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‘AC Milan chase Drenthe’

Royston Drenthe is high on AC Milan’s shopping list. The Italians are keen on the Dutchman as Leonardo seeks to strengthen the left flank.

Drenthe was on the verge of swapping Real Madrid for Fiorentina this summer. That transfer was canceled, partly because coach Manuel Pelligrini wanted Drenthe to stay at Real.

On Thursday, Cadena Ser reports that Drenthe will leave the Santiago Bernabeu in the winter break. According to the Spanish media channel, Milan has targeted the versatile winger (who is valued at around €6 million) to strengthen their left flank.

Ruud van Nistelrooy may also leave Real Madrid. The 33-year-old striker is ready to reject a move to Arsenal to rescue Liverpool’s season, according to the Daily Mail. Reportedly, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City are also keeping an eye on Van Nistelrooy’s situation.

Paul Haring

Tags: cadena ser, daily mail, Drenthe, dutchman, fiorentina, Hotspur, italians, left flank, leonardo, Liverpool, manchester city, Manuel Pelligrini, Milan, Paul Haring, pelligrini, ruud van nistelrooy, Santiago, santiago bernabeu, shopping list, spanish media, striker, Van Nistelrooy, verge, winger, winter break

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Ronaldo poised to return as Real target Zurich win

Real Madrid have been dreaming of winning this season’s Champions League final at their Santiago Bernabeu stadium but first they need to get out of the group stage and there is still some work to be done going into Wednesday’s home match against FC Zurich.

Real lie joint top of Group C alongside AC Milan but Marseille are just a point behind the duo meaning Real need to defeat bottom side Zurich to put one foot in the knockout phase of this season’s competition.

Real have moved to the top of the Spanish league table with their best start since the 1991/92 season and have a vital match this Sunday in ‘El Clasico’ against Barcelona at Camp Nou but for now Europe is the focus.

“The Barcelona game is coming up but before that we have a key match against Zurich and if we win we can put one foot in the next stage of the Champions League,” explained Dutchman Royston Drenthe.

Real have lost some of their aura at home in Europe in recent seasons losing 3-2 to AC Milan in this season’s competition while Juventus and Liverpool both won at the Bernabeu last season.

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo is on the recovery road after ten games out with ankle trouble and coach Manuel Pellegrini must decide whether to risk the forward, who is the top-scorer in this season’s Champions League with four goals, ahead of the Barcelona match or limit him to a brief run out against Zurich.

“We must go slowly as Cristiano (Ronaldo) has had many days without training,” said former legendary Real striker Emilio Butragueno, now working behind the scenes at the club. “It’s not enough that the ankle is good it must have the necessary reinforcement to compete.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is a great professional, he is a winner and has a commitment to the club and does everything possible to return, but when he returns he cannot have a relapse.”

Despite the absence of Ronaldo, Real have won nine games in 11 games to top the league but coach Pellegrini has still not won over the unforgiving Real crowd who have not been enthralled by the pragmatic winning football which was again on show in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Racing Santander.

“We have to improve the football we are playing,” admitted Pellegrini. “It was difficult against Racing because we had a two-week break and were coming off the back of the Kings Cup defeat (to Alcorcon).”

Pellegrini has shown he is not afraid to make big decisions, leaving captain Raul – the club’s all-time leading goalscorer – on the substitutes’ bench for the last three league matches with Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema favoured in attack.

Raul, now 32, will hope to make an impact against Zurich to stake a claim for a place in the starting line-up against Barcelona.

Swiss side FC Zurich caused a few problems for Real in the away game and need to record a historic win in Madrid to have any chance of reaching the knockout phase as they are four points behind the leaders.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Barcelona, bottom side, camp nou, captain Raul, champions league, cristiano ronaldo, Drenthe, dutchman, Emilio Butragueno, Europe, group stage, home match, juventus, Karim Benzema, knockout, Liverpool, MADRID, manuel pellegrini, Marseille, Milan, real madrid, reinforcement, relapse, ronaldo, royston drenthe, santander, Santiago, santiago bernabeu stadium, spanish league table, top scorer, ZURICH

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Seedorf advises Drenthe not to focus on national team

Despite his place in the stages during Real Madrid’s last competition match against Getafe (2-0 win), Royston Drenthe will be part of the match selection that faces AC Milan tonight. That means there is a chance he will play against his friend Clarence Seedorf.

