Real Madrid Top Rich List

Real Madrid have remained the most valuable football team in the world for a fourth year in a row.

The Spanish giants lead the way from rivals Barcelona, with Manchester United sitting in third place.

According to US business magazine Forbes, Real Madrid’s value stands at 3.645bn US dollars (£2.52bn) and their annual revenue is $694m (£480million), a slender advantage over Barcelona in both categories.

Barcelona are shown by ‘rich list’ to have a value of $3.549bn (£2.46billion), with United said to be worth $3.317bn (£2.3billion).

Six Premier League teams feature in the top 10, with United joined by Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham.

Forbes said the top 20 teams are collectively worth 24 per cent more than the teams that filled those positions 12 months ago, citing increased income from television contracts and kit deals.

The study said Real Madrid ranked as the world’s second richest sports team, behind only the Dallas Cowboys American football team which it valued at four billion dollars (£2.77bn).

Forbes’ top 10 world’s most valuable football teams:

1 Real Madrid – US$3.645 bn (£2.52billion)

2 Barcelona – $3.549bn (£2.46bn)

3 Manchester United – $3.317bn (£2.3bn)

4 Bayern Munich – $2.678bn (£1.85bn)

5 Arsenal – $2.017bn (£1.4bn)

6 Manchester City – $1.921bn (£1.33bn)

7 Chelsea – $1.661bn (£1.15bn)

8 Liverpool – $1.548bn (£1.07bn)

9 Juventus – $1.299bn (£900million)

10 Tottenham – $1.017bn (£704m)

Skysports

Real Madrid Top Rich List

AC Milan After Real Madrid Midfielder

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Silva may change clubs in the next transfer window if reports coming from Italy are to be believed.

According to the information from Italian website Calcio Mercato, AC Milan director Adriano Galliani met with Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez to discuss a loan move for midfielder Lucas Silva, who spent this season on loan at French club Marseille.

For Marseille, he entered the field 33 times but the former Cruzeiro player doesn’t want to continue in French football after a mediocre season with the club where they finished in the bottom half of the league table.

Negotiations between Real Madrid and AC Milan would be similar to the one that took Spanish striker Álvaro Morata from the Bernabéu to Juventus.

Milan would have an option to buy Lucas permanently at the end of the loan contract, but Los Blancos will keep the right to repurchase him in the future, possibly for a fixed price.

Milan haven’t been the first Italian team to show interest in the player, as both Juventus and Napoli also keep an eye on him.

Sambafoot

AC Milan After Real Madrid Midfielder

Djokovic Beats Murray In Madrid Open Final

World number one Novak Djokovic beat defending champion Andy Murray 6-2 3-6 6-3 in the Madrid Open final.

The defeat means the 28-year-old Briton will lose his world number two ranking to Roger Federer on Monday.

The Scot was blown away in the opening set, but fought back to level, only to fall to the Serb’s power and accuracy in the decider.

Djokovic now moves ahead of Spain’s Rafael Nadal with a record 29 ATP Masters 1000 titles.

The Serb underlined his current dominance as he claimed his fifth title in the past six Masters tournaments but he was pushed hard by Murray, exemplified by a 14-minute final game as Djokovic survived six deuces and seven break points to hold for the match.

“The first couple of break points I remember making two mistakes,” said Murray.

“It was kind of back and forth from there and unfortunately I couldn’t quite break, which was a shame because both of us on the break points until that last game were pretty clinical.”

Djokovic broke Murray’s serve in the opening game and the 2011 winner gave a masterclass combining powerful ground shots with brutal accuracy as he found the lines with uncanny regularity.

Murray found his second serve coming under huge pressure and Djokovic duly earned a double break before racing to the first set in just 31 minutes.

In the second, however, the Scot’s serve began to click into gear and, having won just 17% of points on his second serve in the first set, he increased it to an impressive 60% in the second.

Djokovic made crucial forehand and backhand errors in the third game before serving a double-fault to be broken for only the second time in the tournament.

The Madrid crowd who were muted as Murray beat local favourite Rafael Nadal 7-5 6-4 in Saturday’s semi-finals were now encouraging the Briton, who responded with some of his best tennis of the week as he won the set with a cheeky drop shot from the back of the court.

It was Djokovic’s turn to regroup and after a comfortable hold needed just one of two break points to take the early initiative in the decider.

But this was a different Murray from the opening set and the Scot immediately broke back with Djokovic again serving a double fault at the crucial moment.

Again, however, the world number one raised the bar and this time it proved crucial with a decisive break in the sixth game.

