Nothing Is Impossible With This Real Madrid Team - Royston Drenthe

Royston Drenthe has reiterated his desire to be part of Real Madrid's success story, as the Dutchman believes that "anything is possible" with the side that president Florentino Perez has assembled.

"I've been in Madrid for two years and I want to enjoy it, I want to succeed at the club," Drenthe told the club's official website, realmadrid.com.

"I felt good in pre-season, but now I'm thinking about the league, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey because they are very important competitions for us.

"We have to work very hard if we want to win everything. I believe anything is possible with this team," the 22-year-old declared.

Although the former Feyenoord winger's admiration for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka is clear, he added that every member of the squad would need to pull their weight if los Blancos are to win trophies.

"[The expensive signings] can't do everything on their own. There are a lot of games, that's why the coach needs 25 players, you can't win with two or three."

Anthony Wright, Goal.com

Gonzalo Higuain: It Is A Privilege To Play For Real Madrid

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain says he is "privileged" to be involved with Los Blancos, and is confident that his abilities on the field will determine how much he plays.

In an interview with Don Balon, the Argentinean said that it is the responsibility of the players to ensure that Madrid operate "as a team and not as a group of individuals", and he insists that despite the competition for places, they all play for the team and for each other.

"Instead of talking about competition, we should be looking to make a team that all play for the same side."

Higuain believes that he is in Manuel Pellegrini's plans in the same way as any other striker at the club.

"[Karim] Benzema, Raul and Ruud [van Nistelrooy] and I are on an equal footing," he said.

The 21-year-old forward also admitted that Pellegrini has a difficult job picking a team from so many talented players.

He added, "The coach has the difficult decision, however I will respect whatever he decides to do, and keep working hard."

"I have high hopes and I am optimistic that this can be a big year for me.

Paul Madden, Goal.com

Official: Miguel Torres Leaves Real Madrid For Getafe

Real Madrid defender Miguel Torres has completed his switch to neighbours Getafe on the final day of the summer transfer window, the buying club have announced on their official website.

El Geta will pay Madrid €2 million for the young full-back, while Torres will sign a five-year contract at Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

Madrid retain the option to re-purchase Torres with a two-year buy-back clause included in the contract.

The 23-year-old has played for Madrid 52 times since making his debut in 2007. But following the arrival of Alvaro Arbeloa from Liverpool earlier this summer he has dropped down the pecking order at the Bernabeu, forcing him to look elsewhere for first-team football.

The Spain Under-21 international had been linked with a number of clubs, including city rivals Atletico Madrid, before becoming coach Michel's seventh summer signing for Los Azulones.

Paul Madden, Goal.com

Zidane flying to Munich for Real Madrid Ribery talks

16.07.09 | tribalfootball.com

Real Madrid are making a new push to convince Bayern Munich to sell Franck Ribery.

Marca says Ribery's agent, Alain Miglaccio, was travelling to Munich yesterday to open new talks with Bayern in an attempt to convince them to do business with Real. There's also talk that Zinedine Zidane will fly to Germany from the USA to help with negotiations.

The situation at Bayern is becoming increasingly difficult for Ribery, who is now being criticised by local media and fans over his ambitions to quit the club for Real.

Chelsea - AC Milan - Real Madrid - Bayern Munchen 09/10 Adidas kits

Faubert promises to bring speed to Real Madrid

MADRID (AFP) – French midfielder Julien Faubert said Monday he will contribute speed to Real Madrid as he was officially presented as the spanish club's new player after he completed his six-month loan from West Ham.

"I think I can bring something extra to the team, my speed, my versatility, if I did not believe it I would not be here," the 25-year-old, who scored on his only appearance for France, told a news conference.

Faubert, who saw a move to AS Rome fall apart in 2007 when he played for Bordeaux, added the move was a giant leap forward as he received his new number 18 jersey from Real legend Alfredo di Stefano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

"At Bordeaux I was supposed to sign for Rome but it didn't happen. It is a good comeback for me to be at Real Madrid. I am very happy to be here and it is an honour to receive the jersey from Stefano," he said.

Faubert, who is under contract with West Ham through 2012, will stay at Real until June. The defending Spanish champions will then have the option to sign him for a further three years.

He played for Cannes and then Bordeaux before heading to East London in 2007 - but an Achilles tendon rupture kept him sidelined shortly afterwards and he has not featured this season.

