Raúl, rumours, bits and bobs
From AS:
"Raúl González is set for an emotional return to the Bernabéu this summer. AS can confirm that Al-Sadd will be the special guests for the Trofeo Bernabéu tournament, which will take place on either 19th or 20th August. The former Madrid captain has played a crucial role in talks between the two clubs and has asked Al-Sadd whether they would mind if he played 45 minutes of the game with his old team and the other half with the visitors. Officials at the Qatari club have agreed to Raúl’s request.
Raúl left Madrid on July 26th 2010 saying, “Madrid is my home and where I have experienced unique emotions. I will always be at their disposition whenever they need me. Hala Madrid!”
The 35-year-old is currently studying for his coaching certificate and learning about football management and consultancy. He is joined in Qatar by his friend and former team mate Fernando Hierro, the new Director of Sport for the Qatar Football Federation until 2015."
After several days of rumours of stalled negotiations, La Sexta reports that the parties are close to reaching an agreement, extending Ronaldo's contract until 2018. Ronaldo will recieve a large salary increase as well as various achievement-related bonuses, but the main point of conflict remains the image-rights, currently shared 60/40 between the player and the club.
Marca reports that the club has offered Ronaldo a net-salary of 14 mio € a year and are wiling to discuss the image rights, but that the player is asking for a net-salary of between 18 and 20 mio €, as well as 100 % of his image rights.
Some talking points from Perez' visit to the radio show "Al Primer Toque" and the breakfast show on TVE. I've grouped them together, because, well, he repeated himself a lot.
- Perez remains convinced that Mou would have stayed in Madrid if the club had won both the Champions League and the CdR this season. In response to Mou's recent statements concerning his two passions in life, Inter and Chelsea, Perez said that Madrid is in another dimension and that he is certain Mou will be happier with his time in the club as time goes by. When Mou was angry, he told him. Mou has not signed a confidentiality clause, because, well, that would be stupid, because it wouldn't have been kept. Mou's personality is what it is. The tensions between the players and Mou is something which goes on in every business, but what happens in daily life is magnified at Real Madrid.
- At times it seemed like he had to chose between Iker and Mou, the person who reacted the best was Casillas, he has been a professional and an example as a player and a person. He cannot imagine a future without Casillas. It annoys him that when people want to criticize Mou they use Casillas.
- He remains hopeful that Ronaldo will retire in Madrid, but there are currently no contract negotiations, the player is away at international duty, he doesn't know why he was sad but he has told him that he would do anything possible to make him happy, in Spain anyone who wants to leave have the option of paying their buy-out clause, Cristiano's buy-out-clause is very big and would pay for a lot players (wtf Flo?).
- Pepe is not for sale, Xabi wishes to see how he feels in a year (physically) and if he feels well enough, then he'll stay in Madrid. If he doesn't, then it's not a problem if he does not wish to renew.
- Ancelotti would fit in well with the culture in Madrid and is a great coach, no offer has been made yet, anything is possible. In the coming days the club will begin to put together the technical staff and decide what Zidanes role will be. He would like a coach who already knows the club and they are studying options that few could imagine (?! Zizou as manager?).
-He would like to see Al-Sadd play for the Trofeo Bernabéu, if possible.