madristar

Figo: I felt grandfatherly in Spain Former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Luis Figo says older players are more appreciated in Italy than in Spain. Figo spent five years each at Barca (1995-2000) and Real (2000-2005), winning every trophy club football has to offer. However, in 2005, at the age of 32 he moved to Italy with Inter Milan where he played for a further four years before hanging up his boots in 2009. Now in a directorial role with the Nerrazzuri, the Portuguese feels Italy is more receptive to the veterans of the game. In comments reported by Sport Bild, he said: "The last two years at Madrid were not good, not only for me but for the whole team. It was time for a new chapter. "Furthermore, in Spain, one is treated like a grandfather when he passes the age of 30. Italy is much different, there is much more appreciation for experience." Figo won four Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia and three Supercoppa Italiana with Inter.

scans

Ranieri: I voted Mourinho as top coach Roma boss Claudio Ranieri has revealed that he voted for Jose Mourinho to win the coach of the year award in Italy. Ranieri believes Mourinho fully deserved the Panchina d'Oro, which was awarded to the Portuguese on Monday, after the he led Inter Milan to a historic Coppa Italia, Serie A and Champions League treble last season. Ranieri said: "It's a truly deserved award and I also voted for Mourinho. "To win the Scudetto with Inter was easy but to guide the club to a treble last season is something impressive. "Besides our arguments, I have a lot of respect for him." Ranieri finished third behind Mourinho and Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri, who guided Sampdoria into the Champions League last season. Roma were runners-up in Serie A and the Coppa Italia. Mourinho, who succeeded Ranieri as manager of Chelsea in 2004, left Inter to coach Real Madrid last summer.

Mourinho reignites Gerrard interest Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has reignited his interest in signing Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. The Portuguese has been a long-time admirer of the 30-year-old but failed in his two attempts to sign him during his time in charge of Chelsea. Now according to The People newspaper, Mourinho has not given up on signing Gerrard and is set to launch a £25 million bid for the Anfield talisman during the summer. The news will surely make Liverpool fans nervous after the loss of star striker Fernando Torres to Chelsea. But it will be unlikely the club's new American owners are willing to sell the midfielder, who has been and still is the heart and soul of the Reds. The only possibility of Gerrard leaving for Madrid is if Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield. And that remains a highly unlikely prospect as well. The Madrid boss has previously threatened to quit after the club's lack of financial support in the January transfer window, although they did sign Emmanuel Adebayor on a season-loan from Manchester City.

Intimissimi GQ

“I feel more confident” Share Kakà’s quotes post-match: (from realmadrid.com) Kaka made the starting lineup and scored the opener against Real Sociedad. “I felt more comfortable, faster and more agile. I feel more confident. One always wants more when things work out. I’d like to have games like this more frequently in order to actively help the team.” “It was important for us to score early and to sentence the game soon after that. It made the match easier for us. It was an important game for us because we maintain our 7-point distance with Barcelona.” “Playing motivates players. We used many men who missed the last few games. It’s important for the group to grow more confident.” “Cristiano gets angry when he makes a mistake or fails to score, but that’s not to say he is anxious about it. He scored again tonight and his numbers are truly impressive.” “Adebayor is proving to be a great player who will help Real Madrid this season.” And Mourinho added: “Kaka is ready to play very well for an hour, not more, but he did very well.“

