Raul: Reborn Real to reinforce.

Real Madrid captain Raul believes the Spanish champions will continue to strengthen over the summer as they look to win La Liga in style next season.

Real claimed the Primera Liga title on the last day of last season, but even a dramatic victory over bitter rivals Barcelona was not enough to save coach Fabio Capello as he was accused of deploying negative tactics and an uninspiring side.

Bernd Schuster has since been installed at the Bernabeu and Real have reinforced their squad with the captures of Pepe, Christoph Metzelder, Jerzy Dudek and Javier Saviola.

With David Beckham's departure signalling the death throes of the Galactico era, Raul now expects the club to bring in further fresh blood as they look to build a team capable of thrilling fans in a manner befitting of their predecessors.

"The club say that the team is not full, that other players can come, as they are looking to build a more competitive team," Raul told Marca.

"In attack, the four strikers can go all season (Raul, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Gonzalo Higuain and Saviola). There are a lot of people in defence and in the midfield of the pitch, a player can be missing.

"The most important is winning and if we can do it with nice football, then it is far better.

"At the end of the day, when you have won titles, you must have done something good for it.

"Today, it is very difficult to play spectacular football. I think that thanks to unity, sacrifice and the talent that we have, we can win titles."

Sergio Ramos Ready To Move To The Right.

Sergio Ramos looks set to become Real Madrid's full-time right-back following the arrival of Pepe and Christoph Metzelder to play in the centre of defence.

The Spain international has returned to the position where he made his name at Sevilla and admits that he will happy playing anywhere across the back-line.

"They haven’t told me anything specific yet, but I am ready to play wherever Schuster tells me to.

"It seems like I may be a right back because of how I’ve been positioned during training. I’ve been lucky enough to play both there and as centre back on this team.

"The only thing I know for sure is that I will do my best at all times because I want to play."

As reports continue to grow that Madrid are preparing to return to the transfer market to bolster their squad, Ramos admits that he has been impressed with the new arrivals so far.

"That’s not up to us to decide," he continued. "Two excellent centre backs have joined the team this summer and we may get even more reinforcements."

While los Merengues continue their search for a star signing, Barça have already hit the headlines with their summer recruitments, but that does not worry Ramos.

"Every team does what it can to strengthen itself," he stated. "We are happy with our new players and we will welcome more if they are to arrive.

"We believe we achieved our main goal last year and we will now have to start from zero again."

New Madrid boss, Bernd Schuster, has changed the dynamic of training at the club, but has not allowed his players to escape with an easy pre-season.

"It is normal to undergo such hardships in the pre-season, we have both physical and tactical sessions," Ramos said.

"Every coach is different and players like to combine both things during training. We are very happy with Schuster."

Guti happy with Real's new recruits.

Real Madrid playmaker Guti believes the Spanish champions do not need to make any more additions to their squad this summer.Although a host of players have left the Bernabeu this summer, Madrid have also been busy drafting fresh blood in, with Pepe, Javier Saviola, Jerzy Dudek and Christoph Metzelder all new arrivals.

Roberto Soldado and Julio Baptista have also returned from their loan spells, but despite those reinforcements Real are still being linked with further signings, such as Arjen Robben, Jose Antonio Reyes, Kaka and Roysten Drenthe.

Guti, one of Real's three club captains last season, insists he would still welcome any new players into the fold, but feels that Real now have enough strength in depth without needing to make any extra signings.

"The team has a good squad and there are some players who aren't here with us (at Real's training camp in Austria) that have a lot to give, such as Julio Baptista," he said.

"There are many players in the squad and we will all enjoy several minutes of playing time this season. Nevertheless, I will welcome any new signings, even if they are for my position, but I personally feel we have enough players as it is.

"We are a strong team with players capable of playing for many minutes during one game.

"The important thing is that the club is signing players we need as opposed to signing stars. This is what we need in order to be strong challengers for every title," added the 30-year-old, who insists he is not concerned about Real being linked with new signings who play a similar role to him.

"If they come it would mean the team has more chances of using a rotation system. I have no problems with this because I believe I can bring a lot to the team and I will make things difficult for any newcomer," he said.

Reyes: Only Real Madrid for me.

Arsenal winger Jose Antonio Reyes admits he's eager to see his move to Real Madrid wrapped up as quickly as possible.

"That is what I want more in the world right now. I already have done everything that I could from my end," said Reyes.

"I made it clear to [Arsene] Wenger that I want to continue wearing the Madrid shirt.

