What a trio!!!!!!

Di Stéfano, Messi and Maradona.

Lionel Messi won the "Di Stéfano trophy" given to the Best Player in Spain.

Messi won the award for his fantastic performance in La Liga last season.

marca.com

El azulgrana recibió el Trofeo Di Stéfano, que le distingue como el mejor jugador de nuestro fútbol

Maradona y Di Stéfano coronan a Messi

De manos de dos leyendas del fútbol como son Maradona y Di Stéfano, Messi recibió el preciado galardón, que pesaba como una deuda en palabras de Di Stéfano, y sucedió así a Raúl, ganador de la primera edición.

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Real Madrid were jeered off by their own fans after being dumped out of the Copa del Rey by minnows Alcorcon after only managing a 1-0 fourth round second leg win at an expectant Bernabeu.

Madrid suffered one of the biggest humiliations in their history after losing the first leg 4-0, and the Spanish giants could not undo the damage as battling Alcorcon frustrated their big-spending neighbours.

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The President of Real Madrid Florentino Perez wants him out, orthat is the unsaid rumour circulating through the Sports media.Real Madrid Director General Jorge Valdano insists that he stays,naturally was Valdano who recommended & brought the man to theClub. Coach Manuel Pellegrini has lost the authority & control ofthe dressing room, the catalyst being a series of bad decisions thathe is paying Click to continue reading...

Manuel Pellegrini's coaching career at Real is in danger. The shocking defeat at the hands of lowly Alcorcon has sent shock waves through the echelons of the most decorated football club in the world.

Jorge Valdano and Florentino Perez have given the Chilean the Getafe match this weekend and the return match against Milan in the Champions League next week to prove himself.

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Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini was left "very embarrassed" after seeing the most expensive team in world football lose 4-0 to a third tier village side Alcorcon in the Spanish King's Cup. Real fielded a strong team but were 3-0 down to the Segunda Division B club by half-time in the round of 32 first leg.

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In a Copa Del Rey match, Jerzy Dudek was the goalie under siege as Francisco Borja scored the first goal, a under pressure Alvaro Arbeloa scored an own goal, Ernesto Gomez tapped in a third, and Borja completed Madrid's woebegone display with his second goal and Alcorcon's fourth.

Pellegrini rested Kaka and his place was taken by Guti.

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Steven Gerrard has emerged as Real Madrid's top target for next summer.
SunSport can reveal Real president Florentino Perez will launch an audacious £30million bid for the Liverpool skipper.
A top Madrid source said: "It's no secret Gerrard is a player Perez and technical director Jorge Valdano admire. Click to continue reading...

Increíble lo de Raúl. Sin Kaká y Cristiano en el campo, los considerados cracks de este equipo, el eterno capitán blanco lidereó a su equipo para derrotar al Valladolid, anotando dos goles, en una victoria sin brillo, sí, pero que igual vale los tres puntos.

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Well, it looks like Greaseano was badly missed in Madrid's first 2-1 defeat of the season to Sevilla. We like it that they're finally losing because Potter Perez needs to know that he cannot assemble a perfect squad with his moneda. Still, you know he's at the golf course with Jorge Valdano now, enjoying a club sandwich on a lovely summer day!

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Some years ago, I wrote on this blog with regard to the esteemed Craig Foster:
It remains an inordinate pity that many gullible readers consider Planet Foster a reality, and swallow the entire package, rather than sifting the thin grain of truth from the dross...
And this, sadly, remains the case. Click to continue reading...

Por otra parte, también aseguró que "no hay ningún desencuentro" con el presidente de la UEFA, Michel Platini, que criticó los fichajes del Real Madrid. "Nos llamaron la atención sus declaraciones sobre el gasto en fichajes que hacíamos. Hablé con él durante el sorteo de la Liga de Campeones y me explicó que en ningún caso quiso criticar al Real Madrid. Click to continue reading...

I am not a number I am a free man!

Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has been told he still has a future at Real Madrid.

The Spanish giants needed to cut their squad after their lavish summer spending spree, which brought in the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Xavi Alonso.

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A few weeks ago, Tom Dunmore asked me to be Pitch Invasion's regular book reviewer even though he knew full well my blogging track record back is just this side of abysmal (I am, to the half-dozen of you who read my work, the blogger known as Antonio Gramsci). I was so flattered I actually accepted but ever since, I've been fretting over what to write my first column about, not least because I haven't actually read a football book other than the amply-reviewed Beckham Experiment in several months and my next fix from Amazon.

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No cabe duda que el número 7 es mágico, especial, y muy relacionado con la suerte, por antecedentes como los 7 días de la semana, los 7 colores del arco iris y los 7 pecados capitales además de las 7 chakras del cuerpo humano en el hinduismo, las 7 frases pronunciadas por Jesús en la cruz, y el el séptimo hijo de un séptimo hijo que es un Hacedor, una persona de poder incomparable capaz de cambiar la naturaleza misma de las cosas en la Saga de Alvin Maker.

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Liverpool FC has lost out on many great players over the years, but the most regrettable missed opportunity is arguably Danish maestro Michael Laudrup. The club had two chances to sign this footballing magician, but failed on both occasions. Why did the club miss out and what impact would Laudrup (theoretically) have had? Click to continue reading...

According to Real Madrid's sporting director Jorge Valdano, Ezequiel Garay is not transferable and will remain with the club this season.

Valdano said that despite the many offers that Madrid has received for Garay, the new Madrid manager wants him on the team and he said that today, Garay is a player that is not transferable.

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A good way to invest the rest of the Alonso cash?

Liverpool and Aston Villa have been told to shelve any plans they have to sign Real Madrid playmaker Wesley Sneijder.

