Morata: "I'm staying at Madrid - I only want to play here”

Striker Álvaro Morata has stressed his desire to remain at Real Madrid: "The club want me to stay, and so does Carlo Ancelotti."

Real Madrid striker Álvaro Morata faced the media on Thursday lunchtime. The Spain Under-21 player, linked with a move to Sevilla on Wednesday, spoke of his determination to stay with ‘Los Blancos’ and stake his claim for a first-team spot. He also remained unconcerned over speculation that Paris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic could arrive at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Carlo Ancelotti: “He has told us to look after the ball, play quick football and create our own playing style.”

Future: “I’m training well and I want to stay at Madrid. The club and the coach want me to stay too."

Offers: “I don’t have to reject offers because I haven’t received any. I only want to play here.”

Playing time: “It’s important to score goals and get minutes on the pitch. And the more playing time I get, the more chances to score I’ll have.”

Possible departure of Gonzalo Higuaín: “It’s in the club’s hands, but ‘El Pipa’ seems as up for it as ever. Jesé and I will fight hard to play.”

Cristiano Ronaldo: “I can’t imagine him at another club. He’s the best player in the world and he has to be at the best club in the world. I’m an admirer of his.”

World Cup chances: “First I have to play [at Real Madrid], and if I do well, then why not?”

Ancelotti and former Madrid coach José Mourinho: “It wouldn’t be right for me to make comparisons. I have great memories of the previous coach.”

Potential signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic: “I’ll fight for my place with whoever comes to the club. This club is always going to bring in the best players.”

Spanish summer signings: “The club is showing its faith in Spanish players. Together with the ones already here, the club is building a great squad.”

...But Arsenal could use first-option clause

Arsène Wenger has confirmed Arsenal have a first-option clause to buy Cesc back - but believes he will stay at Barça for another year at least.

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has acknowledged that the ‘Gunners’ are keeping a close eye on Cesc Fàbregas' potential exit from Barcelona.

On Monday, the Spain international was the subject of a bid from Premier League champions Manchester United. However, the Arsenal boss has revealed that the London club have first refusal to buy him back from Barça: "We have the [first-option] clause in the contract so we will be on alert." 

Nevertheless, Wenger believes he will stay at Barça for another year at least. "At the moment, Fàbregas has decided to stay one more year at Barcelona," he said. "Unless he has changed his mind, I don't know ... but that's what I've been told."

Álvaro Morata turns down move from Real Madrid to Sevilla

The Andalusian club offered 10 million euros for the player, who chose not to leave the Spanish capital.

Sevilla made an offer to Real Madrid for Álvaro Morata, but the player has turned down the move to the Andalusian club, who are seeking a number 9 to replace Negredo, who they have sold to Manchester City. The offer was around 10 million euros, and Madrid would have had a repurchase option. The player, however, decided to stay put and try to convince Ancelotti that he is worth a place in his team.

The deal would have seen the player, who has come up through the ranks at Madrid, sign for five seasons. The repurchase option was to allow Madrid to buy the player back in the first two seasons after the deal, for 11.5 million in the first and 13 in the second.

Sevilla’s first choice of striker is Kevin Gameiro, currently with PSG. The French club, aware that Sevilla have recently banked cash, have put a high price tag on him. Hence Sevilla’s desire to pick up the young Real Madrid player. Real were happy with the transfer and keen for the Morata to pick up experience, with the option to repurchase him should they so desire. The player, however, wants to triumph in the Bernabéu.

Cristian Tello to extend contract at Barcelona

Tito Vilanoca has requested the move. The Catalan player will see his buy-out clause increased.

Cristian Tello is about to have the terms of his contract with Barcelona improved. After many months of talks, the player’s agent, Josep María Orobitg, headed to the offices of Andoni Zubizarreta to finalise the few outstanding details before the deal could be made public. The footballer, who really began to make his mark two seasons ago, has performed sufficiently well to win himself a first team squad number, an improvement to his wages and an increase in his buy-out clause.

Zubizarreta announced a contract extension for Busquets (to 2018) yesterday and with Tello’s new deal it is clear that the club want to avoid a repetition of the Thiago Alcántara situation, who left for Bayern. Tello has rejected interest from several teams in the English Premier (Tottenham, Fulham and Fulham) to focus on his career in the Camp Nou.

The competition for Tello will be intense this season. Many feel that the arrival of Neymar will make things difficult for him, though the player knew how to win the confidence of Pep and Vilanova, who recommended that Pep took his change of pace into account.

Messi calm over tax probe: "We trust our advisers"

The Barcelona forward also expressed his optimism over Neymar's arrival: "He seems like a good guy and he won't have problems adapting".

Lionel Messi gave a press conference on Wednesday following Barcelona’s morning training session. The Argentina international discussed his recent tax issues, his injury last season and the arrival of Neymar. He also touched on the departures of Thiago Alcántara and David Villa, but refused to be drawn on the conflict between coach Tito Vilanova and Pep Guardiola. On Real Madrid, Messi warned: “They’re stronger every year.”