“When you play against the best players, you are probably not going to win every single time,” said Murray. “But you want to make the matches extremely difficult for them: physically and mentally, so it’s not comfortable. So I think at least today I did that, but unfortunately didn’t get the win.

“It’s been a positive week for me this week overall – a few years ago I wouldn’t have thought I’d be winning against Rafa and then pushing Novak this close on a clay court.”

“Murray began the match a shadow of the man who had played so well in Madrid all week. The first set wasn’t a contest, but once given an opening by the world number one early in the second, Murray started playing with real conviction, and pushed his man to the limit.

“At 2-2 in the decider the match was genuinely in the balance. Djokovic’s response, though, was characteristically brilliant, and after surviving a bout of jitters and a 14-minute final game, he deservedly clinched his record 29th Masters series title.”

BBC

Djokovic Beats Murray In Madrid Open Final

Murray To Face Djokovic In Madrid Open Final

Defending champion Andy Murray will face world number one Novak Djokovic in the Madrid Open final on Sunday.

British number one Murray beat nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-4 in the first semi-final.

Djokovic then racked up a seventh victory in a row over Japan’s Kei Nishikori, going through 6-3, 7-6, (7-4).

Murray is looking to hold on to his world number two ranking, which he will lose to Roger Federer unless he retains his title in Madrid.

Murray, who sent down eight aces and saved 11 of 13 break points, said he was “going back in the right direction again” after losing early in Indian Wells and Miami in March.

“I think it’s big – it’s not easy. Not loads of players have won against Rafa on clay throughout his career,” he said.

“To beat him in Spain on a clay court is obviously a big challenge. It’s a big step for me from where I was four or five weeks ago.”

Murray established an early lead in the opening set of the semi-final, earning three break points in Nadal’s second service game and holding his composure to break the Spaniard.

The momentum appeared to swing Nadal’s way when he responded by taking Murray’s serve, but it was the Scot who took the first set with a winning forehand that broke the home favourite for a second time.

World number five Nadal, 29, was looking for a third successive tournament victory following wins in Monte Carlo and Barcelona last month.

But Murray followed his only double fault with an ace at 2-2 to hold in the second set before immediately breaking Nadal.

Nadal repelled a first match point with a break of his own, but Murray did not waste a second opportunity to repeat his victory over the same opponent 12 months ago.

The Spaniard believed he “was a little bit unlucky” in the second set but acknowledged that Murray “adapted better than me” to the cool, cloudy conditions, which meant the ball did not bounce as high as he would have liked.

“I think in the first set he played better than me. I think in the second it was a different story,” said Nadal.

“I played more aggressive, I increased the intensity and rhythm of the game and had more opportunities than him in the second.”

Dominant Djokovic powers to another win

Djokovic moved closer to his second Madrid crown and his 14th successive victory over other top 10 players.

The Serb took the only break point on offer in a tight opening set and looked to have ended Nishikori’s resistance when he won against the serve again in the fifth game of the second.

Djokovic was on course for a comfortable win, but he momentarily lost his concentration while serving for the match at 5-4 and paid the penalty.

He mistimed a simple overhead while up three match points and then served a double fault on the way to losing his first service game of the tournament.

Nishikori had shown his battling qualities but ran out of steam in the tie-break and Djokovic needed just one of his two match points to seal victory.

On the prospect of only his fourth meeting with Murray on clay, Djokovic told Sky Sports: “Andy has improved tremendously on clay and has proved he is definitely one of the best in the world on this surface.

“The rivalry continues and we’ve had so many good finals. I look forward to another one.”

BBC

Murray To Face Djokovic In Madrid Open Final

Simona Halep Wins Madrid Open Title

Simona Halep beat Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-4 to win the Madrid Open.

The Romanian world number seven, 24, took both her break point opportunities in the first set while Slovakia’s Cibulkova missed all three of hers.

One break was enough in the second set as Halep sealed victory with her third ace after one hour and 20 minutes.

Cibulkova had won three of their four previous encounters but was unable to make an impression on the 24 year old, who has now won 12 WTA Tour titles.

Cibulkova, the world number 38, had spent over four hours longer on court than Halep in reaching the final.

BBC

Simona Halep Wins Madrid Open Title

Djokovic To Face Nishikori In Madrid Open Semi-Finals

Serbia’s world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic will play Kei Nishikori of Japan in the semi-final of the Madrid Open tournament on Saturday after both came through their quarter-final encounters on Friday.

