Raul and Gago niggled.

Captain Raul González and newcomer Fernando Gago were injured during the League game played against Zaragoza. The number '7' had to leave the pitch in the 15-minute mark after ascertaining that the pain that he felt in the back of his thigh was not subsiding. He has a pinched hamstring on his right leg. He will report for training on Monday and the Club's doctors will proceed to perform further tests.

Meanwhile, Fernando Gago finished the match with a strong blow to his right leg quadriceps.

Gago and Marcelo got debut.

Two new signings of Real Madrid Fernando Gago and Marcelo have their debut against Deportivo La Coruna yesterday.

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.”

Fernando Gago-New Signing.

Redondo's heir apparent lands at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Fernando Gago, the best number ‘5’ Argentina has to offer and one of the most complete footballers of the world will sign for Real Madrid with the goal of becoming the best player of his age throughout the football world. This signing, along with that of Marcelo and Higuaín, is part of the promised project to build a team with a promising future.

Fernando Rubén Gago was born on 10 April 1986 in Ciudadela, Buenos Aires. He began his career at Parque, a modest Club where former Madridistas like Fernando Redondo and Esteban Cambiasso, two players with similar styles to Gago, got their start. Villarreal's Juan Román Riquelme was also a product of Parque CF.

His next stop was the youth categories of Boca Juniors, where his entire professional career was developed. Like many Argentinian players, Gago has a nickname. They have called him “Pintita”, or “Drawer”, since he was a young boy, as his coach would scold him by shouting “stop drawing and run!” He made his First Division debut with Boca on 5 December 2004, which was a 1-0 win over Quilmes. But it was during the 2005 season that his career took off and made him the star he is today.

Gago is a very dynamic footballer who bases his play on ball movement. His style resembles that of Guardiola because of his great capacity to distribute the game and because his mental prowess tends to surpass his strength. Gago became a Boca fixture shortly after making his debut, and all balls had to go through him. He also has the ability to reach the opponent's box, perhaps even moreso than Redondo, who he reminds us of by his vision, his way of covering ground, and his ball protection. Gago also knows how to take advantage of his elbows and is a player who never hides. He recovers well and distributes even better.

Fernando Gago was an Under-21 international and is on course to play for Argentina's national team. His greatest triumph so far was winning the World Youth Championship in Holland in 2005 with Argentina. Other members of the team included Oscar Ustari, Lionel Messí, and Sergio Agüero.

They say…

Maradona: “He's one of the best wingers in the world and should never be left off the national team.”
Fernando Redondo: “Gago is the type of player I would always want on my team. He has all the characterstics of my type of midfielder. He goes all out, keeps his head held high, and is great at reading the game.”
Jorge Valdano: “He's a footballer taylormade to the Club. He thinks fast and well, and will always make sure the ball gets to where it's supposed to. Gago is exactly what Real Madrid need at the moment.”
Vicente Del Bosque: “Signing Gago is the right call. He's a good player.”

Track record
Apertura 2005 champion with Boca Juniors
Clausura 2006 champion with Boca Juniors
South American Cup 2005 champion with Boca Juniors
South American Cup Winner's Cup 2004 and 2005 with Boca Juniors
FIFA's World Youth Championship 2005 with Argentina

Real Madrid signs Gago from Boca Juniors.

Real Madrid completed the signing of Argentine midfielder Fernando Gago, after agreeing on an 18.5 million euro ($ 24.4 million) transfer fee from Boca Juniors, television station SER reported.

Madrid will reportedly present Gago as a member of the team Friday after the deal was completed Tuesday.

New star for Real Madrid: Fernando Gago.

Real Madrid have agreed terms with Boca Jrs. over the transfer of the 20-year-old star Fernando Gago. After long negotiations, Madrid officials decided to meet Boca’s demands and placed the final offer at over 20 million euros. The talented midfielder will join the White House in January.

More than two months of rumours, media talk, interviews and expectancy have found an end as the transfer of Fernando Gago to Real Madrid has now been materialized.

The classy midfielder, who is often compared to the former Madrid star Fernando Redondo, was very anxious about the move and always claimed that playing for Los Merengues would be a dream come true. His agent also expressed the desire to close the operation as soon as possible, as he stated that Real Madrid can’t be denied from taking Gago in January.

This is a reference to the obstacles that Boca Jrs. president Mauricio Macri put in the negotiations. He knew full well that a move to Real Madrid couldn’t be avoided, but he wanted to keep the star until next June so he could play the Libertadores Cup with Boca.

In order to let him go this January, Boca wanted more money, and since Real chairman Ramón Calderón wanted the transfer done by the end of the week, Real met Macri’s demands and the final fee will leave Boca with 20 million euros without deductions.

Meanwhile, Gago and Madrid had already reached a contract agreement long ago. The player will receive 1 million euros per season for five years.

Report: Gago awaiting Real transfer.

Boca Juniors midfielder Fernando Gago has agreed to personal terms with Real Madrid and is waiting for the clubs to reach an agreement on his transfer.

Madrid sports director Predrag Mijatovic has asked Gago's agent, Marcelo Lombilla, to press Boca Juniors president Mauricio Macri to allow the player to move during January's transfer window, sports daily As said Thursday.

Macri, who is reportedly asking for $34.2 million for the 20-year-old midfielder, wants him to remain until June so he can play in the Copa Libertadores.