Return to work: “As always, I’m raring to go. I’m eager to do well and achieve every objective.”

Injuries: “The risk is always there in football, it can happen to all players. [But] I’m going to carry on as always and I’m out to play in every game. The injury [last season] was small, but there were complications due to things that came about. I decided to play when perhaps I hadn’t completely recovered. But that’s in the past now.”

Tax problems: “I’m calm. My father and I have our advisers. They manage these things and we trust them. I hope they sort it out. I don’t have a clue about any of that and that’s why we have lawyers.”

Working with Neymar: “He’s a great player. I don’t think he’ll have problems adapting. I don’t know where it has come from that Neymar and I aren’t going to get on. He seems like a good guy and he won’t have any problems because there are good people in the dressing room. He’s very strong in one-on-one situations.”

Rivals: “Bayern Munich have a great team. They won the Champions League in style [last season] and the arrival of Guardiola will only make them stronger. Real Madrid are very strong; they’re stronger every year. It’ll be a difficult league season, fighting against Madrid and any other team who also mounts a challenge at the top of the table.”

Thiago Alcántara’s move to Bayern: “It’s a personal decision. He decided to leave because he thinks he’ll play more. That’s his decision.”

Conflict between Tito and Pep: “That’s between the two of them. It isn’t my place to get involved. They have already spoken and it isn’t for me to discuss the issue.”

David Villa’s departure for Atlético Madrid: “Atlético lost a striker in Falcao, and ‘El Guaje’ will be a really good replacement. He scores a lot of goals and he’ll continue doing that at Atlético.”

Neymar will wear the number 11 for Barcelona

The Brazilian takes Thiago Alcántara’s number. The club made the announcement over the club shop megaphone.

One of the doubts of the summer at Barcelona has been resolved: Neymar will wear the number 11 during his adventure at the Camp Nou. The journalists who attended his presentation on 3 June tried their best to find out, to no avail, in part because the club were yet to sell any players in the summer transfer market. However this afternoon, and via the megaphones in the club shop, all was revealed. Thiago Alcántara’s departure for Bayern has given Neymar the chance to grab the number he had at Santos: 11.

Tito: "Pep didn’t visit me for two months in New York"

Vilanova responded to Pep’s comments last week during this morning’s Barcelona press conference.

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, along with Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta, took the first press conference of the pre-season this morning, with questions focusing on Pep Guardiola’s comments last week, and moves in the transfer market.

Guardiola’s comments: “People aren’t interested in personal matters, but Pep got it wrong and I’m surprised by his comments. No-one on the board used my illness to attack him. The club tried to help me as much as possible. He visited me once in New York when I’d just arrived, but during my recovery from the operation I was there for two months and I didn’t see him. He’s my friend and I needed him, but he wasn’t there for me. I would have done things differently. I won’t say anything else about this”.

The problem started when Tito was made coach? “I talked to him and told him what I intended to do. It was him who encouraged me to become Barça coach. I’ve known him for 28 years. He’s my friend. I’ve won titles with him and we had amazing times together”.

Would you vote for Guardiola as club president:“When he makes a run for the job I’ll decide, but as far as I know he’s not stood for president yet”.

Game against Bayern on 24 July: “There’s been a lot of chat about it, but it’s only a pre-season game. They’ve had more time to prepare, with their whole team. We’re missing 10 or 11. We’ll do the best we can”.

Signing of Rubi: “Everyone is thrilled to arrive here. We wanted to sign Rubi last year.He’ll work with Jordi Roura analysing opposing teams. That’ll help me with the Barça team”.

Thiago Silva: “I’d like to sign him, but he’s not the only person we are looking at for that position”.

Bartra: “He needs to earn himself a place in the spotlight. It’s the players themselves who win their time on the pitch”.

Jonathan dos Santos and Afellay: “We want to loan them out”.

Neymar: “I’m very happy about his arrival. There won’t be a problem having him and Messi. They play in complementary positions. Leo is the best in the world, while Neymar is an amazing promise for the future. If the opposition are tracking one, it will leave the other free. If Neymar had gone somewhere else people would be talking about an amazing signing, but here people just talk about whether he will play well with Messi or not”.

You haven’t used the younger Barça players much... “Sometimes I’ve played a full XI of them. But remember, they are competing with the best in history. I brought three at once into the first team squad. The club’s model is to use players from here. Sergi Roberta had Thiago in front of him. He’s not going to do the same and he’s going to give us a lot. I have a lot of faith in him”.

Cesc: “It’s good for your players to receive offers. I spoke to him and he told me he wanted to stay here and that he didn’t want to go to another club, even though here he’s competing with Xavi and Sergi Roberto. I’m happy about that”.

Thiago: “The thing I don’t like is that he’s gone, not that Guardiola signed him. I wish him well. I wanted him to stay here, but he knew he was competing for a place against Xavi, Cesc and Iniesta and only two can play. When he was fit he played 50% of the available minutes. But for the bigger games I favoured the other three”.