Real Madrid star Javier Saviola to join Portsmouth on loan

By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 6:01 PM on 26th January 2009

Argentine international Javier Saviola is set to join Portsmouth on loan.

Saviola has snubbed offers from Newcastle and Everton after being persuaded by boss Tony Adams to help out the south coast club in their relegation fight.

The 27-year-old will watch Portsmouth's Premier League home game with Aston Villa from the Fratton Park stands before sealing a six-month deal.

Saviola becomes Portsmouth's sixth signing of the January window and follows the captures of West Ham midfielder Hayden Mullins and Porto youngster Pele.

Manager Adams, who admits looking at 150 players, said: 'I would still like a midfielder and a striker and hopefully we can get them in this week. We need some bodies.

'We have a budget here. I do not have £40 million pounds to spend and most of my work will be done in the summer.'

Mullins, 29, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract after Portsmouth agreed a £1 million pounds fee with West Ham.

Attacking midfielder Pele, 19, joins on a six-month loan.

Former Barcelona and River Plate striker Saviola, nicknamed the little Rabbit, has scored 12 goals in 44 games for Argentina but has made only 16 appearances since joining Madrid in 2007.

Juande Ramos Chooses Diarra For Champions League

Juande Ramos, the Real Madrid coach, has decided that Lassana Diarra will take up Los Blancos' sole remaining Champions League squad place.

According to Marca, Ramos is convinced that Diarra is more important to the side's European fortunes than Klaas Jan Huntelaar.

Diarra has impressed in his first few games in the Spanish capital, while Huntelaar is yet to open his goal-scoring account.

The report states that the Dutchman has already accepted the decision, and only a miracle or an injury to Diarra will make Ramos change his mind.

Arjun Miglani, Goal.com

Florentino Perez's Real Madrid Black List

According to Sport, Florentino Pérez has prepared a list of players he wants to get rid of should he reclaim the presidency at Real Madrid:

Jerzy Dudek: Will not renew his contract, since he is blocking the progression of Jordi Codina from the youth team.

Michel Salgado: Almost left the team last season, and no longer has a place in the squad.

Fabio Cannavaro: Is 35 years old and wants to finish his career at Napoli. Will be allowed to leave.

Javier Saviola: Has two years left on his contract, but neither the club nor the player intend to see them out.

Marcelo: Has not impressed, and the club will seek a transfer.

Royston Drenthe: Has great potential, but needs to play more. The club will seek to loan him out.

Javi Garcia: The arrival of Lassana Diarra, along with his own indifferent performances, means that he is surplus to requirements.

Christoph Metzelder: Has played under Juande Ramos, but is yet to convince. His future will depend on who the coach is.

Arjun Miglani, Goal.com

Kaka 'wants to play at Real, says Beckham'

MADRID (AFP) – Brazilian midfielder Kaka, who rejected a record-breaking transfer from Manchester City, wants to play at Real Madrid next season, his AC Milan teammate David Beckham was quoted as saying Tuesday.

"Kaka wants to go to Real Madrid and not to City. I think he will become a Real player in June. I think someone has called him and that Kaka has made his decision," the former England captain told a friend recently, according to Spanish sports daily AS.

The paper said last week Kaka asked Beckham, who played for Real between 2003 and 2007, for information about the defending Spanish giants, the paper added.

Former Real president Ramon Calderon, who stepped down on Friday over allegations that he rigged voting at the club's last annual general assembly, promised to sign Kaka during his successful campaign to lead the club.

Real remains interested in signing the 26-year-old, according to AS.

"This is the best moment to recruit Kaka, he is the player who would benefit the team the most," an unnamed Real source told the newspaper.

Italian prime minister and AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi said late Monday that Kaka had decided to stay with the Italian side, having rejected a bid from City that was said to be of 100 million pounds (111 million euros/147 million US dollars).

Kaka is under contract with Milan through 2013.

Calderon confirms resignation as Real president

MADRID, Jan 16 (Reuters) - An emotional Ramon Calderon confirmed media reports that he had resigned as president of Spanish champions Real Madrid in a news conference at the Bernabeu on Friday.

Calderon, who was elected to the post in 2006, had been under pressure to go since Marca newspaper published allegations earlier this week of irregularities at the club's general assembly last month.

"Against the recommendations of my board I have decided to step down from the presidency," Calderon said.

"I have committed errors but not irregularities. I go with my head held high."

The 57-year-old lawyer will be replaced by Vicente Boluda, who takes charge until a presidential election can be held in the close season.

