very probable they have broken the French transfer record, which was set by PSG’s €42m capture of Thiago Silva.

Previously, they had already announced the signings of Porto pair Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez in a remarkable €70m deal (€25m for the former, €45m for the latter). Moutinho will strengthen their midfield while the Colombian will boost their attacking options further.

Monaco manager Claudio Ranieri is a huge admirer of Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio, having coached him during his spell as boss of the Bianconeri and the French side are prepared to bid in the region of €30m for the Italy international. Juventus trainer Antonio Conte has made it clear to his board that he will not accept a sale of the homegrown star, but a crazy offer and a poor Confederations Cup by Marchisio could open a door that now looks closed. Especially as Juve already have a future world class midfielder in Paul Pogba ready to take Marchisio’s place.

Experience has already been added to the rearguard with the addition of Ricardo Carvalho, though Monaco are also eyeing Eric Abidal – who is to leave Barcelona – and Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao. The Portuguese, like Abidal, is destined to depart La Liga this summer, and Monte Carlo is a very possible destination.

In addition, another centre-back is expected to arrive in addition to promising youngster Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, who has already agreed personal terms to move from Valenciennes. Nicolas Nkoulou looks to have turned down the chance to rejoin his former side but John Terry and Daniel Agger, of Chelsea and Liverpool respectively, are both options.

Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes is a target who has seemingly been missed after he announced he will remain with the Catalans one more year and it seems that Steve Mandanda is happy to stay with Olympique de Marseille, although Monaco have argued that they are happy with current shot-stopper Danijel Subastic.

Sporting director Vadim Vasilyev has said that Monaco will only sign five or six new faces but expect them to be linked with many, many more names over the course of the summer.

Head coach Claudio Ranieri, meanwhile, has indicated that he wants his squad largely in place by the time pre-season training begins on July 1.

The squad that won Ligue 2 last season was extremely big and will need to be trimmed down significantly before the beginning of this campaign.

Valere Germain, who came through the youth ranks of the team, could be one of the players to be sacrificed for the big-name arrivals. The 23-year-old was very impressive in scoring 14 league goals last season and has attracted the likes of Lille. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Toure’s goals dried up towards the end of last term and he could also find himself pushed through the exit door.

Other significant departures include Nampalys Mendy, a promising midfielder who has already signed up with next door neighbours Nice, and Layvin Kurzawa, whose opportunities in the left-back role will be limited. Fellow full-back Georgios Tzavelas, a Greece international, is another who is liable to be seen as surplus to requirements along with Sweden midfielder Emir Bajrami, who has signed a three-year deal with Panathinaikos.

Towards the end of the season there was rampant speculation that head coach Claudio Ranieri would be sacked as the Monegasques rather stuttered over the line to claim the Ligue 2 title. Many top names were suggested as contenders for the role, including Jose Mourinho and Roberto Mancini, yet the Stade Louis II outfit have since confirmed that they want Ranieri to lead them into Ligue 1 and the speculation has died for now.

The Italian has admitted, however, that he knows a slow start next season will cost him his job, with the board demanding not only winning football but beautiful football, too. The pressure will be on him.

Whatever happens before the season starts, this will go down as the most remarkable summer in the history of Monaco. They have spent remarkable sums on world-class players whom it was unimaginable that they would be able to secure even five months ago.

This should be seen as a real statement of intent from the principality side, who may have said that they are only aiming for the Europa League spots next season but who must be privately targeting the title. Monaco have proved themselves off the pitch with some fine additions and now they must do likewise on the field.

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Winning goals in the victories for Spain and Italy mean the Napoli and Real Madrid forwards are named in an impressive XI for Matchday One

The Euro Under-21 championship in Israel is under way after Spain defeated Russia, Italy beat England and Netherlands edged a thriller against Germany, while the hosts played out an entertaining draw against Norway.

There were a number of standout performers for all eight sides who put themselves forward for recognition, making the first Team of the Round a difficult selection in a tournament that promises to be an exciting one based on the first batch of games.

Here is Goal’s Euro Under-21 championship team of Matchday One, selected in a 4-2-3-1 formation:

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea was not hugely busy in Spain’s 1-0 win over Russia, but was one of only two shot-stoppers to keep a clean sheet in Matchday One. He did everything he had to for the holders and will be hoping to remain a reliable presence between the sticks right through to the final.
Italy may have only defeated England 1-0 but, in reality, the difference between the two sides was much bigger. Giulio Donati provided an attacking threat as well as successfully completing his defensive duties at right-back, while Luca Caldirola was another standout performer in the centre of defence.