"I'm very calm, that's the truth. I know what it is happening through my representatives. I do not have anything left other than to hope."

Robinho: "It was a clear penalty".

Robinho was one of the stars of tonight's match. He scored the Whites' only goal and could have scored many more. When Real Madrid were 1-0 up, the referee failed to award him a penalty.

"We didn't imagine a draw was possible. We played much better than them, especially in the first half. We are improving. What's important is that we played with passion. The tackle that brought me down in Betis' box was a clear penalty, but the referee didn't award it. During the game, I thought our disallowed goals weren't offside, but I was told otherwise at the end of the match."

Source: RealMadrid.com

SIR BOBBY: BECKHAM MOTIVATION HAS GONE.

David Beckham´s lack of motivation to continue playing at the highest level prompted his move to America, according to former England manager Sir Bobby Robson.

Robson is convinced the decision of national boss Steve McClaren to overlook the Real Madrid midfielder for the Euro 2008 qualifier in Croatia last October, despite a long injury list, convinced Beckham his days at the top were numbered. And the 73-year-old believes that was the first step on a road which has eventually led Beckham to LA Galaxy.

"The decision killed Beckham´s aspiration and hope and, in my view, led directly to this week´s announcement that he is off the the United States for a very lucrative semi-retirement," Robson claimed in his column for the Mail on Sunday.

Real boss criticises Beckham for signing US deal.

Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello still has not spoken to David Beckham about his decision to join LA Galaxy.

Capello is upset that Beckham signed a five-year deal before telling Real and the former England captain has been told he will not play for the club again.

Capello said: "He signed his contract before he spoke with Madrid and for me that doesn't seem right."

Beckham did not break any rules because players are free to talk to sign deals when they have less than six months left on their existing contracts.

But Capello is also concerned that Beckham is no longer committed to Real because he has a lucrative deal in the US.

He added: "I believe that if a player already has a contract elsewhere then it is not correct to count on him anymore. I still haven't spoken to him."

Beckham watched Real Madrid's game against Real Zaragoza from the private boxes on Sunday, but his team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy revealed after the game that he is still on good terms with the squad.

Van Nistelrooy said: "Before the game he was in the dressing room, wishing us well, it was good to see. His attitude is always good, caring for the team, for the club. That's what he will keep doing.

"As players we care for each other and feel for one another if things happen that are not nice for another one. That's what I had with David.

"We try to support him, be there for him as much as we can. We can't change what has happened unfortunately."

Raúl: "We did nothing right".

Real Madrid's captain talked to the press after the match and made no excuses, saying that the players were responsible for the defeat.

"We always suffer when we don't have control of the ball and today has been very similar to the match against Recreativo Huelva in that respect. Deportivo proved to be dangerous in counterattacks and we never managed to have solid chances on goal."

"Right now we must rest and tomorrow we must talk about what happened tonight. We all tried hard but we did nothing right. We must talk about what we must improve at."

"We make no excuses. We simply haven't played well. We are responsible for this bad image. This shouldn't happen again. We had a chance to get closer to Barcelona and Sevilla, but we didn't use it correctly."

"I expect fans to be bitterly disappointed. We must try to win by playing well. This hasn't been Gago and Marcelo's ideal debut, but they're great players. I'm sure they will do great things for Real Madrid."

Real Madrid president: We want Roma's Chivu, Alexis.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has confirmed they're chasing Roma defender Cristian Chivu and Getafe youngster Alexis.

Calderon revealed their plans on Tuesday after being asked about their interest in Marseille sensation Franck Ribery.

"I've listened to [sporting director] Predrag Mijatovic speak highly of Ribery, but at the moment we're also thinking of signing a defender like Alexis or Chivu," Calderon told the Marca newspaper.

Real Madrid president: Ramos will get new deal.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has assured fans they will secure defender Sergio Ramos to a new contract.Ramos is waiting to open talks over a new deal, with his situation alerting the interest of Italian giants AC Milan.

Aware of Milan's move for the defender last week, Calderon said: "I have not made any promise to Sergio Ramos. It seems, according to what has been confirmed to me by Pedja Mijatovic, that this promise came from the previous management, when they assured him a revision of his contract.

"But we cannot do that halfway through the season because it would create conflicts, as many players in the group are in a similar situation.

"Anyway, if the club had made him a promise, it will be necessary to fulfill it when the case arrives."