With tears in his eyes and struggling to hold his emotions in check, Calderon read from a pre-prepared speech.

"I am not a coward and have nothing to hide," he said. "I hope that by offering up my head my going will help placate the wider Real Madrid public.

"They have been convulsed by daily stories put together and sent out from the media that show absolute contempt for all known moral codes."

He defended his record at the helm which included two consecutive league titles, and two trophies with the basketball section, and reiterated that he knew nothing about the events that had occurred at last month's assembly.

The allegations in Marca said unauthorised persons had gained access to the club's assembly on Dec. 7 and their presence had helped to swing votes on key issues in favour of the management.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Calderon said two Real officials involved in organising the assembly had resigned and he would probably not stand for re-election when his four-year mandate ended in 2010.

Spanish media reported on Friday that three club delegates who attended the general assembly had started legal proceedings to have the agreements passed at the event annulled in the light of recent developments.

source

AP Photo/Paul White

Calderon quits as Real Madrid president

MADRID, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Ramon Calderon resigned as president of Spanish champions Real Madrid on Friday after an emergency board meeting at the Bernabeu, Spanish media have reported.

Calderon, who has held the post since 2006, has been under pressure to go since Marca newspaper published allegations earlier this week of irregularities at the club's general assembly last month.

No one was available for comment from the club but a news conference has been called for 1700GMT at the Bernabeu, when Calderon will speak to the media, a statement said on the club's website (www.realmadrid.com).

The 57-year-old, who has denied any wrongdoing, was close to resigning on Thursday night under pressure from several members of the Real management board, reports said.

It is predicted that Vicente Boluda, one of the club's vice presidents, will take the helm until new elections can be called.

The allegations in Marca this week said unauthorised persons had gained access to the club's assembly on Dec. 7 and their presence had helped swing votes on key issues in favour of the management.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Calderon said two Real officials involved in organising the assembly had resigned and he would probably not stand for re-election when his four-year mandate ended in 2010.

He ruled out stepping down immediately and insisted neither he nor any other member of the management board were involved in any irregularities.

source

Real Madrid presents Huntelaar

(Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Marcelo and his Mercurial Vapor IV Rosa

Is There a Crisis in Real Madrid?

After Coach Bernd Schuster missed a voluntary training exercise this past weekend and only 5 players showed up as well, many believe this and many other issues are a reflection of crisis in “The Whites” club.

After being defeated by a third division club (Real Irún) which caused them the elimination out of the Kings Cup and falling 1-0 against Real Valladolid on November 15th, Coach Schuster gave his team a forced 2 day break to relax and plan for the clubs next steps.

The word “crisis” echoes all over the Bernabeu Clubs front lines; there is no secret among the fans and sports media regarding the situation with player’s performance, but why? Has the club lost interest in the Spanish League? Is the physical preparation to average for the squad? Perhaps these and many other issues have taken the elite club down the hill for a moment.

What are the main problems that have affected the club this year? And have them paying the bills almost finishing this 2008? Well, to start with the club is famous for signing the best players in the planet, no matter the costs or political issues involve.

The fact that Cristiano Ronaldo decided to remain in the Manchester United instead of signing the multi-million dollar contract with The Whites; left many wondering that perhaps the economical aspect was not the cause for the transaction to failed, but more of social phenomena. The Real Madrid waited for to long for Cristiano Ronaldo to change his mind and by the time he rejected the offer, possible contracts with David Villa or Santi Cazorla were already lost.

Now, the issues with Robinho escalated way more than the club expected, and at the end he left. Since the club was not prepared when Robinho, the only player they could signed during that moment was Rafael Van der Vaart, who is a great striker, but Robinhos position in the field was hard to replace.

The clubs main objective this 2008 season was based on high performance and less injuries; now in days the club is cursed with casualties, but the one who has and will affect the club the rest of the season is the possible 9 month period without striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who seriously injured his knee recently.

Coach Bernd Schuster has also been distant and reserved with the media, especially after some comments on his replacement by the end of the season and others regarding his lack of faith with players of Real’s “First Team” , whom Schuster has not paid much attention, if none at all since he began coaching the A team.

The team is only two points away to take the lead on the board and they are performing well on the Champions league, so claiming that there is no crisis at all seems out of the question, since an elite club like Real Madrid speaks with performance and not controversy.

Author: Cindy Ferguson
Credit: http://www.articlesbase.com/soccer-articles/is-there-a-crisis-in-real-madrid-656278.html