At the other end of the pitch, Craig Dawson was the shining light in Stuart Pearce’s back four, holding the back-line together under intense Italian pressure while he was also very unfortunate to see a headed goal ruled out for a foul by team-mate Steven Caulker.

Sevilla full-back Alberto Moreno was a strong performer for Spain in their win over Russia. He was part of a defensive unit that never looked like conceding a goal and also provided excellent support down the left flank.

Harmeet Singh may have only played for 15 minutes in Norway’s game against Israel, but his strike from outside the penalty area in stoppage-time earned his side a crucial point when defeat had looked certain with them down to 10 men.

He is partnered at the base of our midfield by Germany captain Lewis Holtby, who was inspirational even though his side suffered a 3-2 defeat to the Netherlands. With his side two goals behind at the break, the Tottenham midfielder’s surging run won a penalty and then an accurate shot from distance levelled the match before the Dutch’s late winner.

In the same game, Georginio Wijnaldum scored an excellent solo goal, beating a number of German defenders before firing in a shot that was too hot for goalkeeper Bernd Leno to handle. Adam Maher had earlier opened the scoring.

Italy’s Lorenzo Insigne was in fine form against England. Throughout the 90 minutes, the Napoli starlet was his side’s main attacking threat and he deserved his status as the match-winner, which was achieved when he curled a super free kick past Jack Butland in the closing stages.

Alvaro Morata may not have been selected to start Spain’s game against Russia, but he certainly made his mark after coming on. His glancing header from Thiago’s free kick gave the holders a priceless 1-0 win and the striker hit the post moments later in an excellent half-hour appearance.

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The forward insists he intends to see out his current contract at Santiago Bernabeu despite being restricted to a bit-part role last season

Jose Callejon has rubbished speculation linking him with a move away from Real Madrid this summer.

The Spanish forward has been touted as a possible makeweight in potential offers for Luis Suarez and Isco, but he insists his intention is to see out his current contract at Santiago Bernabeu despite being restricted to a substitute role for much of last season.

“I never said I want to go. I want to stay and win titles with Real Madrid. I have a contract until 2015, that says it all,” the 26-year-old was quoted as saying by EFE.

The former Espanyol man admitted, however, that this season had not gone to plan and regretted missing the opportunity to lift a title.

“It has been sad not to obtain trophy this season, a pity, but football is like that,” he added.

Callejon scored six goals in 40 appearances last season, including a strike on the final day of the campaign against Osasuna.

The Welshman credits the Portuguese for helping him to blossom into one of Europe’s most sought-after stars in the past year

Tottenham star Gareth Bale says Andre Villas-Boas’ tactical nous has helped him to grow as a player and create a “very exciting time for the club”.

The 23-year-old scored 26 goals in all competitions last season, becoming the first Spurs player since Jurgen Klinsmann in 1994-95 to notch 20 Premier League goals in a single campaign, as he won both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards.

Tottenham, meanwhile, once again suffered the agony of missing out on Champions League football on the final day of the campaign, but with Villas-Boas guiding the club to a record league points haul, Bale feels the future is positive at White Hart Lane.

“He has helped me in all aspects of my game,” Bale told Spurs TV. “In training we have been working on things that I can do in games and in games he has given me the confidence to do what I want and do what I do best, which is a massive thing for a player.

“Everyone was excited about him coming in. He is a young manager and he has got a great past at  Porto. Maybe not so much at Chelsea but given time, like he has been this season, he has shown what a good manager he is. It has been a very exciting time for the club.

“He has tried his new tactics, his new style of play with us. Sometimes it does take a bit of time just to get used to it and at the start of the season I think that was a bit difficult. But we adapted and got stronger and stronger.”

Bale has been heavily linked with a move away from the club following his goalscoring heroics, with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez publically voicing his admiration of the forward.

Goal understands Spurs are keen to tie Bale down with a new £130,000 a week contract and the Wales international says he is just keeping his feet on the ground in light of speculation and individual acclaim from elsewhere.

“You just keep focused on the job in hand,” he said. “It has been an amazing season for me but it has been a great team effort. We have grown as a team all season and I think that helped me individually and that is why I am able to play so well and get my awards.”