Shopping

Shopping

Esporte Espetacular interview! Share4 Great great interview of Kakà from Globo.com! Kaka Exclusive: ten-year career, and the toughest moment in football In an interview with “Esporte Espectacular”, the Real Madrid player is back to the fields after six months out, but he still tries to restore his confidence. Kaka completed this week ten years as a professional football player – a fair reason to celebrate. However, he is concerned and he’s trying to find again the good football that led him to the Brazilian national team and earned him the title of world’s best player in 2007. After the elimination in the 2010 World Cup and six months out because of knee surgery, Kakà wears again the shirt of Los Blancos, and tries to regain confidence. In Madrid, Kaká received the reporter Pedro Bassan for an exclusive interview with “Esporte Espectacular.” He opened his heart and he didn’t evade questions. He recalled his early career at Sao Paulo FC, talked about the current passing moment and the future moment in football. The Brazilian player admitted that he needs to recover physically and also psychologically. The fans of Real Madrid are waiting for good performances of the third most expensive player of all time, and coach Jose Mourinho as well. Kaka knows that he has to answer to the needs of the coach in order to get a place of starter in the meringue team. When he’s talking about future, Kaka thinks only for a return in Seleção. He said the coach Mano Menezes left the door open for return. Back to Brazil before 2014 is not in the plans of the player, he just wants to play the next World Cup. When he’s thinking about the past , he talks about the memory of the first game as a professional, on 1 February 2001, the Rio-Sao Paulo tournament, a draw at 1-1 between Sao Paulo and Botafogo. In the same tournament and even against Botafogo, Kaká became a hero by scoring two goals in the decision. If the pitch things are not very good, outside is just joy. Kaka is expecting the birth of his daughter, who will be joined by eldest son Luca. The girl’s name is not yet determined, but options abound: Julia, Natalia, Isabella, Sofia … Check out excerpts from the interview: How was your debut in football? “It was ten years ago. On February 1st, I was making my debut in Sao Paulo, in the Tournament Rio-São Paulo. Many people think it was in the final game against Botafogo I made two goals, but it wasn’t. My debut was in the group stage, 1-1 at Morumbi against Botafogo. “ Did you expect to be the champion that you are today? “Honestly, no. At this time, my dreams were being a professional player for Sao Paulo and, if possible, play with the Brazilian national team.“ What is your biggest challenge? “Today, my challenge is to get good results with Real Madrid. I’m coming back from injury, a very difficult period for me. I think my injury is not only a physical injury, but also a psychological injury as well. I‘ll be back, but under what conditions? When I get back? These all questions need to get answers.“ What are the obstacles? “I want to change my thinking, stop being a little pessimistic, but believe more, have faith that God brought me here. Everything that happened in my career in ten years things were wonderful, and I don’t want that‘s stop now, I hope it will keep happening and I need a little patience. But I know that nobody has patience in football, things happen very fast . “ You are already recovered from knee surgery? “No, not yet 100%. I do not feel pain. Now I’m trying to shape. Not a matter of rehabilitation, but in a matter of pace, speed, skill, all these things that I miss . Along with that, all this part of confidence. I think the main thing is confidence. Without it, you do not have the same courage, the same motivations when you‘re confident. “ How is your relationship with Mourinho, coach of Real? “He helped me very, very much. From the time I was hurt, he always encouraged me and helped. They went out speculation that I was leaving the club. He said “this does not come from us, we have no interest I want you to stay“. But of course, the coach trusts the player who solves his problems. And I have not gotten to that point with Mourinho because of my condition. Not because he is not giving a chance, he got me to play, but unfortunately I didn’t give what he and I would like. The relationship with him and the coaching staffs excellent . “ And back to the Brazilian team? “One step at a time. Of course I want to return to the squad, I really want. I miss the locker room, the friends, the jokes … But first I want to have good results in Real Madrid, feel good, confident and then return in Seleção in good conditions. I want to go back and have another four years and make history in the squad. “ How was your conversation with Mano Menezes? “He left the door open. He said: I wanted to count on you when you are well. I told him that with great pleasure, If he thinks I‘m worthy, so I will be available. “ What was the World Cup in South Africa? “Honestly, it was a bad second half we did against Holland. That’s it. I think the selection was very good, with good games, and the first half against Holland was pretty good too. But in small details you win or lose a game and is marked in history. You will be criticized the sameway: if you open everything will be criticized because it was all open. If everything is closed will be criticized because everything was closed. “ Plans for returning to play in Brazil? “We do not think about going back. I have four more years of his contract with Real Madrid. Then, I intend to stay for a long time. Today Iwish good luck to those who are returning. Even Rivaldo was that for the Sao Paulo. Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Liedson, Elano, all those who returned, good luck. Surely those returns will allow the Brazilian soccer to be more visible and more competitive. “ How is family life? “Family is growing up, I hope that the girl will arrive in May. I’m happy with this new stepfamily, another family member is coming. We’re enjoying this pregnancy. We wanted a girlbut a boy first. So it was perfect. We have a list names but we are still choosing. There Julia,Natalie, Isabella, Sofia… These are the names that are knocking around. Luca shouldbe called Pedro. Pedro was up to 45 minutes. Now let’s see what we decide for this girl. “ What changed from 2001 to Kaka for the 2011? “I think the main thing is the experience and maturity. If I knew ten years ago what I know now, I think many things would have gone differently. “

Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his birthday with a brace as Real Madrid comfortably saw off Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Bernabeu. Ronaldo, who turned 26 on Saturday, had failed to score in his previous four appearances - his worst spell since joining the club - but he was amongst the goals again as Madrid moved back to within seven points of leaders Barcelona. Kaka gave Jose Mourinho's side the ideal start when he opened the scoring early on, and then Ronaldo added two more goals before half-time, netting in the 21st and 42nd minutes. Sociedad pulled a goal back midway through the second half when the ball rebounded in off Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa, but the hosts added a fourth late on through Emmanuel Adebayor, who scored his second goal in three appearances since joining the Spanish giants on loan. With Barca moving 10 points clear with their 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid last night, Madrid would have been desperate for a good start tonight, and Kaka and Ronaldo both tried their luck from distance early on. Neither of those efforts were on target, but Kaka made no mistake in the eighth minute when he picked up a poor attempted clearance by Gorka Elustondo on the edge of the Sociedad area before curling a left-footed shot past Claudio Bravo. Madrid almost conceded an immediate equaliser when Iker Casillas palmed a cross straight to Raul Tamudo, but the Spain number one redeemed himself with a superb block to deny the veteran striker. The home side then took a firm grip on the match by going 2-0 ahead when Ronaldo created space for himself just outside the box and drilling a low shot past Bravo. Madrid created further openings through Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil before Casillas produced another superb save to keep out Tamudo's flick in the 40th minute. A Sociedad goal then could have made things interesting, but two minutes later Madrid were 3-0 up and the game as good as over. Ozil curled in a corner from the right and Ronaldo climbed on the edge of the six-yard box to power in his 24th league goal of the season. The start of the second half suggested Madrid could be set to record a big victory, with Ronaldo firing wide and Kaka thumping a shot against the crossbar in the opening minutes. However, the chances started to dry up for the hosts after that and they were given something of a wake-up call in the 71st minute when Sociedad pulled a goal back. Tamudo was denied for the third time by a great save by Casillas, but unfortunately for the Madrid captain the ball ricocheted into his team-mate Arbeloa and went over the line. That gave Sociedad a glimmer of hope, but in truth they never really troubled Madrid after that and the hosts had a number of half-chances to increase their lead before Adebayor made it 4-1 in the 89th minute with a cool side-footed finish.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his birthday with a brace as Real Madrid comfortably saw off Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Bernabeu. Ronaldo, who turned 26 on Saturday, had failed to score in his previous four appearances - his worst spell since joining the club - but he was amongst the goals again as Madrid moved back to within seven points of leaders Barcelona.

Adebayor's Real Madrid love affair Emmanuel Adebayor has proclaimed his love for Real Madrid and is desperate to help the club to success this season. The Manchester City striker sealed his season-long move to the Spanish giants last week and scored his first goal for the club during the 2-0 win over Sevilla in the Copa del Rey semi-final in midweek. Speaking in an interview with Spanish daily AS, the Togolese striker could hardly contain his joy at being able to play for Madrid and wants to help the club to some silverware this season. He remarked: "I am very happy to have scored. It was a dream to play in a stadium as impressive as the Santiago Bernabeu. I love this club and I am here to help. I'm here to play as often as they want me to play. "I am impressed by the quality of the players, it is fantastic. [Mesut] Oezil scored a great goal before I managed to get mine." "They are one of the best teams in the world, and we do not doubt their quality, but a final is a game over 90 or 120 minutes, and we will have our chances. We will go for it." Adebayor will hope to get into Madrid's starting line-up when they play Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Emmanuel Adebayor Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor (born 26 February 1984), more commonly known as Emmanuel Adebayor, is a Togolese footballer who plays for Real Madrid as a striker, on loan from Manchester City. He played in the same position for the Togo national team before he announced his retirement from international football on 12 April 2010. Adebayor previously played for Metz, AS Monaco and Arsenal, and was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008.[3] In January 2010, Adebayor was one of the players involved when the Togo national team's bus came under a gunfire attack on the way to the African Cup of Nations in Angola. Personal information Full name Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor[1] Date of birth 26 February 1984 (1984-02-26) (age 26) Place of birth Lomé, Togo Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2] Playing position Striker Club information Current club Real Madrid Number 6 Senior career* Years Team Apps

youre welcome.credit goes to unamadridista