“I wasn’t part of the squad that played against Getafe, because coach Manuel Pellegrini wasn’t satisfied with the way I played against Alcorcon and Sporting Gijon,” Drenthe told Dutch paper De Telegraaf.

“Earlier in my career I would have discussed this with the coach but now I just decided to work like a madman. After the training at the San Siro, mister Pellegrini told me this was the reason why I returned to the group.”

And that was exactly what Clarence Seedorf had predicted. The two Dutchmen with Surinam roots became friends not so long ago. “Clarence is an example for me and he has been like a father to me,” said Drenthe.

Drenthe and Seedorf faced each other two weeks ago during the first match between Real Madrid and Milan at the Bernabeu. Drenthe scored a goal but Seedorf left the field as a winner (2-3). Based on his performance that game, Drenthe was complimented and the media predicted a place in the national team for the 22-year-old full back.

“But I have to perform on a high level for a long period to make it to the national team,” added Drenthe. “I know I’m doing well now but I don’t think about the Dutch team. I focus on Real. That’s also a lesson from Clarence.”

Paul Haring

Tags: ac milan, alcorcon, Clarence, clarence seedorf, coach, de telegraaf, Drenthe, dutch paper, dutch team, Dutchmen, game, madman, MADRID, manuel pellegrini, match, Milan, Paul Haring, real madrid, roots, San, san siro, sporting gijon

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Ronaldo at the double as Real secure nervy win

Real Madrid began their bid to reach the Champions League final at their Santiago Bernabeu stadium with a 5-2 Group C win at debutants FC Zurich on Tuesday although it was far more difficult than the scoreline suggests.

Real surged into a 3-0 first-half lead after Cristiano Ronaldo made it three goals in as many games with his first Champions League goal for Real before Raul and Gonzalo Higuain both netted.

However, nine-time European champions Real had to withstand a sterling second-half comeback from Zurich who scored twice in two minutes to give Real a jittery final 20 minutes before Ronaldo and Guti scored late on.

Veteran Guti conceded that they had relaxed too much.

“Perhaps we thought it was over at 3-0 but it wasn’t,” said Guti.

“We have to avoid that happening again if we want to go far in this competition.”

Higuain thought otherwise saying that Real had shown they were in a different class to their opponents.

“I don’t think we relaxed too much,” said Higuain.

“They got two quick goals and then we had to step it up.”

It was not the convincing display Real coach Manuel Pellegrini wanted from his ?Galacticos’ and Real will have to lift their game if they want to improve on a miserable run of failing to get past the last 16 stage for the past five seasons.

Portuguese centre-back Pepe is still serving a long-term domestic ban for violent conduct but is available in Europe and made his first appearance of the season in defence.

Pellegrini has been rotating his ample squad early in the season so both Higuain and Dutch defender Roysten Drenthe started after sitting out the 3-0 win over Espanyol on Saturday.

Ronaldo, Kaka and Xabi Alonso – who all won this competition with their previous clubs – made their Champions League debuts for Real to leave Zurich, making their debut in the group phase, a bit overawed.

However, the Swiss team were pumped up for the challenge and not afraid to put their foot in with Ronaldo coming in for some tough treatment.

The Portuguese star, a losing finalist with Manchester United last season, showed great early skill to beat two players who chopped him down to leave him squirming in pain on the ground.

Real threatened twice through Higuain and Kaka before the breakthrough came from a set-piece on 28 minutes.

Ronaldo stepped up to smash a thunderous free-kick into the roof of the net for his first Champions League goal for the club.

Raul made it 2-0 on 33 minutes sliding home after Higuain put the ball on a plate.

