Ronaldo lets Bale take free kick

The Portuguese allowed his team-mate - and the world's most expensive player - to take a
set piece against Sevilla, which he duly scored from Cristiano Ronaldo shunned his free kick duties in favour of Gareth Bale, who stepped up and fired his and Real Madrid's second goal against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. The Welshman had put the capital club into a
13th-mintue lead, collecting a Karim Benzema
pass before curling into the top corner beyond
goalkeeper Beto from the edge of the area. Ronaldo then stood aside to let the world's
most expensive footballer - bought by the
Blancos for €100 million in the summer - give
Carlo Ancelotti's men a 2-0 cushion from a dead ball situation on 27 minutes, via a deflection in the wall. However, the Portuguese winger would not be
as generous with sharing responsibilities for a
second time, though, as the No.7 smashed
home the Blancos' third from the penalty spot,
denying Bale the opportunity to bag his first hat-trick since joining the club. The former Tottenham player also had a hand
in the fourth, which put Madrid 4-2 up, cutting
in a ball from the right flank for Benzema to
finish.

Ancelotti: It's Ronaldo's time to win Ballon d'Or

The Italian says he has been surprised by the Portuguese's professionalism since his arrival in Spain and says he prefers Angel Di Maria to Mesut Ozil

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti believes it is Cristiano Ronaldo's time to win the Ballon d'Or this year, ahead of Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery.

The Portuguese star has played second fiddle to Barcelona ace Messi since winning the prize for the first time back in 2008, with the Argentine claiming the last four titles in a row, but Ancelotti believes he deserves to win the latest crown for the all-round impact he has on the Spanish giants.

"It's Cristiano's moment to win it ahead of Messi and Ribery," Ancelotti told TV programme El Larguero. "He has surprised me the most with his professionalism. He's very serious, he has amazing attention to detail. It's that which helps us the most - he doesn't just score."

Ancelotti went on to explain his decision to allow Mesut Ozil to join Arsenal this summer, claiming he prefers Angel Di Maria for the balance he brings to the team alongside €100 million signing Gareth Bale.

"It was a technical decision [to sell Ozil]," he continued. "I prefer Di Maria for the balance of the team. 

"He has less quality than Ozil but, for his character and the way he helps the team, I wanted him. With the arrival of Bale I thought it was more important to have Di Maria than Ozil.

"[Bale] wasn't cheap but that's the price of the market. It was the wish of the player that brought him here. Tottenham offered him more money."

Bale has struggled with injuries in recent weeks, but Ancelotti feels he is now fully fit and could start the Clasico against Barcelona this weekend.

"Since he's been here, he has not had a back problem. The problem was his physical condition, as he hadn't trained. Now he's good, he's ready to play from the start. He could start against Barcelona.

"I asked him and he told me he prefers to play from the right. I think he likes playing from the right so he can shoot from his left foot."

Iker Casillas started the Champions League win over Valencia, but Ancelotti hinted that Diego Lopez will keep his place for Saturday's clash - though he insisted the club captain does not want to leave the club in January.

"It's a question for Iker, but I don't think he thinks like that," he said when asked if the Spain veteran would ask for a move.

"I have spoken with him to explain the situation. When he wants to talk to me, my door is always open. For a coach, to explain the situation is the most difficult. 

"I already knew Diego Lopez. In 2006 I wanted to bring him to AC Milan… He started before the pre-season and was very strong. It wasn't an easy decision. Casillas gives me confidence and so I play him in the Champions League, these games are as important as La Liga. 

"He is the captain, he has a lot of experience and he maintains the harmony in the team. Iker wants to stay at Madrid and this is good for us. But I've made my decision."

Finally, the former Paris Saint-Germain boss claims his side will face a tough challenge against a confident Barcelona side this weekend, and added that he is closer to Vicente del Bosque as a coach than Madrid predecessor Jose Mourinho.