First year in charge: “We won the league with 100 points and we’re going for 101. We want to improve on being Copa and Champions League semi-finalists. My children are proud that their Dad coaches Barcelona and I always love being in the dug-out”.

Iker Casillas presents himself to Carlo Ancelotti

The keeper headed down to the Valdebebas training ground to meet his new coach, even though he’s not due back until the 28th.

Iker Casillas went to the Valdebebas training ground to meet the new coaching team at Real Madrid. The keeper, who took part in the Confederations Cup with Spain, isn’t due back at work until 28 July, but decided to take a break from his holidays to present himself to new coach Ancelotti and his assistants.

The day before Sergio Ramos, who has the same holidays as Casillas, also decided to head down to Valdebebas and meet Ancelotti.

Zubi: “They said Neymar would cost 100m and we paid 57m”

Andoni Zubizarreta described the operation to bring Neymar to Camp Nou as being “quite extraordinary”.

On Tuesday, Barcelona’s Director of Sport Andoni Zubizarreta assessed the operation to bring Neymar to Camp Nou, the departures of Thiago and David Villa as well as the decision to loan Gerard Deulofeu to Everton and Rafinha to Celta.

Neymar: “It was an extraordinary operation, to sign a player like him for 57 million euros is quite a feat. I cannot disclose how the fee was split distributed due to the confidentiality clause signed by the four parties concerned. Looking at an operation such as this on a global scale and the expectations it would generate – some commentators priced such a deal at almost 100 million euros and we paid 57 million

Thiago Alcántara, poor business sense? or shrewd move? “I don’t really see it as being anything to do with business. He wants to evolve as a professional. We received 22 million euros, and will receive a further two million in commissions which I sure that Bayern will pay and another million in turnstile receipts from a friendly. The 25 million euros from Thiago’s sale is for Barcelona. It’s not a bad outcome considering the circumstances”.

Thiago’s retention clause: “Buy-out clauses give clubs some leeway to negotiate should a player put in a transfer request – it gives you a reference. At no point was the coach told whether he had to field the player or not”.

Deulofeu and Rafinha: “We have very high hopes for both of them. They will be competing regularly at the highest level and that will give us the chance to evaluate them before they return for the following season”.

Barça’s youth academy model: “Thiago has left us and Sergi Roberto will be drafted in to replace him. We have a lot more quality players than most other clubs have. We haven’t sold them or used them in part-exchange for other signings; we continue counting on them. They wouldn’t have been given minutes in the first team but it’s good that they continue playing and that they are involved in the game at a professional level. It’s not a fixed model, it can be adapted and transformed. It’s not the same as it was 10 years ago, nor will it be the same in 10 years’ time”.

New signings: “We haven’t set any deadlines; we have until midnight on August 31^st – there is plenty of time left. But we will not be signing a striker”.

Is the squad weaker or stronger? “We have an extraordinary squad; let’s hope we can add the finishing touches to it. The answer to your question can only be answered at the end of the season”.

Thiago Silva: “We don’t usually announce which players we are interested in signing – it’s not right to leak news about negotiations. We will try to build the strongest squad possible”.

Summer bargains, Callejón and Villa: “Both clubs are responsible for the operations they conduct and must explain their actions to the club members. In Villa’s case, we searched for the best possible solution for everyone involved”.

Ibrahimovic wants to follow Ancelotti to Real Madrid

The Swede wants to top off his career with a Champions League medal - and knows that joining Carlo Ancelotti at Madrid represents a chance to do just that.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is keen on joining Real Madrid. The move would see the Sweden international follow former Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti to Spain – and again play a key role in the Italian’s side. What's more, Ancelotti has asked Madrid to sign Ibrahimovic after seeing the player shine under his management during a brief but intense period together at the Parc des Princes – one that saw PSG claim their first Ligue 1 title for 20 years and reach the Champions League quarter-finals, suffering a narrow exit at the hands of Barcelona.

For the first time in his career, Ibrahimovic is prepared to take a pay cut, dropping from the huge annual salary (14 million euros net) handed to him by PSG’s Qatari owners to entice him to Paris in summer 2012. At 31, the main gap on Ibra’s CV is the Champions League; playing at Madrid – a historic club out to claim its tenth European Cup – and working under a coach he trusts, he knows that he has a better chance of adding Europe’s top club competition to his medal haul.

A year ago, PSG paid a cash-strapped Milan 21 million euros for Zlatan’s services. Following initial reports of Real Madrid’s interest in the forward, the French club were swift to insist that the player was not for sale. On Tuesday, having seen Edinson Cavani complete his move to PSG, Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis revealed that the Uruguyan will not line up alongside Ibrahimovic – because the former Barcelona man “has agreed a deal with another club”. Right now, Madrid is where he wants to be.