Higuain, controversially ignored by embattled Argentina coach Diego Maradona, added a third close to half-time using his impressive pace to accelerate away before slotting home.

With a three-goal cushion, Real were cruising and went into the second half hungry for more but got a shock.

The outrushing Casillas conceded a 63rd minute penalty for a rash challenge and Xavier Margairaz converted for what many thought would be a consolation goal.

However, two minutes later Silvan Aegerter rose high to head home a corner and make it 3-2 with neutrals wondering whether Real had changed into their white kit at half-time.

Ronaldo scored his second late on with another free-kick although it was a gift which should have been saved by the Zurich goalkeeper. Guti bagged a fifth in stoppage time to make the game look far more comfortable than it was.

Real’s next Group C match is at home to Marseille – who lost 2-1 to ACV Milan – on September 30.

ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP)

Tags: Alonso, Argentina, diego maradona, Drenthe, Espanyol, Europe, european champions, fc zurich, first appearance, five seasons, galacticos, Gonzalo, gonzalo higuain, group phase, guti, kaka, league goal, losi, MADRID, Manchester, manuel pellegrini, Marseille, Milan, previous clubs, raul, real madrid, ronaldo, Santiago, santiago bernabeu stadium, scoreline, swiss team, Switzerland, violent conduct, xabi alonso, ZURICH

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Van der Vaart to stay at Real – player

Real Madrid have decided to keep midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, the player himself has announced, despite reports he was set to join the Dutch exodus at the club.

Real Madrid “assured me that they believe in my qualities, and they want me to stay in the club,” van der Vaart said on his official website late Monday, the last day of the official summer transfer window.

The 26-year-old has reportedly been among a number of players on the transfer list as new club president Florentino Perez sought to recoup some of the more than 250 million euros he has splashed out on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso.

Three Dutch players — Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar — have already left Real in the close season.

Spanish news reports said last week that van der Vaart rejected a lucrative offer from Turkish champions Besiktas and was insisting that, if he had to move, it should be to the English Premiership.

The reports said Real also had a plan to offer him to Bayern Munich as part of a deal in which the German club’s French midfielder Franck Ribery would move the other way.

The sports newspaper Marca said Tuesday that Real’s failure to sign Ribery had worked in van der Vaart’s favour.

“Real Madrid told me it was never a question about my qualifications as a player, but only a matter of the many new players,” the Dutchman said on his website.

“They like my attitude towards wanting to play, and told me very clearly in a meeting Monday 31th of August, that they need me, and they see me as a important part of the team.”

He said he will be keeping the number 23 jersey previously worn by David Beckham.

He added that his wife, Sylvie, a well-known model and television personality, is particularly relieved that the family is staying in the Spanish capital, where she is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Real signed van der Vaart from Bundesliga side Hamburg last year in a deal reportedly worth 13 million euros.

He is now one of three Dutch survivors of the summer overhaul at Real, the others being midfielder Royston Drenthe and striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: Alonso, arjen robben, Bayern, breast cancer, club president, club real madrid, David Beckham, Drenthe, dut, dutchman, florentino perez, franck ribery, german club, Hamburg, Karim Benzema, klaas jan huntelaar, MADRID, number 23, Rafael van der, ronaldo, side hamburg, spanish capital, spanish news, television personality, undergoing treatment, Van der, Wesley Sneijder, xabi alonso

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Play Fantasy Football manager with Real’s Pellegrini

Real Madrid’s 250 million euros spending spree has left new coach Manuel Pellegrini with the kind of headache most managers could only dream of.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso, Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeloa, Esteban Granero and Ezequiel Garay have all been added to a squad that finished second in the league under Juande Ramos last year.

Pellegrini has made the most of pre-season friendlies to experiment with players and lineups, and they have lost only once in their eight warm up games, against Juventus in the Peace Cup. They have netted 22 goals, and conceded just six.

But with only a week to go until Deportivo Coruna visit the Bernabeu for their opening game of the new Primera Liga campaign, the Chilean has yet to make it clear what his best starting 11 will be, and what formation he will play.