Top-ranked Djokovic beat Milos Raonic 6-3, 6-4 to reach his fifth semi-final of the year, and sixth-ranked Kei Nishikori edged Nick Kyrgios 6-7 (6), 7-6 (1), 6-3 in a thriller that lasted 2 1/2 hours. Coming off a final loss to Nadal in Barcelona, Nishikori overcame 18 aces by Kyrgios, getting his lone break to go up 3-1 in the decisive set.

Djokovic got past the 10th-ranked Raonic to win his 31st match of the year in a rematch of the final in Indian Wells, where Djokovic also won. The Serb has won 13 straight matches against top-10 players, winning 29 of 30 sets during that run.

“It was a long match,” Djokovic said. “It could have gone a different direction if I had lost the serve on that last game. But you know, that’s what happens when you play somebody like Milos, one of the best servers in the game. It’s very difficult to play against him, you are constantly under pressure.”

Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, celebrating her 27th birthday, reached the women’s final by beating American qualifier Louisa Chirico 6-1, 6-1 in less than an hour. She will play Simona Halep, who defeated Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-0 in the other semifinal. Halep, the 2014 finalist in Madrid, was the only seeded player to make it to the semis.

Djokovic To Face Nishikori In Madrid Open Semi-Finals

Murray To Play Nadal In Madrid Semi-Finals

Defending champion Andy Murray beat Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-2 to progress to the semi-finals of the Madrid Open.

The Scot produced arguably his best performance of the season to record a first win over the Czech on clay.

Murray, who beat 16th seed Gilles Simon to reach the quarter-finals, won 92% of his first-serve points and denied eighth-seed Berdych any break points.

The world number two, 28, will face nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the last four.

Home favourite Nadal, who is looking for a third successive tournament victory following his wins in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, beat Portuguese world number 35 Joao Sousa 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.

The former Wimbledon and US Open champion says he is ready for the semi-final against Nadal, after training with the 14-time Grand Slam winner ahead of the tournament.

“You prepare to play against the best clay court player of all time and get yourself ready for that challenge mentally,” he told BBC Sport.

“I practised with him in Mallorca for a few days, which was good.

“It’s great practice, but you can see some things, as well.”

Murray believes his game is in good shape ahead of the French Open, which begins on 22 May, after a remodelling of his second serve over the winter.

BBC

Murray To Play Nadal In Madrid Semi-Finals

Victoria Azarenka Withdraws From Madrid Open

Fourth seed Victoria Azarenka has joined the list of Madrid Open withdrawals with a back injury.

The 26-year-old had been scheduled to play Louisa Chirico of the United States in round three on Wednesday, but pulled out during the warm-ups.

Belarusian Azarenka said she will have medical tests before deciding whether to play in Rome before the French Open, which starts on 22 May.

Her departure means the top five seeds are out of the Spanish tournament.

Agnieszka Radwanska, Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza exited in previous rounds while fifth seed Petra Kvitova lost 6-3 6-4 to Australia’s Daria Gavrilova on Wednesday.

Azarenka, who had recently won titles at Indian Wells and Miami, said she “tweaked” her back during her opening Madrid match against Laura Robson and that the pain persisted during her second round victory over Alize Cornet.

She follows world number world 13 Lucie Safarova – who had to withdraw earlier in the week with food poisoning – and British number one Johanna Konta who retired in the first round with a respiratory illness.

The men’s event also lost Roger Federer – the world number three another player out with a back injury.

BBC

Victoria Azarenka Withdraws From Madrid Open

Atletico Madrid Champions League Success Like A Movie - Diego Simeone

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone says his side’s “thrilling” Champions League semi-final success over Bayern Munich was like the final moments in a movie.

The Spanish club, beaten finalists under Argentine Simeone in 2014, will play Manchester City or Real Madrid in the final after a 2-2 aggregate score sent them through on away goals.

“Over the 180 minutes we showed the work of three years,” Simeone said.

“I hope that destiny will eventually help us in the final.”

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Spain, Bayern levelled the tie through Xabi Alonso’s deflected free-kick, before Atletico keeper Jan Oblak saved a Thomas Muller penalty,

Antoine Griezmann scored an equaliser on the break after-half-time – and although Robert Lewandowski’s header set up a tense finish, Atletico held on, despite Fernando Torres missing a penalty.

Simeone, whose side beat holders Barcelona in the quarter-finals, was clearly emotional as he addressed the media after the game.

“It doesn’t matter who we play in the final,” he said. “I’m proud of what has happened to this club. We are beating the best teams in the world.

