Benzema, Ronaldo - The Fallen

As Real Madrid fans are wont to do when things go less than swimmingly, they have spent the last few weeks/months decrying the performances of Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Both, and arguably our only two real attackers since Gareth Bale has been out so much with injury, so far this season, have not delivered the goals and assists that we've come to expect, and so desperately need.

Poor Benzema - not only hasn't he been scoring goals, but his fail-safe 'link-up-play' uniqueness has even faded to oblivion doing nothing to salvage his attempt to counter Gary Lineker's comments.

And Ronaldo, quite literally the most prolific goal-scorer in history, while slow-to-warm-up most seasons, is in one heck a goal-scoring drought as we get closer to the mid-point of the season.

Couple all this with Real Madrid's less than stellar patch the last month, and well, fans and pundits alike are touting the end of the Zidane era already, and calling for the sale of these two “dinosaurs.”

But just how much of this is a Chicken Little scenario?

The Sky Isn't Falling as Fast as We Think
So Big Benz only has one goal this season in 480 mins… Not so shabby compared to last year's 3rd highest La Liga scorer, Luis Suarez.

Read More: https://www.managingmadrid.com/2017/11/8/16621702/benzema-ronaldo-the-fallen

Real Madrid favourite does not want club to sign Spurs star, says La Liga expert

Cristiano Ronaldo does not want Harry Kane to join Real Madrid, according to Spanish journalist Guillem Balague.



Kane has been linked with a move to the La Liga giants following his fine form in 2017.

But Balague, author of the new book about Mauricio Pochettino, claims Ronaldo doesn’t want to play next to anyone but Karim Benzema up front.

“If you beat Real Madrid the way Spurs did, if you play the way Spurs have been playing for the last two years and a half, it’s normal that they’re linked to top clubs,” Balague told Sky Sports. (Quotes via The Express.)

“Harry Kane is linked to Real Madrid because of his performances, which match by the way Cristiano Ronaldo’s in 2017, but also because Benzema is not scoring.

“Are Real Madrid keeping an eye on him? Of course they are. Dele Alli has to progress, are they keeping an eye on him? Yes, they are.

“But while Cristiano Ronaldo’s at Real Madrid first of all he prefers to have Benzema next to him, no other No 9.

“And secondly, I think they will want to give a chance, first to Zidane but also Benzema for a long while. They are both favourites of the president.”

The suggestion is that a better striker than Benzema has the potential to outshine Ronaldo, which would make Madrid’s single-minded talisman unhappy.

As long as it means Kane stays in North London, the Tottenham fans will be happy.

Read More: http://www.tottenhamblog.com/2017/11/08/real-madrid-favourite-does-not-want-club-to-sign-spurs-star-says-la-liga-expert/

RONALDO ALL SET TO LOSE BET WITH TEAMMATES

Cristiano Ronaldo has made a rather risky bet with his Real Madrid teammates, according to reports from Spain.

And it seems the Portuguese superstar is well on course to lose his money, following his side’s poor start to the new season.

It has been claimed that Ronaldo made a bet with two of his Los Blancos teammates that he would finish the campaign as the top goalscorer in La Liga. Well, Real Madrid have just won La Liga and the Champions League, and Ronaldo was in the form of his life. But so far things haven’t been going too well for Ronaldo, or Real Madrid for that matter, with the team languishing in third - eight points behind leaders Barcelona.

The Portuguese has notched just once this season – 11 less than his long-term rival Lionel Messi, who is the division’s current leading marksman.

Ronaldo does have 27 games left of the season to make up the deficit, but it seems he will have to work harder than he has ever done before if he is to do so. The report that Ronaldo had put his money on the line came from the Onda Cero programme El Transistor during the week.

Read More: https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/articleshow/61554578.cms

Ronaldo is FINISHED — Messi

Ronaldo has endured a nightmare start to the season, scoring just one La Liga goal for Real Madrid so far. There seems to be genuine concern at the Bernabeu that their talisman is finished, with the 32-year-old approaching the twilight years of his career.

And Spanish website Don Balon claims that Lionel Messi thinks Ronaldo will never rediscover the form that has made him such a formidable opponent of the years. Ronaldo won FIFA’s Player of the Year award last month for his exploits for Los Blancos last term, where he fired them to Spanish and European glory. But the brutal fact is he has looked unworthy of that award based on this season’s performances.