There is no debate over the position of goalkeeper, so Iker Casillas is easy to put first on the team sheet.

In defence he can pick from Garay, Arbeloa, Albiol, Pepe, Christoph Metzelder, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Miguel Torres. Royston Drenthe has performed well at fullback in the last couple of matches.

Ronaldo, Kaka and Xabi Alonso will be guaranteed a place in midfield which leaves perhaps Lassana Diarra as the fourth component of a traditional 4-4-2. Arjen Robben and Granero have impressed in pre-season games while Fernando Gago, Guti, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Mahamadou Diarra wait in the wings.

And who to play in attack? Raul has topscored with four in the pre-season friendlies, so the evergreen captain and Benzema? Last season’s top scorer Gonzalo Higuain and the returning Ruud van Nistelrooy complete the choices up front.

Assuming everyone was available, the following 4-2-3-1 formation would be a tasty lineup in front of Casillas. Ramos, Pepe, Albiol and Drenthe at the back, Alonso and Lass Diarra holding the centre midfield, leaving Ronaldo, Kaka, and Robben to support Benzema up front.

Is Pellegrini tough enough to put Raul on the bench or does the fans’ favourite have to start? If you were in the hot seat, who would you play?

Go to Source

Tags: alvaro arbeloa, arjen robben, christoph metzelder, Drenthe, Esteban Granero, fernando gago, Karim Benzema, lass, MADRID, manuel pellegrini, miguel torres, new primera, pre season friendlies, pre season games, Rafael van der, rafael van der vaart, raul, raul albiol, ronaldo, royston drenthe, ruud van nistelrooy, sergio ramos, spending spree, top scorer, Wesley Sneijder, xabi alonso

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Sneijder forced to leave Real Madrid

Wesley Sneijder will no longer play at Real Madrid, according to Spanish media. The Dutchman has yet to find a new club.

Marca reported that the midfielder won’t form part of Manuel Pellegrini’s plans for the coming season, and isn’t even allowed to take part in training.

Real Madrid’s preferred option is to sell Sneijder to Italian side Internazionale for a fee of 15 million Euros, but the player himself hasn’t agreed terms with the Serie A outfit.

The now 25-year-old joined Real Madrid in 2007, after five years with the team of Ajax Amsterdam. Since his move to Spain, the player scored 11 goals in 52 games.

Sneijder is the third Dutchman to be disposed of by Real Madrid this summer. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar joined AC Milan while Rafael van der Vaart is still looking for a new team. Arjen Robben is likely to stay, but the futures of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Royston Drenthe remain doubtful.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: ac milan, ajax amsterdam, Amsterdam, Drenthe, dutchman, futures, internazionale, italian side, Jan Huntelaar, klaas jan huntelaar, MADRID, manuel pellegrini, midfielder, move to spain, preferred option, Rafael van der, rafael van der vaart, robben, royston, ruud van nistelrooy, spanish media, training real madrid, van der vaart, Wesley Sneijder

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Real set to relaunch pursuit of Ribery – report

Real Madrid could relaunch their bid to sign Bayern Munich’s French midfielder Franck Ribery by offering two of their Dutch internationals plus 30 million euros to the Bundesliga giants, reports said Thursday.

The Spanish giants said earlier this month their mega pre-season spending spree had ended with the capture of Xabi Alonso from Liverpool.

However sports dailies Marca and AS claim the Spanish giants are desperate to loosen Bayern’s grip on Ribery.

Real failed to sign the French midfield star this summer in the face of stiff opposition from Bayern but Real president Florentino Perez “is still not ruling out Ribery” ahead of the close season transfer deadline on August 31, Marca said Thursday.

Marca and AS said the midfielder, who is keen to join Real, issued a “new challenge” to Bayern by playing for France on Wednesday in a World Cup qualifying match against the Faroe Islands even though he has not played for his club this summer due to injury.

Marca said “the key” to capturing Ribery may be for Real to offer two of their Dutch internationals plus cash to Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal, a Dutchman. Real “would be ready to offer two of its Dutchmen and more than 30 million euros for Ribery,” it said.