"Barca play with a lot of confidence because they've changed practically nothing," he added. "When Mourinho was here there were problems but they played fantastically there [at Camp Nou]. I will try to play like the semi-final of the Copa del Rey last year, the 3-1, and not change anything.

"I'm closer to Del Bosque than Mourinho."

Bale must stand up to Ronaldo to succeed at Madrid - Redknapp

The QPR boss insists the Welshman needs to work with the Portuguese superstar while not being intimidated by him if he is to justify his world-record price tag

Gareth Bale will have to stand up to Cristiano Ronaldo if he is to survive and thrive at Real Madrid, according to former manager Harry Redknapp.

Bale, who first broke into the Tottenham team under the current QPR boss, eclipsed Ronaldo's transfer record by making an €100 million move to Real Madrid this summer.

And Redknapp believes Santiago Bernabeu's biggest superstar presents the biggest obstacle to the Welshman making a success of his time in Spain.

"His biggest test will be to step out of the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo with confidence. That won’t be easy," the QPR boss wrote in his new autobiography, serialised in the Daily Mail.

"Ronaldo is a huge star at Madrid and will probably want to take nine out of 10 free-kicks - at least. Gareth will have to assert himself and that will require a strong mind.

"He has to think ‘I’m an £86million player’ and act like it, taking responsibility, claiming the ball when he fancies his chances. 

"And yet at the same time he cannot dwell on his fee and what it means too much because that would put him under immense pressure. It is a tricky balancing act. 

"He will have to be ready for the matches when he goes it alone, has a shot, misses and Ronaldo starts throwing his arms up in the air.

"He cannot, at that point, go into his shell and become this timid little creature. But it is not natural for Gareth to behave in an assertive way. Don’t get me wrong, he knows he is good. 

"The fee is crazy, amazing money, but he wouldn’t have fought so hard to get the deal done if he didn’t fancy his chances of living up to expectations in Madrid.

"Yet, equally, Gareth is a quiet lad, who spends time with his girlfriend and family, and I’m not sure being in the same bracket as Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will suit him.

"If Ronaldo feels threatened by Gareth’s arrival, Madrid could be a lonely place so he will need to lean a lot on Ancelotti, who speaks good English, and Paul Clement, Carlo’s assistant, who is English.

"Luka Modric is another old friend who could help him settle in.

"The one thing the club cannot provide for Gareth and Cristiano is a ball each — so they will need to work hard on that partnership because they are such similar players."

Redknapp insists he recognised Bale's potential very early on - even if the Welshman did seem a little too preoccupied with his hairstyle.

"He drove me mad in training," the QPR boss added. "Technically, he was outstanding but he always seemed to be playing with his hair. It was never right. 

"He’d be flicking the fringe or wiping it out of his eyes and I would be going quietly mad, just watching. ‘Gareth, leave your barnet alone! Gareth! Stop touching your hair!’"

Real Madrid sign Bale for world record fee

Los Blancos have finally announced the arrival
of the Wales international, who has usurped
new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as the
game's most expensive player Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported €100 million.
More to follow ...

Tottenham Considers Fining AWOL Bale as Madrid Move Edges Closer.

Tottenham Hotspur will consider fining
Gareth Bale after the Welshman refused to
show up for training for two consecutive
days, according to the club’s manager Andre
Villas-Boas.



