Ronaldo steals Bale's limelight with new Madrid contract

It didn't take Cristiano Ronaldo long to prove he is still top dog in Madrid.

Against Villarreal on Saturday, Ronaldo rose to the challenge scoring almost immediately after the world's most expensive footballer Gareth Bale was subbed. The Welshman had equalised for Madrid, before Ronaldo added a second in the 2-2 draw.

And now, the 28-year-old has been rewarded with a new five-year contract at the Bernabeu, firmly reinstating the Portuguese superstar as the main man in the Spanish capital.

Monday, September 16, 2013 12:48

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Bale & Ronaldo not enough to sink the yellow submarine

Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo lined up together for the first time on Saturday as the Wales international made his Real Madrid debut at Villarreal.

It took the club’s new signing just 39 minutes to begin repaying his transfer fee as he equalised Cani’s opener, slotting home from close range.

Not to be outdone, Ronaldo put the visitors ahead in the second half, but it was not enough to deny a spirited Villarreal side who grabbed an equaliser through Giovani dos Santos.

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Ozil & Bale take centre stage as domestic football returns

It's back to school for domestic football as the curtain closed on another round of international fixtures and the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and Europe's other top leagues open their doors once again.

Arsenal fans will be relishing seeing Mesut Ozil in action for the first time in a Gunners shirt, with the Germany international set to make his debut against Sunderland, while Marouane Fellaini is expected to line up for Manchester United against Crystal Palace.

Elsewhere, Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Gareth Bale will play some part against Villarreal, while Kaka could feature as AC Milan meet Torino following his return to the San Siro club.

Saturday, September 14, 2013 10:00

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Deadline day dominoes ready to topple

Arsene Wenger puts it as only he can: "It’s a little bit a domino game and maybe something will happen in the last 24 hours." We think it's fair to say something WILL happen on transfer deadline day.

With Gareth Bale having completed his world-record move to Real Madrid from Tottenham, the starter's pistol has truly been fired. 

Can Arsenal pick off Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria as Madrid look to recoup some funds? Will Manchester United join the race, or will they focus on Maroaune Fellaini and Ander Herrera? Could Luis Suarez finally get his move to Madrid?

Whatever happens, you can keep up-to-date with the latest rumours and confirmed deals on our LIVE blog and Done Deals section.

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Bale prepared to join pantheon of Real Madrid greats

Gareth Bale is set to join some of the greatest players in the history of football as his move to Real Madrid draws closer.

Goal understands a world record £86 million fee has been agreed between Tottenham and the Spanish giants, with the Wales star set to complete the transfer in the next 48 hours.

Bale will rub shoulders with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, and follows a long list of legends - including Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Ronaldo and Alfredi Di Stefano - in plying his trade at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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'Bale? 100 billion dollars!'

 

If anyone is capable of getting the highest fee possible for Gareth Bale, it'll be Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

Real Madrid have been relentless in their pursuit of the 24-year-old, but the Spanish club will need to part with at least £100 million in order to get their man this summer. 

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Levy stands firm as Bale attempts to flee the Spurs nest

 

Gareth Bale has told Tottenham he wants to move to Real Madrid this summer but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is adamant that he will not sell the 24-year-old.

Will the Spanish club get their man before the transfer window shuts? 

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The Goal 50 Superheroes

 

The winner of the Goal 50 has been announced, and our annual list's top 10 is, as ever, not short of football's biggest superheroes.

Superman Lionel Messi claimed the award for the third time, beating off competition from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Robin van Persie.

Thiago Silva and Arturo Vidal also invaded the top 10, along with four Bayern men in Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben and runner-up Franck Ribery.

See the complete Goal 50 here

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Goal 50: Class of 2012-13

 

The countdown to the Goal 50 has begun and the debate is raging over which star performers from the season should be included in this year's list of football's most talented

School is out for much of the football world but the class of 2012-13 can still look forward to the annual prize-giving ceremony that is the Goal 50.

Our brilliant artist Omar Momani has drawn up his vision of the high achievers in contention for the list - which will be announced on July 29.

Bayern Munich trio Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller are sitting in the front row accompanied by Brazilian superstar Neymar.

Behind are La Liga legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo next to Robert Lewandowski, scorer of four goals for Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid in last season's Champions League semi-final.

The Premier League may be flagging behind Germany and Spain, but Gareth Bale has stood out. The Tottenham totem sits with enigmatic Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and Mario Balotelli, who has lit up Serie A since joining AC Milan in January.

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Ronaldo calls in Bale reinforcements as Neymar joins forces with Messi

 

Barcelona struck fear into the hearts of Real Madrid as they stole a march on their Liga rivals by beating them to the signature of Santos starlet Neymar.

The Brazil international had been a long-term target for both clubs, with two teams having had bids accepted by his native side, but Barca won the day and secured the much-vaunted forward.

With Neymar set to link up with Lionel Messi at Camp Nou, it may be time for Cristiano Ronaldo to call for backup as talk of a move by Los Blancos for Tottenham star Gareth Bale rumbles on... 

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Tears and cheers as the curtain closes on Premier League

 

Sunday saw the final round of games as another Premier League season came to an end.

Manchester United claimed the title, inspired by Robin van Persie's goals, before Sir Alex Ferguson stunned the world by announcing his intention to retire from the game, closely followed by Paul Scholes.

