News News Blog: Rafa Benitez

Man Utd 'edge closer' to huge deal for Gareth Bale after Real Madrid sack Rafa Benitez

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GARETH BALE is edging closer to a move to Manchester United following Rafa Benitez's sacking, according to reports.</div>
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The former Chelsea and Liverpool boss was <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/real-madrid-confirm-zinedine-zidane.html" rel="tag" target="_blank">let go by Real after just seven months in charge yesterday</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3384515/Manchester-United-set-target-Gareth-Bale-switch-edges-closer-Real-Madrid-replace-sacked-Rafa-Benitez-Zinedine-Zidane.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">And according to the <em>Daily Mail</em>, Bale is disappointed by the decision</a> as he had formed a strong bond with Benitez.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gareth Bale is reportedly devastated by Rafa Benitez's sacking </td></tr>
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It's understood he was one of a few supporters of the manager at the club and responded well to his methods and man-management style.</div>
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And it's claimed he could leave the Bernabeu due to the upheaval - the third managerial change in his two-and-a-half-year spell at the club.</div>
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<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/real-madrid/12081700/Gareth-Bale-devastated-by-Real-Madrids-sacking-of-Rafael-Benitez-which-may-encourage-Premier-League-return.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Telegraph</em> add the Welshman will be seeking assurances from new boss Zinedine Zidane</a> about his future.</div>
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But such unrest will undoubtedly attract the interest of Europe's top clubs, including previous suitors Manchester United.</div>
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United were linked with the 26-year-old last summer and reportedly made two bids for the attacker in excess of £100million.</div>
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However, due to the unrest it's reported he could now be lured away from the Spanish capital for a mere £75m - £10m less than Madrid paid Tottenham in 2013.</div>
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Man Utd 'edge closer' to huge deal for Gareth Bale after Real Madrid sack Rafa Benitez

GARETH BALE is edging closer to a move to Manchester United following Rafa Benitez's sacking, according to reports. The former Ch...

Real Madrid confirm Zinedine Zidane replaces Rafa Benitez as manager at the Bernabeu

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REAL MADRID have confirmed Zinedine Zidane has taken over as their interim manager until the end of the season after sacking Raf Benitez.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHGvtoLMBaf84Nk4B5CXsyT6qmynI5y-b6isCpbtgRxVNnVQK3jK42ZlQ1vBIDLIaAzaURz3jaFgNXAdJgmR62ckODEtG6oJV0gRndhBFBKGLM2AOHLNBr0LKgQvnvUKxURYQcECJqEc/s1600/Real+Madrid+confirm+Zinedine+Zidane+replaces+Rafa+Benitez+as+manager+at+the+Bernabeu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Real Madrid confirm Zinedine Zidane replaces Rafa Benitez as manager at the Bernabeu" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHGvtoLMBaf84Nk4B5CXsyT6qmynI5y-b6isCpbtgRxVNnVQK3jK42ZlQ1vBIDLIaAzaURz3jaFgNXAdJgmR62ckODEtG6oJV0gRndhBFBKGLM2AOHLNBr0LKgQvnvUKxURYQcECJqEc/s640/Real+Madrid+confirm+Zinedine+Zidane+replaces+Rafa+Benitez+as+manager+at+the+Bernabeu.jpg" title="Real Madrid confirm Zinedine Zidane replaces Rafa Benitez as manager at the Bernabeu" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zinedine Zidane has taken over as Real Madrid manager</td></tr>
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The former Liverpool boss guided Madrid to third place, four points behind leaders Atletico and two behind Barcelona who have a game in hand, after 18 league games having replaced Carlo Ancelotti in the summer.</div>
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Benitez, whose seven months in charge came to an end this evening, oversaw the 2-2 draw with Gary Neville's Valencia on Sunday but the writing had been on the wall for weeks.</div>
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The 4-0 Clasico defeat on November 21 at the Bernabeu looked like being the nail in the coffin but Benitez held on for another six weeks.</div>
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Since that result Madrid's form has picked up with six wins in their next eight games including a 10-2 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano. </div>
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But tonight Zidane, who was managing their Castilla side in the Spanish third tier, has taken the reins.</div>
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Florentino Perez said: Perez: “Hello and welcome. I invite you all here today to announce that we have terminated the contract of Rafa Benitez.</div>
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“I would like to make it clear that he is a great professional.”</div>
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Zidane was assistant to Ancelotti last season and completed his pro licence course in May making him eligible to lead the team.</div>
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He had worked as assistant to Jose Mourinho previously but the two fell out before the Portuguese left his post and Zidane began working with the B team.</div>
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Zidane played for Madrid for five years between 2001 and 2006 winning one league title and the 2002 Champions League.</div>
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He scored the iconic volley at Hampden Park in the victory over Bayer Leverkusen to seal the club's ninth European title.</div>
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“He is one of the greatest players of all time,” says Perez. “Zidane, you are from this moment, the coach of Real Madrid.”</div>
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Zidane: “I’m going to do everything I can to make the best for this club.</div>
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“It’s a very important day for me. What I can tell you is that I will give everything or this club. </div>
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“Ever since I arrived as a player I knew how great this club was.</div>
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“We have the best fans in the world and the best club in the world and I’ll do everything to win.”</div>
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Real Madrid confirm Zinedine Zidane replaces Rafa Benitez as manager at the Bernabeu

