Kaka
Real Madrid vs APOEL Nicosia
Take that Barcelona! Madrid has their own private island! Well, they will by January 2015.
Club President Florentino Perez: “It is a decisive and strategic step that will strengthen our institution in the Middle East and Asia,”
Who: Real Madrid, RAK Marjan Island Football Investment Fund, and the government of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
Size: 4.6 million square feet.
Cost: $1 billion.
Resort will include: Sports facilities, A marina with Yacht Club, 5-Star Luxury Hotels and Villas, an Amusement Park, a Real Madrid museum, and a 10,000-seat stadium that will have one side open to the sea.
The resort with have have Hologram Football shows. I don't know what that means, but it sounds cool. I'd prefer a real Football show, though.
Location: United Arab Emirates - more than half of their estimated 300 million followers are based in Asia.
The location was picked for strategic reasons. There are 2 Billion consumers will be 4-hours away by plane. All of Europe, Asian, and Africa will be 8-hours away by plane. 50 million consumers are 1-hour away by car.
The resort is expected to attract over 1 million visitors in the first year alone.
Your move, Barca.
Dani Alves
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
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| photo by Philippe Agnifili |
Starting in 2009 Real Madrid began their second Galáctico era, led by President Florentino Pérez. The first major signing was Ricardo Kaka, who was acquired from AC Milan for a fee of €68 million, which was a record at the time. That record was broken three weeks later when Madrid acquired Cristian Ronaldo from Man United for €96 million. Karim Benzema was signed a week later from Lyon for about €41 million. To wrap up summer 2009 Madrid signed Raúl Albiol from for Valencia €15 million, and Xabi Alonso from Liverpool for €36 million. Real Madrid's spending spree did not stop there they would go on to hire José Mourinho as their manager and sign Ángel di María (€25m), Sami Khedira (€15m), Sergio Canales (€4.5m), Pedro León (€10m), Ricardo Carvalho (€7.9m), and Mesut Özil (€15m).
PSG has now started their own Galáctico era. Well, more like Galactique era. The club's first major signing was Javier Pastore, who they acquired from Palermo for €42 million. PSG also signed Kevin Gameiro (€11m), Jérémy Ménez (€8m), and Blaise Matuidi (€7.5m). This year PSG is bringing out the big guns, or rather big bags of money. PSG has been involved in rumors regarding the signing of Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez, Ricardo Kaká, David Beckham, Florent Malouda, and Alexandre Pato. Lets not forget the rumored hiring of former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti.
By the end of January there may be a new powerhouse in the world of football. One player i'd really like to see in a PSG kit: Neymar. Make it happen, PSG.
- by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami
The capital club, long Spain’s leader domestically and on the continent, last won the league in 2007/08 and have since been in the shadow of their all-conquering Catalan rivals, who have taken the world by storm with their incredible success and style of play.
The recent Barcelona dominance is an especially hard pill to swallow for Madridistas given their own side’s relative drought; in fact, last year’s Copa Del Rey triumph was the first time they lifted the trophy in almost twenty years, and given the financial power and high expectations the club has, 4 league titles and one Champions League title (most of which were in the first half of the decade) capped off a relatively lacklustre 2000-2010 period for Los Blancos. After the 5-0 massacre at the Nou Camp last November, it seemed almost nothing would bring Mourinho and company within striking distance of challenging Guardiola’s men. And Barcelona have strengthened, with Cesc Fabregas’s arrival finally completed, joining with highly rated Alexis Sanchez from Udinese to add to an already formidable squad.
Both had to settle for a spot on the bench for the second leg of the SuperCup, and given Barcelona were able to start the same eleven that convincingly beat Manchester United at Wembley, it would seem they are even tougher to surpass. But even towards the end of last season, there was hope. Reading roughly, Madrid evenly split the “World Series” of Clasicos in late April and early May, drawing twice, losing once, and winning the Copa Del Rey, and tempers on both sides were high throughout, with the “Special One” earning himself another touchline ban.