Deposed champions Manchester City lost not just top spot but also their manager after firing Roberto Mancini while Rafael Benitez went from zero to hero at Chelsea.

Elsewhere Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was rarely out of the headlines and Wigan claimed a memorable FA Cup win but still slipped out of the top flight.

And of course there was still time for drama on the final day as Arsenal pipped Spurs to fourth spot, despite Gareth Bale’s heroics, as the curtain came down on yet another season. 

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King Bale hailed by fellow PFA nominees

 

Gareth Bale scooped the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards on Sunday evening, capping a breathtaking personal season for the Tottenham winger.

Luis Suarez, who was banned for 10 games for biting Branislav Ivanovic, finished in second place, but his name was booed both times it was read out at the ceremony on Sunday night.

And with the Uruguayan in Premier League quarantine, it was left to Bale's four other rivals to bow down to the newly-crowned King. 

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Wannabes left out as Player of the Year nominations announced

 

The PFA Player of the Year award nominees were announced on Friday with Premier League stars finding out who is in the running for the honour.
Tottenham forward Gareth Bale heads the list which includes Michael Carrick, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie.
The winner is due to be announced on April 28, but in the meantime there are reasons to celebrate for the nominated six, although do spare a thought for those who missed out this time.

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Liverpool set for summer holidays as top four scrap continues

 

After Arsenal and Everton both recorded wins on Saturday, the race to finish in the Premier League top four has taken another twist.

Tottenham - who do not play this weekend - have dropped to fifth as the Gunners moved up the table and closed in on Chelsea, who are in FA Cup action against Manchester City on Sunday.

Liverpool, meanwhile, look set for an early summer holiday after another goalless draw, this time against Reading, thanks to some heroic goalkeeping from Alex McCarthy. 

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Rosicky orchestrates Arsenal top-four surge

 

The race for the top four intensified this weekend as ten-men Arsenal clung on to claim three huge points against West Brom, pushing them into the top four at the expense of Chelsea.

The Gunners' unsung squad players have driven the club forward in recent weeks, with Gervinho and 'Little Mozart' Tomas Rosicky combining well at the Hawthorns to narrow the gap to third-placed Tottenham to just a single point.

With Gareth Bale injured and Chelsea in the middle of a tiring and congested fixture list, Arsenal - who have picked up 22 points from a possible 27 in their last nine games - have the other Champions League contenders running scared.

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Tottenham hope for lucky Bale break

 

If having to come back from two goals down to salvage a draw against Basel on Thursday night wasn't bad enough for Tottenham, they were left with hearts in mouths late on as Gareth Bale crumpled to the turf, clutching his ankle and was stretchered off.

The Welshman has been Spurs' leading light this season, netting 17 Premier League goals as Andre Villas-Boas looks to steer the north London side back into the Champions League.

With many scoffing that Spurs were a one-man team with Bale in the side, many at White Hart Lane will be praying for a miraculous recovery, to avoid becoming a no-man outfit. 

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Football is back!

 

The international break. It was good while it lasted, but we're all jumping for joy its over. Why? Because it means the real action is back and we're now at the business end of the season.

In the Premier Leaugue, Manchester United look to continue their march to the Premier League title against Sunderland, while Chelsea take on Southampton in the first of four games in a week for Rafa Benitez's men.

Across the continent, Bayern Munich can wrap up the Bundesliga title with seven games to go should results go their way, while Tito Vilanova returns to Barcelona, Real Madrid face Zaragoza and Inter take on Juventus in stellar clash in Serie A.

Football is back alright, and with a BANG! 

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Villas-Boas at a loss as wheels come off Spurs bandwagon

 

It couldn't happen again, could it? Tottenham's bid for a Champions League place is threatening to unravel for a second successive season after the club slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Fulham on Sunday.

Alarm bells may be starting to ring for Tottenham fans who, under Harry Redknapp last year, saw their side secure just six points from a possible 27 between February 25 and April 21 and squander their hopes of sealing qualification for the Champions League.

It is now back-to-back losses for Andre Villas-Boas, a record which the 35-year-old has not experienced since November, and with Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton all winning over the weekend, Spurs need to pick up their form in order to avoid a repeat of last season. 

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Barca look to seduce Bale away from Tottenham

 

A saga that shows no sign of letting up anytime soon is the attempts from across Europe to lure Gareth Bale away from Tottenham this summer.

The Welshman is fast becoming the hottest property the Premier League has to offer, and while Real Madrid have been most closely linked in recent months, Liga rivals Barcelona have stepped up their charm offensive in the past few days.

Centre-back Gerard Pique hailed the the 23-year-old as an "unbelievable player", while also insisting the Blaugrana want to have "all the best players in our team", but will Bale's head be turned by the overtures from Catalonia? 

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Taxi for Inter! Bale & Spurs march on in Europe

 

Fans of Inter must be sick of the sight of Gareth Bale.

The Tottenham star was on target against the Serie A side again in a 3-0 win on Thursday night, almost two-and-a-half years after announcing himself on the European stage with a hat-trick at San Siro.

It was a case of 'Taxi for Maicon' during 2010-11 season, but this time the entire Inter side were powerless to stop Bale and Spurs, who put one foot firmly in the Europa League quarter-finals. 
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