REAL MADRID have confirmed Zinedine Zidane has taken over as their interim manager until the end of the season after sacking Raf Benitez. ...

Monaco confirm interest in beating Man United and Chelsea to Cristiano Ronaldo this summer

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cristiano Ronaldo is wanted by Monaco</td></tr>
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MONACO have joined the race to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.<br />
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<a href="http://www.newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Cristiano%20Ronaldo" target="_blank">The Portugal forward</a> is expected to leave the Bernabeu this summer after falling out with <a href="http://www.newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Rafa%20Benitez" target="_blank">Rafa Benitez</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Manchester%20United" target="_blank">Manchester United</a> and Paris Saint-Germain are the expected destinations while <a href="http://www.newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Chelsea" target="_blank">Chelsea</a> also hold an interest.<br />
But Monaco's manager Leonardo Jardim wants him to help the club challenge the Parisians in Ligue 1.<br />
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“I believe he’ll still carry on playing for a few more years," <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/monaco-join-cristiano-ronaldo-transfer-6939163" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jardim told the <em>Mirror</em></a>.<br />
"If he continues in the same league as me, I’ll be delighted.<br />
“But I’d be much happier if he played for the same team as me. <br />
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"The easiest thing would be for him to come to Monaco.”<br />
<a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/louis-van-gaal-opens-up-on-desire-to.html" target="_blank">Louis van Gaal expressed his desire</a> to sign Ronaldo last month.<br />
Van Gaal said: "With Ronaldo, let's wait and hope.<br />
"Of course we are looking at all players - not just Ronaldo."<br />
The 30-year-old left Old Trafford in 2009 and has won the Ballon d'Or twice since.

Monaco confirm interest in beating Man United and Chelsea to Cristiano Ronaldo this summer

Cristiano Ronaldo is wanted by Monaco MONACO have joined the race to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. The Portugal forward is...

Revealed: Why Man United and Chelsea target Ronaldo will leave Real Madrid in the summer

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cristiano Ronaldo is set to leave Real Madrid this summer</td></tr>
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CRISTIANO RONALDO will leave Real Madrid in the summer, according to reports.</div>
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<a href="http://www.newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Cristiano%20Ronaldo" target="_blank">The Portugal superstar</a> came in for criticism following Madrid's clasico defeat on Saturday.</div>
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Madrid were battered by Barcelona at the Bernabeu - beaten 4-0 - and fans called for the president, the manager and players' heads.</div>
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And <a href="http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12087/10076857/cristiano-ronaldo-and-rafa-benitez-will-leave-real-madrid-this-summer-according-to-guillem-balague" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><em>Sky Sports</em></a> report that Ronaldo, and manager <a href="http://www.newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Rafa%20Benitez" target="_blank">Rafa Benitez</a>, will leave the club before next season.</div>
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"With the case of Cristiano, we have said many times there is a strategy for him to go to another club next season," Guillem Balague told <em>Sky Sports</em>.</div>
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"Very cleverly Real Madrid are trying to make it look like he wants to go, and that he deserves to go.</div>
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"And what Florentino is going to do now is listen to fans. So he likes to do polls with fans, he is going to meet them in little groups, in big groups, and he wants to gather the opinion of fans.</div>
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"Why? Because he wants them to say what they are going to say now, which is: 'Get rid of Cristiano and get rid of Rafa.'"</div>
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And he goes on to speculate who Madrid may look at to replace Ronaldo.</div>
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"Perhaps names will be mentioned of future players," he added. "And make a list of the best players in the world and they will be linked to Real Madrid in the next few months - Sergio Aguero, Eden Hazard - because they are going to be looking for the next big thing now."</div>
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<a href="http://www.newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Manchester%20United" target="_blank">Manchester United</a> manager <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/louis-van-gaal-opens-up-on-desire-to.html" target="_blank">Louis van Gaal admitted last week that he was interested</a> in signing Ronaldo if he became available.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis van Gaal admitted he wants to sign Ronaldo</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Chelsea" target="_blank">Chelsea</a> have also been linked with a move but Van Gaal's openness about his transfer business shows they will be looking to move quickly if things shape up.</div>
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Van Gaal said: "With Ronaldo, let's wait and hope.</div>
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"Ronaldo plays on the wings and he is fast and scores goals. There is no trainer in the world that doesn't like him.</div>
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"Of course we are looking at all players - not just Ronaldo."</div>