Marcelo’s horror tackle on Fabregas in injury-time of the SuperCup is the latest in a line of unsavory incidents on both sides, but the strife seems to have brought the team together. Never short of theatrics, Mourinho has expressed his belief that his former employers get preferential treatment on numerous occasions, even whilst at Inter Milan after their epic semi-final victory in the 2009/10 edition of the Champions League. And while the self-described “persona non grata” has undoubtedly killed off any goodwill he had earned from the supporters at the Nou Camp, his antics and fiery disposition seem to have lit a fire under the squad, and a range of signings since his appointment have proven to be successes. Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, and Angel Di Maria all had immediate impacts on the first team picture last term, and formed a vital core for the run to the Champions League semi-finals.
This transfer window has seen another slew of players join the squad. Left back Fabio Coentrao brought in from Benfica to compete with the excellent Marcelo, and both players’ ability to play on the wing gives the manager a versatile option on the left side. After leaving Madrid’s B side in search of first team football, Jose Callejon returns after four successful seasons at Espanyol, and the pacy winger will provide depth and skill on the flanks.Turkish duo Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop also bolster the midfield ranks. Sahin is just 22, and was a driving force behind Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga-winning campaign last year, while Altintop is an experienced central midfielder capable of sitting deep or playing further up the pitch. Raphael Varane seems one for the future, with the 18 year old centre back joining from Lens to learn from Ricardo Carvalho and Pepe, and could go on loan.
With Casillas in goal, and a back four of Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, and either Coentrao or Marcelo, with Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa for cover, performances like the one from the 5-0 loss should be a thing of the past. Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira excelled as the pivot players in Mourinho’s system, often a 4-2-3-1 against Barcelona, and Altintop provides an alternative as well as cover. It looks as if Lassanna Diarra will not be needed, but the French international remains for now. Sahin will compete with Ozil and Di Maria for time on the wings, and Callejon could feature either on the wing or as a forward. Cristiano Ronaldo has been employed as winger, central attacking midfielder, and even as a striker, but the return of a healthy Gonzalo Higuain, as well as the on-form Karim Benzema, will see him return to his customary role as the center of the attack.
Kaka again looks like he will struggle to feature. An early setback is surely not what the supporters desired, but with a new attitude and confidence under Mourinho, Real Madrid are on the way up – time will tell if they can meet or surpass Barcelona’s heights.
Lionel Messi
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
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| photo by Jan S0L0 |
Manchester City was reportedly ready to make a £150 million bid for Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo said that he would not join Man City. "Money is not the most important thing." he said, "If it was for money I could have double what I have. If it was for money I would leave.
Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was part of the reason why CR is staying, and he even stated that he "would sign for 10 years. For Madrid, until the end of [his] career." Today we found out how important Jose Mourinho was to his decision.
"It’s flattering to be offered like £20m a year - it’s very good, but I spoke to my agent and I think it’s better to stay in Madrid because this year we’re going to be the best. This season we are going to be a big force. Jose Mourhino is staying at Madrid so I stay. If he went to Chelsea then I would have left. I would have gone to Manchester City. But now he’s staying, I’m staying.”
Ronaldo has scored 86 goals in 89 games for Madrid since arriving at the club from Manchester United in for a world record £80 million in 2009.
Sources: soccernet.espn.go.com
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| [photo by Oscar Gomez] |
- by Hiten Mandalia, writing from West London
With world class players in both teams, ‘El Clásicos’ never fail to disappoint. The games between the two always produces goals and both teams have an assest of two of the best players in the world at this present time.
Real Madrid possess the threat of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has pace, strength, blessed with unique skills and his ability to go pass players and score every type of goal possible. He has had his most prolific season as a player. Barcelona, on the other hand, have a genius in their team. He goes by the name of Lionel Messi. He’s quick, has amazing trickery, the ball’s glued to his feet and he’s scored some of the best goals ever. He has become the first ever player to score 50 goals in one season in the Spanish League. He has the world at his feet and you can only sit and admire at what he does on a football pitch. You could go as far as saying that he’s the Maradonna of today, and some could argue, maybe greater.
Despite Ronaldo and Messi being the best players in the world, both teams have players blessed with quality. Madrid have the likes of Casillias, Ramos, Kaka, Benzema and Higuain to name a few, while the Catalan giants have the likes of Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta and Villa to suggest a few. Both teams have their respective ways of playing and that’s down to the great managers both teams have.
