'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.

Teamsheet Vs Sevilla.

Squad list:
----------------

Goalkeepers: Casillas, Diego López and Adán
Defenders: Salgado, Roberto Carlos, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Pavón, Mejía and Sergio
Midfielders: Emerson, Robinho, Guti, Reyes, Beckham and De la Red
Forwards: Raúl, Ronaldo, Van Nistelrooy and Cassano

Madrid want Beckham 'for life'!

Real Madrid's club president Ramon Calderon wants David Beckham to stay at the club 'for life'.

Beckham's future has been the subject of much speculation since he began to enjoy less and less playing time at the Bernabeau this season but Calderon says he is a big fan of the former England captain.

'Beckham is an exceptional player on and off the pitch,' Calderon told the club's website.

'I would like him to sign on for the rest of his career.'

Calderon praised Beckham's attitude in regards to the recent selection policy of new coach Fabio Cappello, who has persistently named Beckham as a substitute since his arrival in the summer.

Under former coaches Juan Ramon Lopez Caro and Vanderlei Luxemburgo, Beckham was a regular on the right-hand side of the Madrid midfield but he has found himself somewhat frozen out under the charge of the Italian.

And Calderon believes Beckham's attitude since the arrival of Cappello has been exemplary.

'He has never complained about being benched,' the Real president added.

'His charm and caring always shine through.'

Beckham will be free to leave Real at the end of the season as his contract expires this summer. The likely destinations for the 31-year-old would appear to be a Premiership club in England or the MLS in the United States.

Van Nistelrooy crocks Cannavaro!

Fabio Cannavaro has been injured in training by team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy, suffering a sprained ankle. The Italian Ballon d'Or winner was tackled heavily by his Dutch colleague towards the end of a training match on Thursday morning.

Cannavaro reacted with obvious distress, calling for medical attention and refusing the handshake Van Nistelrooy offered him to apologise.

A medical examination confirmed the extent of the damage, which will probably rule Cannavaro out of the weekend's game against Sevilla.

"I have got a lot of pain in my ankle, I don't know if I will be able to play."

The 33-year-old had just returned from a muscular injury that kept him out of Real's last two games against Athletic Bilbao and Dynamo Kiev.

Van Nistelrooy was rested for Wednesday's game in Kiev.

MATCH REPORT: DYNAMO KYIV VS REAL MADRID.

Matchday 6 of the Champions League had little riding on it for Real Madrid and their opponent, Dynamo Kyiv. With the Whites already through to the Last 16 of the competition, and the Ukrainians playing for pride in this campaign, Fabio Capello used the match as a screening test for several members of the Castilla youth squad. In a relatively lackluster performance by both sides, Ronaldo was able to score his first two goals in Europe in two years to draw the match moments before the final whistle.


MATCH REPORT:
--------------------------

2 – DYNAMO KYIV: Shovkovskiy; Markovic, Rodrigo, Rodolfo, Nesmachniy; Gusev, Yssuf, Mikhalik, Belkevich; Milevskiy (Rotan 84’) and Shatskikh.

2 – REAL MADRID Casillas; Salgado, Mejía, Torres, Roberto Carlos; Beckham, Diarra, De la Red (Javi García 69’), Nieto (Valero 68’); Cassano and Ronaldo.
GOALS:
1-0, min. 13: Shatskikh strikes good ball crossed in from left wing.
2-0, min. 27: Shatskikh beats Diego López off ricochet.
2-1, min. 86: Ronaldo sends ball into net after lovely flick on by Javi García.
2-2, min. 88: Ronaldo penalty kick.
REFEREE: Michael Riley (England). Yellow cards to Rodrigo (28’) and Ronaldo (36’).
NOTES: Matchday 6 of the group stage of the Champions League.

Dynamo Kiev 2-2 Real Madrid.

Dynamo Kiev		Real Madrid
2		2
GOALS
Maksim Shatskikh 13 Maksim Shatskikh 27		Ronaldo 86 Ronaldo (pen) 88
YELLOW CARDS
Rodrigo 29		Ronaldo 37

Real bid for 'Gooch'.

Real Madrid have made a bid for Standard Liege defender Oguchi Onyewu before the transfer deadline in August.

The USA international almost joined Middlesbrough during the close season but he did not enjoy the best of World Cups and has been rebuilding his reputation in the Jupiler League.

The strapping 24-year-old, nicknamed 'Gooch', has clearly impressed Real scouts and a move could be in the pipeline for the former Metz centre back.

"A transfer is now open to discussion," admitted Standard coach Michel Preud'homme to Het Laaste Nieuws.

"It was a fabulous offer [from Real] but we did not let Onyewu leave then because we had no time to bring in a replacement."

Ironically, if Real did sign Onyewu, it could pave the way for Middlesbrough to make Jonathan Woodgate's loan move to The Riverside permanent.

Diarra and Reyes injured.

Diarra and Reyes injured.

Diarra with stitched cheek-bone; Reyes with strained right groin muscle.

The Mali player was savagely elbowed on the cheek-bone and needed stitching-up, while the Sevillian player was benched in the second half with a strain on the ligament of his right groin adductor muscle. Tomorrow, the Club's medical staff will evaluate the latter's injury.

MATCH REPORT: REAL MADRID Vs ATHLETIC BILBAO.