The Holland international was expected to be surplus to requirements at the Bernebeu following the arrivals of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso has completed his £30m transfer to big-spending Real Madrid from Liverpool after passing a medical on Wednesday.
The Reds revealed on Tuesday a deal had been struck but added the terms would remain confidential.
Alonso, 27, joined Liverpool from Real Sociedad in August 2004 for £10. Click to continue reading...

Inarrestabile. Un Real senza limiti (come il portafogli del suo presidente Florentino Perez che lo aveva annunciato: "Costruirò la squadra più forte del XXI secolo"). Dopo aver concluso gli acquisti del rossonero Kakà , del Pallone d'Oro Cristiano Ronaldo, del nuovo "Zidane", Benzema e di un ottimo difensore come Raul Albiol, una delle squadre di calcio più gloriose di Spagna piazza il pokerissimo. Click to continue reading...

Xabi Alonso has finalised his €30 million move to Real Madrid after weeks of negotiations and looking muy triste everywhere he went. Yes, it's another coup for Potter Perez and the delusion of the Galactico 2.0 era which even we can't swallow.

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Real Madrid could be set to sign Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa as early as next week.
The Spanish right-back could be about to make a return to his native country in a deal worth around €5 million (£4.5m), according to a report in The Sun today.
Officials at the Santiago Bernabeu have recently expressed their ongoing interest in signing the former Deportiva La Coruna stopper this summer. Click to continue reading...

Muchas veces hablamos de estrategias, formaciones, parados, resultados e historia relacionada con el futbol, pero deteniendonos un poco,  en esta época de recesos nos preguntamos ¿Qué es es esto? Que tanto apasiona a millones de personas en todo el mundo, partamos de estas definiciones que nos dan a su manera algunos conocidos, gente relacionada que vive de esto, que le pone palabra o le ha tocado analizar, tratando de diferenciar como lo pronuncian cada uno:

"El Fútbol es una de las cosas más complejas".

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UPDATE: According to Francisco Acedo at Sky Sports News, Arsenal have not made a bid for Real Madrid striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar. Real Madrid general director Jorge Valdano said,

"Only one formal offer exists and that is Stuttgart's.

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Real Madrid are still holding out hope of snapping up Xabi Alonso from Liverpool this summer.
The Merseysiders seemed resigned to losing the midfielder, who is reportedly eager to join the Spanish titans, and at the moment, the extravagant price tag is the only thing keeping the 27-year-old at Anfield.

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1. Manchester City have reached an agreement with Carlos Tevez to sign a five year contract for the Eastlands club.
The club have agreed personal terms with the 25-year-old, and the deal has been ratified by the Premier League and the Football Association. (The Guardian)
2. Chelsea are to hold further talks with their captain, John Terry, over his future. Click to continue reading...

There are too many rumours floating around about Franck Ribery's transfer from Bayern Munich. While earlier reports stated that his deal with Real Madrid was almost finalised, the new rumours allege that the French star is being wooed by Rafael Benitez for Liverpool. Some news suggested recently that Bayern were not willing to let Ribery [. Click to continue reading...

Hunter and C Ronaldo... Technical director Jorge Valdano had a bit of a chat with Klaas Jan Huntelaar yesterday, about his status at Madrid. The former Madrid player advised the Hunter to take the Stuttgart offer and leave. Oosterveer, Huntelaar's manager, declined any comment, but did confirm "Klaas Jan is pondering Click to continue reading...

Real Madrid are set to pursue their interest in Xabi Alonso while trying to lower the asking price, but they have reiterated that Cesc Fabregas is not on their agenda.
Madrid's new sporting director, Miguel Pardeza is still keen to see a new midfielder added to the ranks to play alongside Lassana Diarra and outlined how things were progressing. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has allayed fears that first choice left Fabio Aurelio will be out for the rest of the year after confirming the extent of the Brazilian's freak injury.
There were fears that Aurelio would be missing for the rest of the year after he suffered damaged his knee in a kickabout in his back garden. Click to continue reading...

Jorge Valdano admits Real Madrid are some distance away from Liverpool's valuation of Xabi Alonso.
Madrid have been heavily linked with a move for the Spain midfielder as part of their summer rebuilding under new president Florentino Perez, which has already seen the Primera Division outfit splash out almost £200million on Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol. Click to continue reading...

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this ... so you mean to tell me Vicente Soriano is back, he's the new boss, an American company is supposedly involved, the debt will be wiped out and all is well in our ongoing soap opera?

NO ME DIGAS!!
I was enjoying the American 4th of July holiday yesterday afternoon, sipping on a red wine and eating a chicken shish kebob in the woods of upstate New York when my phone vibrated.

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During yesterday's unveiling of Kaka, Real Madrid sporting director, Jorge Valdano, was questioned about the possibility of the Madrid club splurging for another big name this summer, after being linked with Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema, amongst others.

"We do not discard the possibility that in the next few hours, something could happen," Valdano stated to a packed press room.

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Não, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. That's really Kaka attending his first Real Madrid medical at the Sanitas La Moraleja Hospital in Madrid. Please do us all a favour and stop staring at his nips!

Anyway, the photo above screams "Awkward!!!

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David Villa has been one of the hottest properties in Europe for some time now and it seemed almost inevitable Valencia would have to cash in on their star man due to their 450million euro debt. The talented hitman had stated his desire to stay in Spain, which effectively ruled out everyone bar Real Madrid and it looked as if he was heading for the Santiago Bernabeu.

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Rafael Benitez has won his battle of wills with Real Madrid, after the Spanish giants admitted last night they have finally given up their long-running pursuit of Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.
Bernabeu president Florentino Perez is a long-time admirer of Liverpool's Spanish international and has openly declared his desire to add the playmaker to his latest squad of 'Galacticos. Click to continue reading...