Real Madrid president: It's now up to Beckham.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon says it's up to David Beckham to decide if he wants to play on at Santiago Bernabeu.

Real sports chief Pedja Mijatovic, having not heard from Becks nor his agents in the last week, contacted the England ace yesterday to organise a meeting for December 31 to discuss his contract. Real have offered Beckham a new two-year deal on the same salary - �4 million - plus a 50:50 split of his image rights.

For his part, Calderon said last night: "After the conversations that we have maintained in the last months, David Beckham already has our offer on the table. Now it is he who has to decide.

"We are very happy with David and we all would like that he continued with the club and that he renews his contract."

Real Madrid will win trophy this season - Robinho.

Robinho is convinced the current Real Madrid team can deliver a trophy to it's fans this season.

The Brazilian wing ace told AS: "I feel that this year something can be won. The defeat against Recre has left the fans with a very bitter taste in their mouths, but the certain thing is that we are alive and with possibilities in the three competitions.

"People are very nervous and I hope that this Christmas has helped us to recall what happened to us in the Bernabeu.

"I am anxious to win something and I have the feeling this year we will at least win one title. The Liga or the Champions League or both."

Asked about a personal ambition for 2007, Robinho replied: "I am not going to lie to you: I would like to be able to be the best player in the world."

Ronaldo wants to keep playing while he still have a passion for it.

Real Madrid's Brazilian striker, Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima, said in Rio de janeiro that he will continue playing while he still has a passion for it. The World Cup's greatest scorer said that he doesn't think too much about the future when setting his own personal goals. This has made his possible future participation in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa -during which he would be 34 years old- a mistery.

I don't think ahead too much. I don't think about 2010. I only want to keep playing while I still have a passion for it," said Ronaldo on Brazilian television programme Globo Esporte.

Ronaldo played a friendly match today with other Brazilian footballers such as Emerson and Gabriel.

Despite making great efforts and showcasing speed, Real Madrid's striker didn't score any goals.

Real president Calderon: Gago capture like winning lottery.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said the signing of Argentine midfielder Fernando Gago was like winning the lottery.

The 20-year-old passed a medical and completed his US$27mil move from Boca Juniors to Real, putting pen to paper on a six-and-a-half year contract.

“Today is the draw for the (Spain’s famous Christmas) lottery, yet we have already won. Our prize is right here,” Calderon said on Friday as Gago was presented to the media.

“It hasn’t been easy to bring him here. But I would like to thank him for giving up a large amount of money to choose us, when so many others wanted his services.”

Gago joins teenage Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain, and Brazilian fullback Marcelo as the club’s recent new signings, as the nine-times European champions look to rejuvenate their squad.

“This trio of aces, along with the players emerging from the youth teams, allow us to take a step towards a new generation of players who will bring freshness and new hope to the fans,” Calderon added. “By combining veterans with youth we will put this club back on the road to success.”

Gago has been likened to Argentine midfielder Fernando Redondo who played with Real between 1994 and 2000, but the youngster wanted to distance himself from these comparisons.

“I don’t feel under any pressure being likened to Redondo. He is my idol and has been since I was young, but we are very different players,” said a softly-spoken Gago.

“I know I will have to adapt to a different style of play here but I will do it calmly and patiently like I did at Boca.

“This is the club of my dreams and I want to achieve great things here and to be a success in European football.”

REYES EYES GUNNERS CLASH.

Jose Antonio Reyes is hoping Real Madrid meet his parent club Arsenal in Friday's Champions League draw.

Reyes, who moved to the Bernabeu in a loan-swap deal involving Julio Baptista this summer, said: "It would be beautiful game between two teams that play good football.

"I would really like it. Everyone likes to play at Arsenal's ground."

Real Madrid finished second in Group E behind Lyon, meaning they can be drawn with any of the group winners, with the exception of fellow Primera Liga side Valencia. Arsenal finished top of Group G.

It is unlikely that Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello would share Reyes' enthusiasm for a tie with the Gunners, who eliminated him and his former team Juventus last season at the quarter-final stage.

'I'm great when I score, fat when I don't' - Ronaldo.

Real Madrid's Brazilian striker Ronaldo has said he cannot win in the continuing debate about whether he is overweight or not.

Having come back from a knee ligament injury just over a week ago and scored three goals in two games, Spanish media have hailed his return saying 'the king is back' and that he is thinner. 'I think it is absurd we spend so much time talking about my weight. All the tests and controls are open for everyone to see,' Ronaldo told a news conference, Spanish media reported on Friday. 'What most annoys me is the way things come out in the press.