He has eight goals across all competitions but Madrid’s domestic plight has coupled with his own. Barcelona already sit eight points clear of Real Madrid at the summit, with Valencia sandwiched in between.


Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/ronaldo-finished-messi/

Harry Kane and Harry Winks out of England squad

Tottenham duo Harry Kane and Harry Winks have withdrawn from the England squad for the friendlies against Germany and Brazil due to injuries.

West Brom midfielder Jake Livermore has been called up as a replacement.

Striker Kane has a knee injury while midfielder Winks has an ankle problem. The pair had treatment during the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

England host Germany at Wembley on Friday and then play Brazil at the same venue on 14 November.

Kane and Winks' Spurs team-mate Dele Alli had already withdrawn from the original squad and on Monday England called up Everton defender Michael Keane to replace him.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino said Winks, who went off at half-time in the Palace match, had twisted his ankle.

Read More: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41893269

Pepe criticises unenthusiastic Real Madrid fans

Portugal international Pepe, 34, said Real Madrid supporters do not compare to fans from Turkish champions Besiktas.

Former Real Madrid defender Pepe described the LaLiga club's fans as unenthusiastic, rubbishing the atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu compared to his new home in Turkey.

Besiktas veteran Pepe enjoyed a trophy-laden career in the Spanish capital, helping Madrid to three LaLiga titles, as many Champions League crows and two Club World Cup medals among more.

Now playing for Turkish giants Besiktas, the 34-year-old said Madrid supporters – who have booed Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema this season – do not compare to fans from the Istanbul-based club.

"Perhaps Real Madrid fans won't like me saying this but they say Real Madrid fans transmit enthusiasm but I don't think they do. That's not the reality," Portugal international Pepe told beIN Sports.

"The Besiktas fans are very passionate. When you go out onto the pitch the noise coming from the stands always hits you."

Pepe added: "The atmosphere at Besiktas is very different to at Real Madrid. In Turkey people really love sport, they only think about football.

"After games, we can hear the noise of the supporters until the early hours of the morning."
Besiktas are third in the Turkish Super Lig, five points behind leaders Galatasaray, while they are top of their Champions League group.

Spanish and European champions Madrid, meanwhile, are eight points adrift of LaLiga pacesetters Barcelona.

Read more at https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/pepe-criticises-unenthusiastic-real-madrid-fans#KZGDwdd6S94MK2HG.99

Arsenal transfer rumour round-up – Navas, De Jong, Ozkeyup, Rafinha, Upamecano

With the international break coming up, you can expect an uptake in transfer speculation, but we prefer to bunch our rumours together when the likelihood of such moves remain far away.

Keylor Navas is claimed to feel unappreciated at the Bernabeu, and has become unsettled because of it. Real Madrid are continually linked with bringing in a top goalkeeper to replace him, leaving Liverpool and Arsenal to keep tabs on proceedings.

Another La Liga giants players are believed to be on Arsenal’s radar, with Rafinha supposedly being eyed for a move. The midfielder has failed to make the cut at the Nou Camp since making his debut back in 2011, and at 24 years-old should be keen on finding regular football in order to resurrect his career.

Oguzhan Ozyakup us another player who we have been linked with previously, but he was actually sold by our club back in 2012 to Besiktas, and the player just so happened to change his international allegiance to Turkey from Holland in the same summer. The midfielder has since cemented his place in his international side is tipped for a move to a bigger side in Europe, with Arsenal claimed to be eyeinga £10 Million bid.

Another midfielder tipped for a move to North London this January is Frank de Jong. The young midfielder is supposedly set to be the subject of a £5 Million bid, with preliminary talks claimed to have been held already.

Another young star who is tipped to move to a bigger club in the near future is Dayot Upamecano, who has earned his place as one of the world’s most coveted young defenders. All the big clubs are keeping tabs on his progress with RB Leipzig, and the 19 year-old is currently tied down a contract with a £89 Million release clause. Barcelona are believed to be leading the chase for his signature, but a move may boil down to who is willing to make the big jump and pay the huge fee.

Can you see any truth in any of the above rumours? Which target would improve our squad most?

Read More: http://www.justarsenal.com/arsenal-transfer-rumour-round-up-navas-de-jong-ozkeyup-rafinha-upamecano/81643