Busquets extends his deal to 2018 with 150 million buy-out clause

Zubizarreta announced the new deal in this morning’s press conference.

Barcelona Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta announced this morning, Tuesday, in a press conference with Tito Vilanova, that Segrio Busquets had signed a contract extension, taking his deal to 2018.

‘Zubi’ also revealed that the deal included the option of an additional year, together with a new buy-out clause of 150 million euros.

The midfielder made his debut in 2008/2009 under Pep Guardiola and since then he has become a key player for the current league champions.

Benzema agent denies rumours of Milan switch

Karim Djaziri told ‘Tutto Mercato’: “He’s staying at Real Madrid. There are no talks with Milan and I have nothing to say.”

Karim Benzema’s agent has told ‘Tutto Mercato’ that the Real Madrid striker is not looking for a move to Serie A side Milan. Reports in ‘SportItalia’ had claimed that the ‘Rossoneri’ were interested in a move for the France international, who started just 19 of 38 La Liga matches last season.

However, Karim Djaziri insisted that Benzema would remain in the Spanish capital: “He’s staying at Real. There are no talks with Milan and I have nothing to say.”

Fuentealbilla to honour famous son Iniesta with bronze statue

The statue of the Barça star will be unveiled on Friday at 21:00. The player will be joined by the town’s mayor at the event.

Barcelona midfielder Andrés Iniesta will be honoured by his home town on Friday in an event organized by the Castilla-La Mancha Barcelona supporters’ club. A bronze statue of the player will be unveiled in Fuentealbilla by local mayor, Ángel Salmerón.

Castilla-La Mancha supporters’ club spokesman Daniel Peinado explained that the statue of Iniesta is their way of thanking the player for “the values and affection he has always shown towards his people”.

Peinado hopes that around 3,000 fans will join Iniesta at the unveiling – an act which he feels the player fully deserves “for what he has achieved in the game, for his down-to-earth attitude and for the comradeship he has always shown”. He also recalled Iniesta’s gesture to his good friend Dani Jarque at 2010 World Cup South Africa. “To do something as thoughtful as that, remembering his friend at that moment shows what a big heart Andrés has got and is one of the reasons why he deserves our tribute”.

De Laurentiis confirms Albiol medical - and Higuaín talks

The Napoli president wrote on Twitter: “Albiol is having a medical. Let’s hope he passes.” He also confirmed negotiations over Gonzalo Higuaín and Leandro Damião.

Real Madrid defender Raúl Albiol is currently in Italy as he undergoes a medical at Napoli. Aurelio de Laurentiis, president of the Serie A club, took to his Twitter account on Wednesday morning to announce the news. “Albiol is having a medical. Let’s hope he passes,” wrote De Laurentiis on the social networking site, where he has more than 100,000 followers.

De Laurentiis also confirmed that Napoli are in talks over a move for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuaínand Brazilian forward Leandro Damião. The Italians are seeking a replacement for Edinson Cavani, who joined Paris Saint-Germain for 64 million euros on Tuesday.

Albiol and Higuaín would be joined at Napoli by former Madrid team-mate José Callejón, who completed a 10 million euro move to the Stadio San Paolo earlier in July.

Manchester United offer 30 million euros for Cesc Fàbregas

Chief executive Ed Woodward informed David Moyes that there is no limit to United’s transfer budget and the new head coach sees the former Arsenal star as the perfect fit.

Manchester United have tabled an offer of 30 million euros to bring Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fàbregas back to the Premier League. Chief executive Ed Woodward informed David Moyes that there is no limit to United’s transfer budget and the new head coach sees the former Arsenal star as the perfect fit for the style of play that he wants to apply to the team. Moyes thought about going after Thiago, but was not sure the Spain international could adapt to the Premier League. Fàbregas excelled during his time at Arsenal, eventually being made team captain, and has an outstanding goalscoring and assists record.

Moyes would be unlikely to reveal his cards regarding a move for Fàbregas if he did not believe the player was unavailable. But Barcelona, who feel that its managing model and plan is under threat, will make any potential deal as problematic as it possibly can: the player is under contract until 2016 and has a release clause of 200 million euros.

But is Fàbregas open to a transfer? These types of bid and pursuit do not occur without the previous knowledge of the player, and are doomed to failure if there is no desire on his part to leave his current club. What would Fàbregas gain by moving to Old Trafford? Brazilian star Neymar, as revealed exclusively by AS, will have a higher salary than Messi and that seems to have destabilized Barcelona’s locker room. At the beginning of the summer, there were rumours that both Manchester City and United were chasing Fàbregas, but this is the first bid that has been made public to date.

Mediapro president seeks lunchtime Clásico

Jaume Roures has told Catalan radio that he would like to see a 12:00 kick-off in Barcelona and Real Madrid's first meeting of the coming season.

The president of Mediapro has told Catalan radio that he would like to see a lunchtime kick-off in the opening Clásico of the coming season, which begins on 17 August.