Jose Mourinho, the manager of Real Madrid, has won many trophies with the likes of Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and now at Real Madrid. On the other hand, Guardiola is in his third season of managing Barcelona, and won the treble in his first. He has developed a philosphy at Barcelona and arguably, has created the best club team ever. I certainly know that the current Barcelona team are the best ever team I’ve witnessed since I’m been watching football.
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| [photo by Oscar Gomez] |
The first game was at the Camp Nou where Barcelona convincingly thrashed Madrid 5-0. However, since that defeat, Madrid have grown stronger as a team and Mourinho may have figured out a way to stop Barcelona playing. The word aggressive may come to mind. In the second league game of the season, Mourinho was criticized for negative tactics. The result was 1-1, with Messi and Ronaldo both breaking their ducks. It was both of their first goals in El Clásico. It could be argued that the league game was the least important out of the four, as Barcelona were eight points clear of Madrid, and the title look destined to head to Barcelona.
However, the Copa Del Rey Final did have it’s moments of flowing football and it was a nervy occasion which left the crowd on the edge of their seats. The match went to extra time, with the score being 0-0 after 90 minutes, but a well worked Madrid set up allowed Ronaldo to score a header in the 102 minute. Throughout the game, Mourinho used aggresive tactis to get at Barcelona and that proved effective. Real Madrid and Mourinho had mastered a victory over Barcelona and it was Mourinho’s first trophy at Madrid, but the real question remains, can Madrid produce the same result in the Champions League, when it matters most, or was this victoy a one off?
The Champions League Semi Final between the two Spanish giants will be a test of character to players and the managers of both teams. This is the trophy both teams really want to win, especially Real Madrid, who last won it in 2002; the era of the ‘Galaticos’. The real test will be what team will be able to handle the pressure, who can handle the occasion mentally, and who will be more hungry to reach the final in Wembley. Despite the last two games between the two not being the greatest, rest assured, the semi final will be of a different class. Both teams will surely go out and attack and want this more then ever.
This will be the last chapter of ‘El Clásico’ this season and it’s one not to be missed. Two of the biggest clubs in world football, battling it out for a place in the final at Wembley in Europe’s most prestigious club competition – the Champions League.
Well, this is embarrassing.........
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| [photo by David Cornejo] |
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, known commonly as simply Ronaldo, announced that his 18 year career will come to an end today. The reason: fitness. It is hard to play football when your over weight and Ronaldo finally accepted that he was no longer in shape to play the game he loves without the fear of injury.
In his prime Ronaldo was one of the best footballers on the planet. He won his first Ballon d'Or in 1997 at the age of 21. He would win that award again in 2002. He is also one of only two men to have won the FIFA Player of the Year award three times, Zinedine Zidane being the other player to achieve that. On the international level Ronald lifted the World Cup twice, in 1994 and 2002. The record for the most goals scored in the FIFA World Cup is also held by Ronaldo: 15.
Today when you mention Ronaldo people often ask if your referring to Cristiano or "the fat one". Ronaldo is solely to blame for his down fall. I cant help but remember his transvestite adventures a few month prior to his departure from AC Milan to join Corinthians. We wish you the best Ronnie. Stay healthy.
The video below shows Ronaldo's transformation through the years.
- by Matt Narvaez, writing from Florida
The Camp Nou was buzzing from start to finish. As were the players that call it home. Within the first 20 minutes the home side netted their first two goals. The first a work of beauty where a great pass to Xavi led to a brilliant goal. The second while not as mesmerizing was still very much a quality finish. David Villa toyed with Sergio Ramos inside the box finally sending a ball down the line past him. Iker Casillas lunged for the ball but it found its way to a pretty unmarked Pedro and the Spaniard kicked into the back on the net.
For the rest of the half the side in all white seemed to finally find some type of footing. An incident on the sideline where Cristiano Ronaldo pushed Pep Guardiola seemed to spark some type of life in the club. The closest they came to scoring was a Ronaldo free kick that just sailed wide of Valdés and the post. Madrid did well enough to finish the half with no more blood shed . HT whistle blew and the Royal football club of the nation’s capital was down two goals to the kings of Catalonia.