“It was a very good first half by Bayern, they’re a great team. The missed penalty gave us life. The penalty miss by Torres hurt us – but in the end it was like a movie, thrilling, with five minutes extra time.”

Torres, who rejoined his boyhood club Atletico after disappointing spells with Chelsea and AC Milan, said: “It was very intense. We are so proud of this team, it is fully deserved.

“We’ve beaten some of the best teams in Europe, now we’re one step closer to the dream we all have. We have a chance to write the history that nobody at Atletico has.

“It doesn’t matter who the opponent in the final is. We are ready to fight with everyone.”

BBC

Atletico Madrid Champions League Success Like A Movie - Diego Simeone

Serena Williams Out Of Madrid Open With Flu

Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Madrid Open because of flu organizers have said.

Agnieszka Radwanska takes over as top seed for the tournament, which starts on Saturday, while Williams is now due to start her clay-court season in Rome.

The 34-year-old world number one has only played four tournaments since August, failing to win any of them.

She lost in the US Open semi-finals in September, before defeats this year in the Australian Open and Indian Wells finals and a round-four loss in Miami.

Serena Williams Out Of Madrid Open With Flu

Madrid Clash Career-Defining - Kompany

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany told his team their return leg against Real Madrid in the Champions League would define their careers.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men managed to hold the La Liga giants to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the semi-final at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

Looking to reach their maiden Champions League final, Kompany knows how much is on the line at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“It’s a career-defining game. There’s so much still at stake,” the defender said.

“If you’re going to have a draw at home, which is not a bad thing against Real Madrid, then 0-0 is the best result.

“Then again, I still back my team to score over 180 minutes. I would not expect us not to be able to score one goal.”

Despite how much is at stake, Kompany believes all the pressure is on Zinedine Zidane’s side.

The 30-year-old Belgium international said playing away from home in the second leg could suit City.

“It’s a pressurising result because you are at home and your fans are expecting you to go forward and score goals and that can leave gaps,” Kompany said.

“We’ve proven against Paris Saint-Germain how dangerous we can be on the counter.”

Madrid Clash Career-Defining - Kompany

Man City Have Nothing To Fear At Real Madrid - Pellegrini

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says his side have nothing to fear in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, despite David Silva missing the game.

City, who are hoping to reach the final for the first time, drew Tuesday’s first leg 0-0 at Etihad Stadium.

Playmaker Silva will miss the second leg on 4 May with a hamstring problem.

“I don’t think Real are favourites,” Pellegrini said. “We are not afraid to go away to the Bernabeu.”

Football Daily podcast: ‘A professional European display by Man City’

Real are yet to concede a goal at home in the Champions League this season.

City did not manage a shot on target until stoppage time of the first leg, and their task against the 10-time European champions will be made harder by the absence of the Spaniard Silva, who limped off before half-time on Tuesday.

“David will not be fit next week,” said Pellegrini.

The Chilean is already set to be without midfielder Yaya Toure, who missed the first leg with a thigh problem, while another key attacking player, Samir Nasri, is not in their Champions League squad.

City, who play at Southampton in the Premier League at on Sunday, also have less recovery time than Real, who face Real Sociedad in La Liga at on Saturday.

“Unfortunately for us we have one day less rest than Real,” added Pellegrini. “We tried to change our game and it was impossible.

“But we trust in what we are going to do in Spain. The players believe in what we are doing and I am sure we will give everything we can in that game.

“Of course Real have the advantage of playing the second leg at home.

“But, when we are away, we play very similar to the way we do at home and this season we have already had very good results playing away at Sevilla, Dynamo Kiev and Paris St-German.”

Pellegrini insisted that City have not missed their chance, despite failing to open up an advantage over a Real side that were without their superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo in Manchester because of injury.

“They did not have Cristiano; we did not have Yaya. Karim Benzema played 45 minutes for them – the same as Silva, who is very important for us.

“It was a very close game where we tried from the beginning to win. We pressed high and recovered the ball very well but we were not creative and we did not create a clear chance to score.”

City keeper Joe Hart, who made two crucial saves at the end of Tuesday’s game, is also confident that England’s last remaining representatives in the Champions League can continue their progress in Spain.

“Bring it on. We are ready,” said the England international. “We have a brilliant squad who are coming to fruition. It is a big game next week, simple as.”

BBC

Man City Have Nothing To Fear At Real Madrid - Pellegrini

Real Madrid Want £60million For Star Player

Manchester United and Chelsea are being asked for £60million if they want to sign James Rodriguez from Real Madrid .