When you score goals you are great, when you don't you are fat. 'I am completely dedicated to my work and trying to improve and I'm not interested in what others say.' Before his strike against Athletic Bilbao last weekend, and two more versus Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Wednesday, Ronaldo had only managed one goal this season. The 30-year-old has had limited opportunities to shine following knee surgery after the World Cup and then suffering twisted knee ligaments in the King's Cup last month. Real coach Fabio Capello, who has preferred Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy up front, has cited the Brazilian's need to lose weight as one of the reasons he has not used him.

Cassano going nowhere - agent.

Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano will not be leaving the Spanish capital according to his agent, despite rumours to the contrary.

The former Roma marksman is thought to have fallen out with coach Fabio Capello, prompting the Spaniards' sporting director Pedrag Mijatovic to suggest in an interview that Real were ready to let the 24-year-old make a move back to Italy.

But the player's agent has hit back, saying his client is going nowhere and will honour the remainder of his contract at the Bernabeu.

"Cassano will leave Real Madrid? Absolutely not," Giuseppe Bozzo said. "I heard Mijatovic's interview, but I don't think it was meant to be controversial.

"He knows that Antonio does not want to move from Madrid and I also confirmed this to him personally. Antonio will remain until the end of his contract in 2011.

"We are at Real Madrid, the strongest side in the world, there is an existing contract in place and a new cycle is starting. Could you ever leave now? No way."

Real confident Beckham will stay in Madrid.

REAL Madrid sports director Predrag Mijatovic is confident that the club's serious challenge for honors this season will convince David Beckham to stay on in Spain.

The former England captain has not won a major trophy with Real since moving from Manchester United in 2003, as the club suffered a downturn in fortunes.

"He hasn't had much luck in the last three years because when he arrived at Real he thought he was going to win many trophies," Mijatovic said in an interview with Serbian radio station B-92 and the BBC.

"Now the situation is different and I think he is conscious of this."

With a new team of president Ramon Calderon and coach Fabio Capello installed, Real is looking a much stronger proposition this season. It is third in the Primera Liga, three points behind leader Barcelona, and still in the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.

The main stumbling block to Beckham signing a contract extension is the fact that the 31-year-old has dropped out of favor with Capello. He has started only three out of 12 league games this season. "As far as I am aware, Beckham is happy here in Madrid. At the moment he isn't in the starting lineup but that's not to say that the situation won't have changed in a couple of weeks' time."

Meanwhile, Boca Juniors president Mauricio Macri said Real will have to increase its offer for Fernando Gago if it wants to sign the young Argentine midfielder.

Spanish media reports claim Real is prepared to pay between 15 and 20 million euros (US$19.79million-US$26.39m) for the highly rated 20-year-old, but Macri said that the nine-time European champion faced stiff competition from other clubs.

Luck was behind Real victory, says Capello.

Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello admitted that luck played a big role in his team's 1-0 win at Valencia on Sunday.

"They had more chances than we did. We were lucky," the Italian tactician told Real's website after the game.

Skipper Raul netted the winner seven minutes into the second-half after a clever pass from Roberto Carlos as Real held on to the win at the Mestalla.

"Valencia have really pressed during the first half and we had a lot of problems dealing with their pressing intensity," he added.

Capello did however praise his team for holding their own at the Mestalla.

"It's very hard to win here; it had been a year since they (Valencia) last lost here."

He also singled out praise for goal-scorer Raul.

"He played a good game and scored the goal. Truly, the goal was a perfect piece of teamwork in attack."

The win placed Real Madrid in second place in the Primera Liga table with 26 points, three behind leaders Barcelona, but Capello kept his feet on the ground.

"There are still many games to go and many points in play in La Liga," he added.

Boca president: Real Madrid offering 14 times more to Gago.

Boca Juniors president Mauricio Macri admits they have no chance of competing with Real Madrid over their young midfielder Fernando Gago.

Real have made the signing of the Argentine a priority following the injury suffered to Guti this week and are prepared to put plans of also signing River Plate striker Gonzalo Higuain on-hold to focus all their energies on the Boca midfielder.

"The salary for Gago at Real Madrid will be 14 times superior to what we can offer and it is difficult to compete with that," said Macri.

Gago has already agreed personal terms with Real over a deal believed to be worth £1 million-a-year over six or seven seasons. Real have offered £11 million to Boca for the player, but Macri is insisting on £17 million.