José Mourinho started the second half Lass coming on for Mesut Özil. The German rising star was barely mentioned all of the first half, and his less than positive contribution was noticed by anyone who was watching the match. He was far from the only player whose play was less than noteworthy. Karim Benzema who started in place for an injured Gonzalo Higuaín worked hard in bursts, but was far from the target he needed to be. He has still yet to show the form a true number 9. Marcelo let Pedro go past him that led to the second goal. He was taken off at the 60th minute for former Liverpool defender Álvaro Arbeloa. In a 5 – 0 lashing there is tons of blame to go around. Just providing some of extra low points.
Now to the part I hate; having to describe the total domination of Real Madrid by Barcelona in the second half. It was more than just a 3 goal half. It was one totally outplaying the other side in every aspect for 45 minutes. There seemed to be ages of time pass with Barcelona maintaining possession. They moved the ball freely between each other up and down the pitch while merengue defenders helplessly chased after the ball. The two David Silva goals were pure magic. He didn’t seem like the new signee of the club at all. He was playing as if he played with the side his whole career. The constant control of the ball never seemed to end; at least to this Madridista. The half was as if someone was torturing me for watching the match and not doing my part to save the dolphins or something. The 5th and final goal was just salt in the wound. The sub Jeffrén got behind the tired and extended Real Madrid defense and chipped one passed the GK. It was a perfect bow to go on the present that Barcelona players gave their fans.
The game ended chippy. It always does in a drubbing like the one that occurred. Messi which had shown his star quality the whole match was fouled hard by Sergio Ramos. That lead to his ejection and a pushing match where Ramos palmed his national team comrade’s face and shove him to the ground. It meant nothing to the game and I am sure little to the players once cooler head prevailed.
Most people think of sports classics as great come from behind buzzer beaters, or davids that slay goliaths. This classic was different. It was a classic like fine artistry. Where the composer or painter creates something of beauty few people could reproduce. It pains me to say it, but that’s what happen. Coach Mou summed it up best, “a deserved victory and a deserved defeat.” A true classic.
- by Kevin Curtis, writing from Orlando
AC Milan, the seven-time winner of the European cup, and Real Madrid faced off in an intense match of fearlessness and determination. Real Madrid came into the game undefeated in the Champions League and having already beaten AC Milan victory seemed certain. Supporters dressed in Red and Black piled into the San Siro and energy and excitement grew as they awaited the start of the match.
In the first half, Real Madrid started out strong. They had complete control of the ball and had a high time of possession. Milan’s frustration became evident through late tackles by Prince Boateng, Ibrahimovic, and Abate, which consequently received yellow cards. Cristiano Ronaldo shinned, much like every other game, creating space and opportunities for Madrid. However Madrid could not capitalize on great opportunities. They seemed to have everything clicking for them but could not put the ball in the back of the net. This is thanks to a goal line stand by Pirlo, and a solid defensive effort by Gattuso. Overall however Milan’s defense struggled. Ronaldhino and Pato were very disappointing offensively. Milan had one notable scoring chance but Ibrahimovic was unable to take advantage of a poor decision by Casillas. Real Madrid went into the locker room relieved after scoring the Higuain goal in the 44th minute. Milan would go into the locker room frustrated.
- by Leslie Chavez, writing from LA
Real Madrid open their season with a scoreless draw against Mallorca. Madrid was finally able to open their scoring account against Osasuna, which was scored by former Chelsea Defender Ricardo Carvalho. Both games gave Real Madrid opportunities they failed to capitalize because of their inability to finish.
The game against Real Sociedad was exasperating. The first half was dominated by Real Sociedad, who could have easily gone into halftime up 2-0. Fortunately for the Merengues, Real Sociedad also suffered from the inability to finish. Unlike the Osasuna, game where Iker Casillas didn’t need to make any saves, Casillas was definitely kept on his toes. Approximately, five minutes after the second half began Real Madrid had a break and Angel Di Maria scored his first La Liga goal and gave the Merengues the upper hand. Faith quickly turned at the 60th minute when Casillas conceded the first goal of the season. Real Madrid, nonetheless, was able to keep a stronger possession the second half. At the 74th minute Ronaldo took a free kick that was slightly deflected on teammate Pepe giving Real Madrid the lead 2-1 over Sociedad, and guaranteeing them the three point that placed them at the top of La Liga.