The Colombian playmaker caught the world’s attention with his brilliant displays at Brazil 2014 and earned himself a big-money Madrid move, but is expected to leave the Bernabeu this summer after a disappointing campaign.

Real Madrid midfielder, James Rodriguez

Still just 24, there are a raft of clubs who are willing to take a punt on the former Porto and Monaco man but Madrid’s asking price has scared away the likes of Juventus.

Documents revealed by Football Leaks show that Madrid paid Monaco €75million (£60million) for the midfielder, plus clauses, but the Bernabeu club would be willing to write off the minimal bonus payments that have been triggered.

Real Madrid Want £60million For Star Player

Sanctioned: FIFA Bans Real Madrid

FIFA Sanctions Real Madrid

Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have been hit by bans from football’s governing body – FIFA.

 

 

The Madrid based clubs have received the same sanction which saw Barcelona receive a transfer embargo due to irregularities over signing ‘minors’. Football’s governing body FIFA have stated that only players over the age of 18 can move clubs unless the individual meets one of three criteria.

Atletico Madrid coach, Diego Simeone

Atletico Madrid have also been hit with a £620,000 in addition to the transfer embargo whilst their Madrid city rivals, Real have been fined £250,000.

A FIFA statement read: ‘The two clubs were found to have violated several provisions concerning the international transfer and first registration of minor players as well as other relevant provisions with regard to the registration and participation of certain players in competitions.

 

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will not be able to register new players from the start of February until the beginning of July 2017.

Sanctioned: FIFA Bans Real Madrid

Athletico Madrid not ready to sell Partey to Watford

Spain based Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey continue to get more admirers with Watford as the latest to officially bid for the impressive Ghanaian.

The former Almeria attacking midfielder racked in four goals from the middle of the park to earn a dream move to the Calderone and has since announced himself to Europe’s elite clubs with swashbuckling performances for Diego Simeone’s men.

Partey registered his first league goal of the campaign to send Athletico top in spain over the weekend.

The Rojiblancos warded off approaches from a number of domestic rivals before boldly ruling out a January loan move to the high flying Hornets in the Premiership.

Madrid based highly respected newspaper AS Marca confirmed a 9 million dollar approach from Watford for the 22 year old Ghanaian in a desperate bid to land the utility man.

Argentine trainer for the 2013 Champions league finalists Diego Simeone however issued a hands off threat for the high flying Thomas.

Athletico Madrid not ready to sell Partey to Watford

Twitter Shows No Mercy: Twitter Tears Into Rafa Benitez

Twitter Have No Mercy On ‘Jobless Rafa Benitez’

Rafa Benitez’s reign as Real Madrid coach finished on Monday night after just seven months.

 

Club president Florentino Perez announced the decision a day after a 2-2 draw at Valencia left them third in the table, two points behind rivals Barcelona, and four behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

The draw game at Mestalla proved to be the final straw in a crisis that started with an embarrassing 4-0 home defeat by bitter rivals Barcelona in November.

 

 

 

 

Twitter Shows No Mercy: Twitter Tears Into Rafa Benitez

New Boss: Manchester United Players "Expect Diego Simeone As Next Manager"

Atletico Madrid Boss Set To Replace Louis Van Gaal At Manchester United

Manchester United ‘s players are apparently readying themselves for Diego Simeone to become their next boss.

Louis van Gaal is hanging onto his job by a thread after embarking on United’s worst run since the 1989-90 season.

The Red Devils are without a win in eight matches and they have slumped out of the Champions League places – despite being top of the table just two months ago.

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had been tipped as the man to take the Old Trafford hot seat if Van Gaal was sacked. The Sun newspaper reports that United’s players are of the belief that Atletico Madrid chief Simeone is leading the race for the coveted job.

Flashback: Jose Mourinho – then Chelsea coach (right) and coach of Atletico Madrid Diego Simeone (left) during a UEFA Champions League match

It would be a bitter blow to Chelsea, who has been tipped as Mourinho’s long-term replacement at Stamford Bridge for when Guus Hiddink steps down from his interim role.

 

A source close to a player reportedly said: “All the betting may be on Mourinho coming in but the talk among the players is all about Simeone.”

Van Gaal’s current contract expires in the summer of 2017 but it is believed that his stay will be cut short.

 

Atletico Madrid boss and former Argentina captain, Diego Simeone has enjoyed unprecedented success in Spain but could be poised for a move to the Premier League at the end of the season.

New Boss: Manchester United Players "Expect Diego Simeone As Next Manager"