The 2013/14 La Liga fixture list pits Barcelona and Real Madrid against each other for the first time on the weekend of 26-27 October. Jaume Roures told ‘RAC1’: “I would like the match between Barcelona and Real Madrid to be played at 12:00. It should be more common.”

Admitting that the selection of kick-off times is out of his power, Roures continued: “La Liga has problems with its presence in Asia; that’s why the best time for these games would be between 12:00 and 16:00.”

Carlo Ancelotti starts work on “Kaká-therapy”

The Italian coach is keen to get the Brazilian back to his best and showed it in training where he devoted extra time to the midfielder.

Ancelotti got straight to work yesterday on what he knows is one of his tougher projects: getting Kaká back to his best. During yesterday’s training session he devoted special attention to his Brazilian star: talking to him, smiling, laughing, joking, a hand on the shoulder... The Italian has started his ‘Kaká-therapy’ with the footballer who triumphed under him six years ago in Milan (Ballon d’Or and Champions in 2007). Now, he’s keen to keep him at Madrid and get him back to form; making him once again the the decisive, marvellous player he was in Italy.

The two trust each other and Ancelotti has already told Kaká that it is entirely up to him and his performances in training and matches whether he stays at the club or not. In his opening press conference he said that he was going to give him a chance: “I know him very, very well. We’ll work together to bring out his best”. Zidane also took the Brazilian aside for a chat yesterday.

Kaká for his part has taken Ancelotti’s words to heart and doesn’t want to let him down. He feels he has a new challenge and he wants to come out victorious – he has the support of his coach and his teammates and he’s determined not to fail. He has admitted that over the ultimate months of the Mou reign he felt ignored. With Ancelotti he has his last chance to board the train to glory: to become a regular in the Madrid first team and back in the Brazil side for the World Cup next summer.

In the last four seasons he has played 33% of the available minutes and scored 31 goals.

Illarra stays in the gym for Madrid’s second training session

The new signing had a slight muscle strain and didn’t head out onto the pitch. The ball was the star of Ancelotti’s session.

Ball, ball and more ball. Apart from the new signings and the new coach the ball has been the star of Real Madrid’s first two training sessions of the pre-season. Carlo Ancelotti took training this morning and during the 15 minutes the doors were open to the press all that could be seen were smiles, cheery faces and the ball in movement.

The players started at 10:30 in the gym with both group and individual exercises. At 11.00 they went outside onto the pitch for physical exercise with the ball. During this part of the session Kaká was seen talking to Ancelotti again. The Italian has made it his goal to bring out the best on the Brazilian again this season.

Asier Illarramendi didn’t head outside with his new teammates; the new signing from Real Sociedad staying in the gym to work on a slight muscle strain. Xabi Alonso and Raphael Varane were also missing, as they continue their recovery. The internationals involved in the Confederations Cup are back on the 28^th.

On the pitch the players were divided into two groups (with bib: Nacho, Denis Cheryshev, Isco, Coentrao, Khedira, Kaká, Pepe and Cristiano; without bib: Morata, Casemiro, Carvajal, Modric, Benzema, Özil, Di María and Higuaín) to play a practice game. Ancelotti demanded pace and quick circulation of the ball, limiting each player to two touches before moving the ball on.

Thiago completes Bayern move

The Catalan club released an official statement at 8 o’clock local time. The Germans have agreed a 25 million euro fee.

Barcelona confirmed on Sunday evening that they have reached an agreement with Bayern Munich for the transfer of Thiago Alcántara. The Catalans will receive payment of 25 million euros for the highly-rated 22-year-old – seven million euros more than the player’s buy-out fee (set at 18 million euros until 31^st of this month). Bayern will receive 20 million euros for the player plus a further five million euros from ticket receipts from a friendly match to be played between the two clubs at an unspecified date over the next four years.

The contract ties Thiago to Bayern until 30^th June 2017

Illarramendi: “Cristiano is the best in the world”

The new signing, in his first interview as a Real Madrid player, spoke to the club’s TV station.

Asier Illarramendi gave an interview to Real Madrid TV after his presentation to the club’s fans yesterday afternoon. The Basque midfielder spoke about his new team-mates: “Madrid have amazing footballers, but I think Ronaldo is the star attraction. He’s incredible, the best in the world and we need to go full out with him. Let’s hope we have a great year, full of successes".

His virtues: “I think I’m someone who gives my all every day and who tries to get better every day. On the pitch I also try my heart out. How things turn out depends on many factors, but it won’t ever be for lack of effort. When I go out to play I try to do my best, with the best possible attitude”.

Change of club: “It’s a pretty big move, but I’m not frightened. In life it’s best to face up to these moments, and this challenge is so attractive. So I hope it all goes well, both for me and the club”.

First footballing memory: “Probably the first game I played with my mates. I haven’t had much chance to play with them because I signed so early for Real Sociedad, but I remember games I played with them; I had such a good time”.

Team-mates from the Under-21s: “I know some players from the national team already and that will help me adjust. They are good friends and I think between us all the team will be great”.