Keeping Contact: Gareth Bale Has Refused to Spanish giants Real Madrid have been
basking in the euphoria of a prospective
world-record £86m move for the forward,
who arrived White Hart Lane in 2007 for
£10m, and a supposedly ‘Gareth Bale’
stage- where the player will be unveiled- has been reportedly erected at the Estadio
Santiago Benerbeu. “At the moment the two clubs are
speaking,” Villas-Boas said at a news
conference ahead of Thursday’s Europa
League tie with Dinamo Tbilisi. “I’m not sure how much time it is going to
take. It can happen very soon, it might not
happen so soon. I suppose it could go to the
last day or it could happen next two days.
But you wouldn’t expect the biggest
transfer in world football history to happen easily.” However, Bale, 24, who was due to report
back to training on Tuesday after spending
the weekend in Marbella, Spain, has acted
contrary to that. “He is involved in a big transfer move to
Real Madrid and in the end if it happens, we
wish him all the best, but the fact that he
hasn’t turned up is not the correct
behavior.” That is the position they chose to take and
it’s up to the club to decide if it’s a
fineable offence. It could happen very,
very soon. Spurs have been linked with Roma’s
Argentinean forward Eric Lamela, after
missing out on Brazilian Willian- who has
joined Chelsea on a five-year contract- and
are reluctant to sell until they have signed a
replacement. “We will continue re-strengthening the
squad,” Villas-Boas added. “We’re looking a
different positions to make us stronger.” A foot injury has prevented last season’s
PFA and Young Player of the Year from
featuring for Spurs and has not played any
international fixture, though has been
named in Wales’ squad for next month’s
World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Serbia.

Paulinho eager for Bale to stay at Tottenham

The Brazil international insists he would relish the chance to play alongside the Welshman this season, but admits he has no idea whether he will get the opportunity

Tottenham midfielder Paulinho wants Gareth Bale to remain at the club, but admits that he is unsure over the Welshman's plans.

Real Madrid have been chasing the 24-year-old throughout the close-season, while Bale has been absent from first-team duties with a foot injury.

Paulinho, who arrived from Corinthians in July, is eager for the Wales international to commit himself to the London side - but does not know if he will.

"I sincerely don't know [if Bale will stay], but I think this is something more private for Bale, he doesn't tell me anything," the Brazilian told Fox Sports Brazil.

"But I hope he continues with us, so that he can help us. He is a great player and achieved great stats last season, so I hope he stays with us."

Paulinho, a club-record signing prior to the arrival of Roberto Soldado, made his Tottenham debut in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Bale not in Tottenham squad for Espanyol friendly

The winger has made it known to Spurs that he wants to join Real Madrid, and despite attending training this week he will sit out yet another pre-season friendly with injury

Gareth Bale will not feature in Tottenham's friendly with Espanyol on Saturday.

The Welshman was back in training with Spurs this week after making it clear that he wants to move to Real Madrid.

Reports in Spain have maintained that the 24-year-old has not been injured all summer, but he did receive treatment for a knock on Monday.

He has also been named in Chris Coleman's Wales squad for Wednesday's friendly against the Republic of Ireland.

Daniel Levy and Florentino Perez held further talks over a €115 million transfer in Florida this week, though Perez has claimed that the fee is "a lot of money".

Meanwhile, Roberto Soldado makes his Spurs debut after sealing his €30m transfer from Valencia. Nacer Chadli and Paulinho also start.

Tottenham starting XI v Espanyol: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Fryers, Rose; Dembele, Chadli, Paulinho; Lennon, Soldado, Sigurdsson.
Subs: Friedel, Kaboul, Naughton, Stewart, Huddlestone, Sandro, Townsend, Defoe.

Bale trademarks 'Eleven of Hearts' goal celebration

The 24-year-old winger, who scored 21 goals in the Premier League last season, is priced at €115 million amid heavy interest from Real Madrid

Tottenham's Gareth Bale has seen plans to trademark his 'Eleven of Hearts' goal celebration approved by the Intellectual Property Office.

The Wales international, who is valued at €115 million by Spurs in the wake of Real Madrid's intense interest, is now able to use the celebration on "clothing, footwear and headgear" as well as precious metals and leather.

Bale regularly forms a heart shape with his hands after scoring a goal - something which he did 21 times in the Premier League last season - though he is not the first person to do the celebration.

Should Bale make the move to Spain, his global appeal would likely rocket, especially if a world-record fee, widely expected to be involved in the deal, is parted with for his services.

His recently trademarked celebration could be a big part of Bale's image rights and add to the wages that Madrid could offer him. No player at Madrid currently wears Bale's No.11 shirt.

Bale, 24, won both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards last season as Tottenham finished fifth.