Revealed: Why Man United and Chelsea target Ronaldo will leave Real Madrid in the summer

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to leave Real Madrid this summer CRISTIANO RONALDO will leave Real Madrid in the summer, according to report...

Don't only blame Benitez: Perez and Madrid must copy Barcelona's model to end the nightmare

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White handkerchiefs were out in protest at the Santiago Bernabeu during the 4-0 loss against the Bluagrana, but a change of coach won't solve the deeper issues at Real</div>
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The pressure is on for <a href="http://www.newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Rafa%20Benitez" target="_blank">Rafa Benitez</a>. Defeat at Sevilla prior to the international break saw <a href="http://www.newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Real%20Madrid" target="_blank">Real Madrid</a> slip three points behind <a href="http://www.newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Barcelona" target="_blank">Barcelona</a> ahead of the Clasico and two weeks on, the 4-0 loss at home to the Catalans leaves the Spaniard on the brink. Sacking him, however, isn't the solution.<br /><br />Benitez has earned a reputation as a defensive coach during his time at Madrid and his players are not particularly fond of the team's style of play. Prior to the game against Barca, he was told by key figures in his squad that they needed to be more positive and, although he claimed that information was false, the former Liverpool boss picked a much more attacking line-up on Saturday.<br /><br />Casemiro dropped to the bench after playing eight games in a row, while James Rodriguez started and so too did Karim Benzema. It was the team the fans wanted and the team the players wanted, but it wasn't the one Rafa wanted. And when coaches betray their ideas, things rarely end well.<br /><br />What followed was a disaster from start to finish. Toni Kroos is not a defensive midfielder, while Luka Modric and James Rodriguez are playmakers who are aided by the presence of a ball-winner. But there wasn't one on the pitch and between them, the trio left far too much space in the centre of the pihct, offering little protection for the defence.<br /><br />Barca's brilliant midfield went through them like a knife through butter and Rafa admitted afterwards that he had got it wrong. "We picked players with quality and experience," he said. "But it didn't go as we had hoped. After the game, obviously it hasn't gone as we wanted. What else can I say?"</div>
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Some reports suggested prior to the match that Benitez would be out if he lost the Clasico, but that still seems premature and the man tipped to replace him, Zinedine Zidane, does not appear ready or even willing to take over at this stage.<br /><br />"Real Madrid already have a new coach in Zidane," former Barca forward Rivaldo wrote on Instagram after the Clasico on Saturday. "I believe it's time to give him a chance like Barca did with [Pep] Guardiola and Luis Enrique."<br /><br />It's true that Benitez may not be the right man for the job. The Spaniard's defensive style has won him few friends at Real and he has failed to win a league title since 2004 (with Valencia), while his only Champions League crown came a decade ago at Liverpool.<br /><br />Nevertheless, the problems at Real run much deeper than the man sitting on the bench.<br /><br />Before the match, former Barca president Joan Laporta told <strong>Goal</strong>: "I honestly think Barca have the better team. They play more as a unit and Madrid are in that phase where they are adapting to a playing style. Ours is very much integrated."<br /><br />How true. All of the players at La Masia are taught to play football in the Barca blueprint, while youth teams at the Catalan club are geared towards playing the same system: 4-3-3. That style has enjoyed spectacular success in recent times, but it has also evolved and players such as Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez have made it even better.</div>