Champions: “That’s another great thing. To have that challenge in mind, to win titles with the group, who fight for every title and hopefully we can win them. The challenge is a big win but also attractive. It’s a new era in my life and I’m very excited”.

Ancelotti is in Madrid and ready to start work

The Italian coach arrived in Barajas on a flight from Vancouver and will take the first training session of the pre-season tomorrow.

Carlo Ancelotti is in Madrid. The new Real Madrid coach, who officially starts the pre-season with the club on Monday arrived at Barajas airport just before midnight on a flight from Vancouver, where he has been on holiday with his partner. The Italian then went directly to Real Madrid’s training ground at Valdebebas.

In addition to the Italian his two assistants (in addition to Zidane) who he brings with him for the new era are also in the Spanish capital: Paul Clement and physical coach Giovanni Mauri. The latter has already spent time at Valdebebas to get used to the installationsforjanes.

On Monday Ancelotti and his team will get their tracksuits on to take the first training session of Real Madrid 2013/14. The Italian will meet the squad in person (the full squad less those players who were involved in the Confederations Cup, who are still on holiday), shake hands with the new signings (Illarramendi, Isco, Carvajal and Casemiro) and start dealing with ‘Operación Salida’ (the exit of players surplus to requirements) and the return to work of two players who are unhappy, but are still in the squad: Higuaín and Coentrao. The team will be training this week in Valdebebas before heading to Bournemouth in England for a friendly against a local side on Sunday, which will be the first friendly of the pre-season.

Zidane says he’s “not afraid to start from scratch”

On the brink of a new point in his career, Ancelotti’s assistant gave his thoughts on entering the world of football management.

“I’m conscious of the fact that being a good player doesn’t mean you will automatically make a good coach. It might help, but not much more than that. So I am starting from scratch but I am not afraid about it. I feel relaxed.” Zinedine Zidane disclosed in an exclusive interview with L’Equipe Magazine this weekend. The former player is about to begin his career in coaching as assistant to Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid – a vocation which he admits he has his doubts about at first. Maybe unconsciously, I was afraid – I was worried about being betrayed. I was fearful of putting my trust into something then being disappointed. But as time has gone on, I have learned to open up and I feel more confident. In the past, I needed to feel comfortable, and be among people who inspired me. I have never been able to work with people who I don’t like but I have changed. Now I feel as though I am able to work alongside someone who I don’t know that well but who has the competence which I need,” he explained.

Zizou also gave an indication as to some of the things he has learned whilst studying for his coaching certificate – and in particular, dealing with the players. “I think I can say that one third of the players will always be with you just through loyalty and respect. Another third will be with you as long as you can give them something – they are the ones who you have to try to convince. The other third will always make your life difficult. That tells you a lot about which part of the group you need to work with,” he concluded.

Barcelona with no word from Bayern or Thiago

The player is keeping a low profile and it is unknown whether he has been negotiating with the German outfit.

With just a few days left before FC Barcelona begin the pre-season, nobody at Camp Nou has heard any news from Bayern Munich. Officials expected to be contacted by the German club today in connection with their proposed bid to sign Thiago Alcántara but no phone calls have been received. Pep Guardiola publicly announced on Thursday that he hoped to have the Barça star under wing for the start of the new season but no official offer has emerged.

Bayern CEO Karl-Heinze Rummenigge did call Barça president Sandro Rosell on Friday to state the club’s intentions but first the two parties must reach a formal agreement – either that Barça agree to let the player go or Bayern comply by paying Thiago’s retention fee, as they were forced to do last summer with Javi Martínez.

The general consensus in Barcelona is that Thiago will be playing in the Bundesliga this season. Zubizarreta and Bartomeu have discussed the issue with Rosell and Tito Vilanova and Barça’s backroom staff are already considering who to bring in as a replacement with Sergi Roberto the preferred choice.

Xavi weds Núria Cunillera in Blanes

Barça’s midfield player ties the knot with his girlfriend at the Convent de Blanes. Guests included Iniesta, Cesc, Messi, Mascherano and Pedro.

Xavi Hernández married his partner Núria Cunillera at the Convent de Blanes this evening and was joined by a number of team mates past and present for the reception at the Marimurtra Botanical Gardens.

The Barça midfielder arrived in a black Mercedes, accompanied by his parents at around 18:00 hours. The second to arrive was Víctor Valdés, together with his partner, Yolanda Carmona. Former team mates including Santi Ezquerro, Oleguer Presas, Gabri García Pepe Reina and Albert Jorquera as well as former Athletic Club winger Joseba Etxeberría were also in attendance for Xavi’s big day,

Out of the current Barça squad, Cesc Fàbregas, Leo Messi, Javier Mascherano, Pedro Rodriguez, Jordi Alba and Andrés Iniesta were joined at the wedding by their respective spouses but several colleagues were unavailable – Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol are both abroad while Iker Casillas, Xavi’s great friend, is still on holiday.