Real would thus be able to make “an appetising offer to the German team as the amount would surpass 60 million euros — 30 in cash and a bit more than 30 more for the players released, a figure approaching the 80 million that Bayern was demanding at the start of the summer for Franck Ribery”.

Perez has splashed out over 250 million euros on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema as he seeks to make the nine-times European champions a formidable force again.

Real are still looking to offload Dutchmen Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Royston Drenthe and Rafael Van der Vaart.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: arjen robben, Bayern, bayern munich, cristiano ronaldo, Drenthe, Dutchmen, european champions, faroe islands, France, german team, internationals, Karim Benzema, louis van gaal, MADRID, midfield star, Rafael van der, rafael van der vaart, real madrid, ronaldo, royston drenthe, spending spree, stiff opposition, transfer deadline, van der vaart, Wesley Sneijder, xabi alonso

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Lyon closing in on Real´s Van Nistelrooy: report

MADRID (AFP) – Lyon want to sign Real Madrid’s Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy to replace Karim Benzema who has agreed to join the Spanish giants, sports daily Marca reported on Thursday.

Lyon was initially interested in another Dutch striker, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who has sparked interest from AC Milan, but he refused to join the French side, the newspaper reported.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, then asked his Real counterpart Florentino Perez to try to convince Van Nistelrooy, out injured for most of last season, to join the club, it added.

The 33-year-old, who moved to Real in the summer of 2006, has said he would like to stay on at Real.

But he has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu following the Spanish side’s signings of Brazil’s Kaka and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo in recent weeks.

Van Nistelrooy underwent an operation in November 2008 on his right knee which the club said at the time would sideline him from six to nine months.

The Dutchman has scored 45 league goals for Real, four of them last season before being injured.

He was the top scorer in the league for 2006-07 with 25 goals in 37 matches.

The Spanish press said Perez hopes to sell most of the club’s Dutch players, Aside from Van Nistelrooy and Huntelaar, these are Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Royston Drenthe.

Tags: ac milan, bernabeu, cristiano ronaldo, Drenthe, dutchman, french side, jean michel aulas, Jean-Michel, kaka, Karim Benzema, klaas jan huntelaar, LA Liga, league goals, Ligue 1, Lyon, MADRID, marca, Milan, pecking order, portugal, Rafael van der, rafael van der vaart, real madrid, royston drenthe, ruud van nistelrooy, spanish press, spanish side, top scorer, van der vaart, Van Nistelrooy, Wesley Sneijder

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Viola keen on Drenthe switch

Serie A club Fiorentina are looking to push through a move for Real Madrid midfielder Royston Drenthe, according to agent Ernesto Bronzetti.

As Real Madrid look to assemble the finest squad in the world, a number of players could become surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu.

With Kaka having joined from AC Milan and a deal agreement with Cristiano Ronaldo, it is most likely that other big names will follow during the transfer window.

Fiorentina are believed to be keen on signing Dutchman Drenthe, initially on loan for a season with the option of a permanent deal at the end of the 12 months.

Bronzetti claims Real would be happy to let Drenteh leave, but only for a considerably higher fee.

He explained: “I had a chat with Pantaleo Corvino and he admitted he wants Drenthe.

“They want to loan him and then buy him for £6m. Real Madrid are OK with the loan but they would like more money for the permanent transfer.”

But Bronzetti has also warned Fiorentina that they could face competition for Drenthe, who has been linked with Genoa and Tottenham.

“Royston is young and talented,” he said “Perhaps he is Real Madrid’s most wanted player so Fiorentina will have to make an effort to buy him.”

Written by: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: 12 months, ac milan, bernabeu, corvino, Drenthe, dutchman, ernesto, Ernesto Bronzetti, fiorentina, genoa, kaka, LA Liga, MADRID, midfielder, Milan, money, rajput, real madrid, ronaldo, royston, Santiago, santiago bernabeu, Serie A, tottenham, viola

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