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Madrid, meanwhile, have no such strategy. Their formation and tactics vary from coach to coach, while new signings are identified in line with marketing and merchandising, shirt sales and global appeal. That is the Florentino Perez philosophy, but just like in his first spell in charge of the club, it is a vision that is proving to be flawed.<br /><br />Carlo Ancelotti suffered last season when Angel Di Maria and Xabi Alonso were sold in August, two key players he wanted to keep, footballers who brought balance to his starting line-up and who had both been key in securing La Decima months earlier. He also saw his side depleted by an injury crisis and was up against a Barca team that went on to win the treble. If anything, however, the squad's shortcomings were more Perez's fault than his own.<br /><br />Ancelotti had been talked about by some as a possible Sir Alex Ferguson figure at Real. Perez had tried to sign him twice before and was happy to get his man, yet while he kept faith in Jose Mourinho for three seasons, the Italian was dispatched as soon as things went wrong.<br /><br />Even though Ferguson won numerous trophies in his 26 years at Manchester United, he didn't claim the biggest prizes every single season. After winning four trophies in a calendar year for the first time in Madrid's history (in 2014), Ancelotti was out in 2015.<br /><br />And now Benitez is in danger just 16 games into his tenure. But how can Madrid possibly hope to catch or match Barcelona if they are constantly changing coaches and persisting with a signing policy that involves buying the world's best forwards and shoehorning them all into the same side?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQSeYhs_OdngljMQuiMsF7RagyOrENBiL4hBDRcaZTqpydS2JQFLzk5RGZoJfMBwUrjwvH8BGMHIIB7XJgOjSYIkEQ7rCd3eQ_gy9nddpnlQMOVRqHE-sUD-SReuFtS6ZBuwecFR7Gsw/s1600/Don%2527t+only+blame+Benitez-+Perez+and+Madrid+must+copy+Barcelona%2527s+model+to+end+the+nightmare+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Don't only blame Benitez: Perez and Madrid must copy Barcelona's model to end the nightmare" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQSeYhs_OdngljMQuiMsF7RagyOrENBiL4hBDRcaZTqpydS2JQFLzk5RGZoJfMBwUrjwvH8BGMHIIB7XJgOjSYIkEQ7rCd3eQ_gy9nddpnlQMOVRqHE-sUD-SReuFtS6ZBuwecFR7Gsw/s640/Don%2527t+only+blame+Benitez-+Perez+and+Madrid+must+copy+Barcelona%2527s+model+to+end+the+nightmare+4.jpg" title="Don't only blame Benitez: Perez and Madrid must copy Barcelona's model to end the nightmare" width="640" /></a></div>
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That may have brought success in the 1950s and 1960s when Real ruled the club scene in Europe, but it won't work now. Football has evolved and Perez is still seemingly living in the dark ages. Spending money is no guarantee of success these days. <br /><br />Instead, Madrid must decide how they want to play, pick a style and stick to it, signing footballers who will be right for a specific system. Whether they are marketable or not should be secondary. After all, Real are already the world's richest club, so the priority now needs to be success on the pitch. One league title and one Champions League crown since 2008 is simply not good enough - especially given the enormous outlay in that time.<br /><br />With less money spent since 2008, the Blaugrana have won La Liga five times and the Champions League on three occasions. But it wasn't always that way, of course, and during his spell as Barca boss, Guardiola admitted that the Catalan club had looked to Madrid for inspiration in the 1980s and 1990s.<br /><br />"It's the work of so many people going back 10 to 15 years," Pep said of La Masia in 2011. "Not so long ago we didn't even have a Champions League to our name. The 'Quinta del Buitre' (the Madrid team featuring five homegrown players and led by Emilio Butragueno that won five straight Liga titles between 1985 and 1990) were an example to us. We fed off of them, we learned so much from them."</div>
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So perhaps now it's time for Madrid to take a look at themselves, and then glance over towards Barca to see just what their biggest rivals have done to achieve all their success over the past few years. If you can't beat them, join them. </div>

Don't only blame Benitez: Perez and Madrid must copy Barcelona's model to end the nightmare

White handkerchiefs were out in protest at the Santiago Bernabeu during the 4-0 loss against the Bluagrana, but a change of coach won...

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