Xavi and Núria decided to donate all of their wedding gifts to the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital and have made an initial donation of 25,000 euros.

Benítez adds Albiol to Napoli wish list, say SportItalia

The Italian sports channel report that Napoli could make an 8 million euro offer for the out-of-favour centre-back.

Napoli are reported to be interested in taking Raúl Albiol off Real Madrid’s hands during the first inscription period. Over the next few days, recently-appointed Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and his assistant Zinedine Zidane are expected to draw up a list of players who will be put up for transfer this summer with Albiol one of the candidates to be heading out of the Bernabéu before the new season starts.

Albiol arrived from Valencia for 15 million euros in the summer of 2009. He was a first choice starter under Manuel Pellegrini, pairing up either with Pepe or Ezequiel Garay in central defence. Yet when José Mourinho took over from the Chilean coach, Albiol found himself out in the cold. Once Pepe had recovered from a ligament tear injury, he returned to the side but this time, partnering Sergio Ramos. When Raphaël Varane broke into the starting XI last year, Albiol’s changes of gaining minutes dwindled even further and his situation doesn’t look like it will improve as Castilla captain Nacho Fernández has graduated to the senior side.

Rafa Benítez is looking for a replacement for Hugo Campagnaro and has set his sights on Albiol or Valencia’s Adil Rami to fill the vacant central defence slot. Both players are valued at around the eight million euro mark.

Florentino praises Real Sociedad over Illarramendi move

The Real Marid president introduced the new signing to the public at the Bernabéu.

“I come from a town of 5,000 people, this is crazy”

Asier Illarramendi, Real Madrid’s latest signing, was presented at the Bernabéu and will wear the number 24.

Asier Illarramendi was presented to the fans at theBernabéu this Saturday. Just as Ancelotti, Isco andCarvajal did, Illarramendi, who will wear the number 24, gave a small speech after being presented byFlorentino Pérez. “I want to say this is a special day for me, it’s a remarkable achievement to be able to play for this club. A few days ago I couldn’t imagine this happening. It’s a unique opportunity. This is a huge club. I’ll give my all for Real Madrid. The decision to come here wasn’t easy. I was a small boy when I went toReal Sociedad and I’m grateful to them for everything, for the love the club and the fans have shown me. But to be part of this great club is such an opportunity. I’ll give everything for the badge and I’m looking forward to a season of triumphs. Thanks to my family and my friends, and I hope we can add to the great history of this club.

After his speech the ex-Real Sociedad player had his photo taken with his family and Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez then invited the midfielder’s friends, about 30 of them who had made the trip south to the capital, onto the stage for a photo. Illarra then put on the Real Madrid strip for the first time, before heading out onto the Bernabéu turf for his first touches of a football as a Madrid player.

Illarramendi then held a press conference with Real Director of Football Pardeza, who warned him: “This is a very demanding club, the only thing we want is for you to become part of it. I know about your effort, your ability and your talent”.

Successor to Xabi Alonso? “It’s obvious that Xabi Alonso is a great player, and he came up through the ranks at Real Sociedad and he’s always been a reference point. I hope to learn a lot playing with him. He told me that being at the club is amazing and just seeing all this today, well it’s all true. I have the chance to play with him. He’s a great player, like all the players here. Xabi told me I should come here, he said it was amazing, and now I’m living it”.

Most expensive Spanish player: “Now I have to work hard. We start on Monday and I hope everything goes well for us and we have a successful season”.

Friends: “I said goodbye to them in [my home town of] Mutriku, and they were organising themselves to come down and support me. They’re amazed by what they’re seeing. We’re from a small town of 5,000 people!”

Hard decision: “You know what I went through. I’ve been at Real Sociedad for 12 years and I’ve had great times there. Leaving all that behind isn’t easy but I couldn’t let this chance get away from me. Florentino and the other directors have been amazing. I’m grateful to them and now I need to work hard”.

What can you bring: “I don’t really play like anyone else, I need to work humbly, but with ambition. I’ll give it my all and try my best out on the pitch”.

Young Spaniards at Madrid: “It’s good, I’ll be with teammates from the under 21 team, like Carvajal, Isco, Morata and Jesé...”

Ancelotti: “I had the chance to speak to him. He called me, he congratulated me and I’m grateful to him for that. Now I know I need to fight hard. It won’t be easy but I can at least try to work my way into the team. It will be tough, but let’s see what happens. Zidane hasn’t called me, but I spoke to the president”.

Different life: “I was nervous earlier on today, but I’m ok now. My life will change a lot... I come from a town of 5,000 people. My life will change, but I’m sure that I won’t”.

Are you scared by the challenge? “No. It’s attractive. Now I’m focussed on Monday”.

Leo Messi is fed up with president Sandro Rosell

The Barcelona striker feels the president hasn’t supported him over the tax-dodging accusations.