Madrid president Ramon Calderon hopes to complete Gago's transfer before the club's general assembly on Sunday.

Calderon is said to believe the Argentine's arrival would help him resist calls for new elections from members annoyed by the freezing of postal votes in the July poll.

However, Macri ruled out the imminent transfer of Gago, who has been compared with former Argentina midfielder Fernando Redondo, who won the Champions League in 1998 and 2000 with Madrid.

"It's impossible for Madrid to present Gago on Sunday or announce his signing because there is no deal between the clubs," Macri told Radio La Red.

Madrid recently signed 18-year-old left back Marcelo from Fluminense, and is said to be aiming to sign another teenager, River Plate striker.

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.

Boca Juniors president wants Gago deal done in Madrid.

Boca Juniors president Mauricio Macri will travel to Spain to finalise terms over midfielder Fernando Gago's move to Real Madrid.

Boca sources have told Marca that Macri wants to thrash out a fee for Gago in Madrid with Real president Ramon Calderon. In recent days Macri has been dealing with Real director Franco Baldini in Buenos Aries.

Real have offered £10 million for the Argentine, which falls £7 million short of Macri's valuation. The Boca supremo also wants Gago to be loaned back to them for the first-half of next year should the deal be concluded by January.

Calderon: Higuain, Gago have agreed Real Madrid deals.

A buoyant Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has declared Marcelo's signing this week will soon be followed by Argentine pair Gonzalo Higuain and Fernando Gago.

River Plate striker Higuain has already declared he wants to join Real in January, while Boca Juniors are believed to have slapped a media ban on Gago as his agent pushes club president Mauricio Macri to accept Real's offer.

Calderon said: "The one of Marcelo is a very opportune incorporation. We initiated a great signing. Today it was Marcelo and tomorrow there will be Gago and Higuain. Both have reached an agreement with us."

The Real president also admitted "it will be logical" that Marcelo plays the second-half of the season with Real Madrid B due to his lack of a European passport.

Milan Concedes Real Double Defeat.

AC Milan executive Ariedo Braida has revealed that he was given the cold shoulder by Real Madrid transfer targets Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuain.

The former is a midfielder at Boca Juniors, while the latter plays up front for rivals River Plate.

Gago’s agent has already begun talks with Real general manager Predrag Mijatovic.

"The players only want to go to Madrid," Braida moaned to Spanish daily AS on his way out of Argentina.

Midfield January targets for Real Madrid.

Fernando Gago and Dejan Stankovic are both nominated as possible reinforcements for Real Madrid's midfield, reports say.

The first negotiations are said to have taken place with Gago. The highly touted Boca Juniors midfielder is targeted by a host of big clubs, but Real are the first to show concrete interest.

However, the �25 million pricetag is an obstacle, with Real only bidding �14 million so far.

Inter's Dejan Stankovic is also a possible January signing. The Serbian captain could add the attacking zest to the Madrid midfield.

Gago agent prefers Real Madrid over Barcelona.

The agent of Boca Juniors midfielder Fernando Gago would prefer to see the youngster play for Real Madrid than Barcelona.

Both Spanish giants have been linked with the youngster, whose agent Marcelo Lombilla said: "People saying you can play for either Barcelona or Real Madrid is just like saying you can go to Disneyland.

"But Madrid is a great club and the `White House' is the great dream of any player."

Barcelona aim to trump Real Madrid for Gago.

Barcelona have made a cheeky move for Boca Juniors starlet Fernando Gago.

Real Madrid director Franco Baldini is travelling to Buenos Aries to open talks with Boca for the exciting midfield talent.

However, after news broke yesterday of Real's intentions, Barca sports chief Txiki Begiristain met with Boca president Mauricio Macri in the afternoon and asked about Gago's availability. Begiristain and Barca president Joan Laporta are in Argentina this week to launch their junior development partnership with Arsenal.

Begiristain will be in Argentina until Sunday, when he intends to watch Gago in action against River Plate. Baldini is also expected to be at the big match.

Boca Juniors star Gago wants Real Madrid move.

Boca Juniors midfielder Fernando Gago is delighted with reports linking him with Real Madrid.

"I'm proud that one of the best clubs in the world has a desire to sign me for its team. It means that I am doing well and it is an extra motivation to continue working hard. It would be a dream to play for Real Madrid," said Gago.

"The Spanish League seems to me to be wonderful and I would be delighted to play there."

Real Madrid director Franco Baldini is due in Buenos Aries today to open serious negotiations with Boca for Gago, who is rated at £18 million by the Argentine giants.

Real Close in On Boca's Gago.

Real Madrid are closing in on £12million-rated Boca Juniors midfielder Fernando Gago.

Bernabeu representative Franco Baldini is expected in Argentina on Wednesday as he bids to tie up a deal for the talented playmaker.

Real have already bolstered their midfield with the signings of Emerson and Mahamadou Diarra since the arrival of Fabio Capello in the summer.

And the capture of Gago would give them plenty of options in the centre of the field.

Gago himself is flattered to be linked with a move to La Liga, telling Marca: "It makes me very proud that one of the best clubs in the world want to sign me. It would be a dream to play in Real Madrid".

He added: "I'd love to play in the Spanish league. It's full of great players."

Meanwhile Boca president Mauricio Macri has admitted in an interview on Argentine TV that will be "very difficult" to keep Gago in Buenos Aires.

Boca are believed to want around $20million for Gago (around £12million).