Quality stock. Real Madrid had to display all their weaponry against Athletic Bilbao, who proved much fiercer than anticipated judging from their position on the table. They even managed to take the lead after an offside goal in the first half. Fabio Capello took a high-stake gamble at halftime, putting Beckham and Ronaldo at the beginning of the second half... and it paid off. Ronie and Roberto Carlos scored one a piece and turned the scoreboard over. Real Madrid are now second in the League.


MATCH REPORT:
------------------------

2. REAL MADRID: Iker Casillas; Míchel Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Mejía, Roberto Carlos; Emerson (Beckham, 46'), Diarra; Robinho, Raul, Reyes (Ronaldo, 46'); Van Nistelrooy.

1. ATHLETIC BILBAO: Lafuente; Iraola, Luis Prieto, Sarriegui, Expósito; Orbáiz (Murillo, 56'), Javi Martínez, Yeste (Urzáiz, 69'), Gabilondo; Etxeberría (Casas, 80') & Adúriz.

GOALS:
0-1. 35'. Javi Martínez,deflecting the ball after a free-kick.
1-1. 65'. Ronaldo, after a great pass by Sergio Ramos.
2-1. 81'. Roberto Carlos, ground shot 25 metres from the goal.

REFEREE: Rodríguez Santiago. Castilla-Leon Refereeing Association. Booked Sergio Ramos (48'), Diarra (53'), Mejía (86'), Yeste (58') & Expósito (76'). Red carded Adúriz (75') for elbowing Diarra on the face.

HIGHLIGHTS: Crowd of 78,000 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Real Madrid 2-1 Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid		Athletic Bilbao
2		1
GOALS
Ronaldo 65 Roberto Carlos 82		Luis Prieto 35
RED CARDS
		Aritz Aduriz 75
YELLOW CARDS
Sergio Ramos 48 Mahamadou Diarra 54 Alvaro Mejia 86 David Beckham 90 Roberto Carlos 90		Francisco Yeste 59 Aritz Aduriz 62 Unai Exposito 77 Ander Murillo 90

Malaga CF 3 : 3 Real Madrid Castilla.

Malaga		Real Madrid Castilla
3		3
GOALS
Ballesta Salva 1 Ballesta Salva 23 Ballesta Salva 37		Alvaro Negredo 17 Esteban Granero 33 Borja Valero 76

Teamsheet Vs Athletic Bilbao.

After this morning's training session, Fabio Capello announced the squad list for tomorrow's home match against Athletic Bilbao. Helguera hasn't recovered from his injury and Cannavaro is suspended, so the usual centre back duo will not feature. Guti and Cicinho are still injured.

Squad List:
-----------------

Goalkeepers: Casillas & Diego Lopez.
Defenders: Michel Salgado, Roberto Carlos, Sergio Ramos, Raul Bravo & Mejia.
Midfielders: Diarra, Emerson, Robinho, Beckham, Javi Garcia & Reyes.
Forwards: Raul, Ronaldo, Van Nistelrooy & Cassano.

My Team:
-----------

Casillas (GK)
Michel Salgado (RWB)
Mejia (CB)
Sergio Ramos (CB)
Roberto Carlos (LWB)
Diarra (CDM)
Emerson (CDM)
Raul (RAM)
Ronaldo (CF)
Robinho (LAM)
Van Nistelrooy (ST)

Liverpool Target Real Madrid Defender Francisco Pavon.

Liverpool Football Club are targeting Real Madrid defender Francisco Pavon, according to Daily Mirror. It is likely that the Spain international will join The Reds brigade in the January transfer window.

A pre-contract between the 26-year old and Liverpool FC have planned to be signed in January.

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.

Beckham and Ronaldo back for Real Madrid.

David Beckham and Ronaldo are back in the Real Madrid squad announced on Saturday to face Athletic Bilbao at home in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

Beckham, the former England captain, has been suffering from an inflammation in the cartilage of his left knee that had kept him out of the last three games.

Beckham, who has yet to decide whether or not he will extend his contract with Real beyond the end of this season, has been in the starting line-up for just three of his side's 12 league matches this season.

Brazilian striker Ronaldo is also back after recovering from a strained knee ligament picked up in the King's Cup last month.

Cassano staying with Real Madrid.

Antonio Cassano is staying at Real Madrid and has no intention of leaving despite an unsettled time in Spain.Cassano has struggled for first-team football since arriving at the Bernabeu from Roma and speculation has suggested he could return to Serie A either in January or next summer.

There has also been talk of a bust up with boss Fabio Capello, but despite the rumours, the player's agent has insisted his client will be staying with Real. "He won't leave Real," said agent Giuseppe Bozzo. "I have reaffirmed this personally. Cassano is not for sale and he hasn't asked to leave. We are at Real Madrid - the world's strongest side."

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."

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.

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.

Beckham returns to training.

David Beckham returned to full training with Real Madrid on Wednesday after a two-week absence because of a left knee injury.

Beckham, who missed three games with a swollen meniscus, is expected to be ready for Sunday`s Spanish league game against Athletic Bilbao at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Oddsmakers have Real listed at 1/4 to win.

The 31-year-old midfielder has made the starting lineup in only three league games this season and appears likely to be on the substitute`s bench again.

Beckham`s lack of starts heightened speculation about whether he will extend his four-year contract, which expires in June.

If the former England captain doesn`t renew before the end of the year, he will be free to negotiate a move to other clubs. However, both Beckham and Madrid have indicated they hope to strike a new deal.

Madrid is in third place after 12 league games, three points behind defending champion FC Barcelona.