As Ramón Besa says in [Spanish newspaper] El País, Barcelona appear to be suffering more damage from internal and external divisions at the club than they did during the three years of fighting against José Mourinho’s Real Madrid. On Thursday, in Trentino, Italy, it was Pep Guardiola, in the Bayern pre-season training camp, who attacked the leadership of Sandro Rosell. Before that Eric Abidal was in tears (he’s now been presented as a Monaco player) as he failed to understand why he wasn’t having his contract renewed. There was also the way the club behaved towards David Villa, looking for his replacement, firstly with Alexis, then with Neymar. The feeling is that the Spanish international was never really given a chance to recover from the serious injury he suffered at the Club World Cup in December 2011.

And now Messi’s name can be added to the list of people who are sick to the back teeth of Rosell. Neither the footballer or his father feel they have received sufficient support over the the tax-dodging accusations and this is seriously damaging a relationship that has never been particularly close. Sandro Rosell and his board of directors have done almost nothing since the news about the charges first broke; previously the President was the first line of defence for any Barcelona player with troubles. Other directors have privately criticised the way in which the star striker’s fortune was managed, but none of them have offered to support or help the family to clear the matter up.

For the first time since Messi arrived at Barcelona as a 13 year old, the transfer market senses there is a real possibility of enticing the player to leave. Wagging tongues suggest that a multimillion euro offer would be better received at the moment by the Messi family than at any time in the past 12 years. The Barcelona board don’t want to even consider the possibility of their star man leaving, but they need to improve their relationship with him if they don’t want things to get out of hand.

FC Barcelona News: 13 July 2013: Space Dedicated To Lionel Messi At Museum

The space dedicated to Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou museum marks the first time that Barcelona have dedicated an exclusive space to an active player

Space at the Museum dedicated to the best: Leo Messi | FC Barcelona

The Club Museum has opened a section for visitors dedicated exclusively to Leo Messi. The Espai Leo Messi occupies 70 m² of the first floor of the Camp Nou Experience, where visitors can see the Argentinean’s four Ballons D’Or and two Golden Boots. This is the first time the Club have dedicated an exclusive space to a player who is still active.

Liga - Real Madrid sign €39m Illarramendi - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

Reports had indicated that Madrid had deposited the midfielder's contract at the offices of the Spanish Football League, having resolved to activate his €30m release clause and pay the previously disputed extra €9m due in VAT. He has agreed a six-year contract and will be presented at the Bernabeu stadium on Saturday after undergoing a medical.

Neymar Investor Meeting Santos for Answers on Barcelona Move - Bloomberg

Brazilian soccer-player investment group DIS Esporte is seeking to find out if it’s owed more than the 6.84 million euros ($8.9 million) it received following Santos striker Neymar’s move to Spanish champion Barcelona in May, Executive Director Roberto Moreno said. "I need to see proof," Moreno said. "I’ve read lots of things in the media but seen no documentary evidence."

Ligue 1 - Marquinhos 'not far' from PSG move - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

The 19-year-old centre back was perhaps the revelation of the season last time around, forcing his way into the Giallorossi first team before eventually playing 26 League games. Il Messaggero believe that PSG’s original offer of €25m was rejected out of hand by Rudi Garcia’s team, but will accept a bid of €30m.

La Liga clubs to reduce wage bill | Football Espana

Spain’s Higher Sports Council has produced a report stating wages at Primera and Segunda clubs will be cut by around €100m next season. The €100m figure, rated as a very optimistic target 18 months ago, was reflected in a document presented on Friday at a meeting attended by representatives of the Spanish League, Spanish Football Federation and the Spanish Footballers’ Association.

Valencia land Chelsea's Oriol Romeu on loan - UEFA Europa League - News - UEFA.com

A UEFA Champions League winner with Chelsea FC, midfielder Oriol Romeu has agreed to return to Spain where he will spend the upcoming season on loan with Valencia CF. The Mestalla club can count on the Spanish Under-21 international in the forthcoming campaign, though reportedly with no option to buy a player who rose through the ranks at Barcelona before signing for Chelsea in deal costing approximately €5m in 2011. He had played just once for the Barça first team in Spain's top flight.

Manchester City transfers: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a target after falling out with new PSG coach Laurent Blanc - Mirror Online

New Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is ready to launch a cut-price swoop for Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The volatile Ibrahimovic has already fallen out with Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc - who was only appointed 18 days ago - and seems set to quit the French champions. Ibrahimovic has refused to return a call from the former France manager, despite being given an extra 10 days off from pre-season training than the majority of the PSG squad.

I could not reject Real Madrid, admits Illarramendi - Goal.com

Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi admits he couldn't possibly turn down Real Madrid and described his impending move as "irresistible". "I spoke with my people, we considered it and I thought this is a unique and irresistible offer. I feel the colours of La Real and will always be a fan, I struggled a bit to make this decision, but it is a good decision. I have been here 12 years and the decision was not easy, I had a hard time deciding. I want to give thanks to the directors, the coaches in the youth team, my team-mates, I wish them all well."