Alonso’s gone all “Damn gurrrl, you’re marking me to death” in that photo but of course, everyone knows that if you shut him, Diarra (and probably Greasy Babe) down, you effectively pull out the life line that is Real Madrid’s attacking midfield. A few of you may think they play as if they’re training with clowns at Ciudad Real Madrid in Valdebebas but we assure you that it’s only a matter of time, and the only clown on the field is probably one of Potter Perez’s experiments.
Anyway, the Greaseano is back for real and this time, his irrepressible pride got in his way again – so he just had to score a brace against Marseille! Damn, cara, you just couldn’t give the ball to Higuain, could you? Gabriel Heinze (remember him?) tried his best to contain Greaseano but everyone knows that’s not possible. “I hit the ball well today, but it has nothing to do with the fact that the Champions League ball is different to that in La Liga. My touch was good. I’m happy with the two goals,” he declared.
Albiol netted in the other goal for Real and celebrated with a big smile on his face. Unfortunately, we weren’t treated to another one of the classic Raul/Morientes Meet Again sequences, which would’ve been sweet otherwise.
So here comes Higuain, looking as suave as ever on the streets of Madrid. Lovely…! Anyway, the Madridistas all came together to attend Guti’s dinner celebration that the Fallen Favourite held to honour his “14 years at the club in the number 14″ on Wednesday. Raul The Great One couldn’t attend it because he had to be with his wife, Mamen, who is expecting her fifth child. Greaseano gave it a miss too because he was experimenting on the effects of Clear Shampoo on Mama Dolores’s new pet poodle. Kkkkk, the truth is his ankle injury is still being a bitch so he stayed at home cutting vegetables.
Nevertheless, everyone else (who was important to Guti) came and that included Iker Casillas, Kaka, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Raul Albiol, Pepe, Karim Benzema, Marcelo, Arbeloa, Lass Diarra and (gasp) Gago. According to the gossip rags, no one stayed up late to partaaaay because of the morning training session they’re having today. Yeah right – you can bet Gago went to Pacha to look for Pellegrini.
Disculpe but Wedgiellas looks like a washed-out 72 year old David Hasslehoff clone…
Victor Carretero para Real Madrid CF
Real Madrid need to stop imposing compulsory photos like these on their new signings! Greaseano, Kaka (and previously Higuain and The Ramos) had to entertain the cameras during their respective medical examinations. Well, truth be told, it’s all quite adorável and all you futbolitas shouldn’t be complaining!
Anyway, la nueva Madridista Xabi Alonso has expressed his happiness about being part of Perez’s project. Knowing Real Moneda, don’t expect to see him playing every week when the La Liga starts… unless of course Pellegrini finds a way to orchestrate the midfield equally.
“I wasn’t sure if signing for Real Madrid would happen, but I was pretty confident. I made the decision to leave some time ago and there was no better club to sign for. I need to thank Real Madrid for their confidence in me and this is the outcome I wanted. I am very happy,” said Xabi.
About leaving the Reds, he said : “(It was) very hasty. It all happened so fast and I didn’t have time to say goodbye properly. I will return to bid farewell as soon as I have a chance. I am very grateful to everyone. There will be time for a proper goodbye.”
Yeah, he’d better bring them cocktails and a pipe before Pepe Reina gets drunk. By then, it’ll be too late.
Xabi Alonso has finalised his €30 million move to Real Madrid after weeks of negotiations and looking muy triste everywhere he went. Yes, it’s another coup for Potter Perez and the delusion of the Galactico 2.0 era which even we can’t swallow.
Following the agreement reached between Madrid and their new player, Xabi will touch down in Madrid later today for his medical examination (about 8 hours from now). He will not be able to complete a “full medical” because Real’s doctors are in Toronto for the club’s pre-season tour. Clearly, there was a lack of insight! They should’ve planned a full music-and-dance number at the gates of the San Sebastian…
Jorge Valdano is on cloud nine about the acquisition of Xabi. “We are very happy because we have completed rebuilding our squad in the best possible way,” he said in Spanish programme ‘El Larguero’.
“Xabi Alonso was worth fighting for because he is an important part of our plans. Remember, when I was here in my previous stint, we had practically signed him. But what was not fulfilled all those years ago is fulfilled now and we have a much more mature Xabi.”
Futbolita and Fernando Torres / Photo © Gavin Foo
Following up on our previous adventure with the Foreignchester United squad, here’s a little bit on our Liverpool experience which took place a few days later… as promised. Lo siento para la retraso.
Firstly, we met our friend Lucas Leiva (who loved our newspaper article on him and sent us a text message about it!) He was painfully shy throughout the entire trip. Xabi Alonso was also pretty moody when we saw him and looked at us weirdly when we were exchanging hand signals with Lucas on the bus. Also, Rafa Benitez is the coolest entrenador we’ve encountered so far. Whenever we shrieked “Rafa, que huboooo?!!“, he’d wink, give us a thumbs up and reply.
The highlight for us was obviously speaking to Stable Boy Fernando Torres at a Carlsberg event. We were separated by a coffee table and had to kneel near the microphones to avoid hitting the TV cameras but we were face to face with hombre! Nando answered our questions in Spanish and even asked if we wanted a reply in English. And yes, he also spoke about Olala and Nora and said they were both very well and resting at home. Nando was polite and pretty normal, if you ask us! He laughed at everything around him and seemed really amused by all the attention.
Also, Pepe Reina is as loco IRL as he is with la seleccion. He’s really funny and someone needs to show him more love! Enjoy the photos. More under the cut.
Nando smiles for all you Futbolitas! / Photo © Futbolita
via AFP
Xabi looking suave in a suit there! Too bad this tale has nothing to do with his recent wedding to Nagore Aranburu.
Apparently, Potter Perez is pissed with all the speculation linking Real Moneda to Alonso. Apparently, Liverpool asked for £30million but no one in Spain is willing to meet that price. Alonso looked muito triste when we saw him a few days ago – clearly something’s happening!
“Some people obviously thought that because we said we wanted more Spanish players, they could ask for fees which don’t correspond to reality,” said Perez. “A year ago, certain players we’ve asked about would have cost less than half the price we’re being quoted now.
And here comes the quote of the year : “If necessary, we’ll find the Spanish players we would like for the squad in our youth system.”
Real Madrid’s youth system= Charlie’s Chocolate Factory dispensing wheat grains.
Diario Vasco
So apparently, Xabi Alonso got married too over the weekend and the ninas at ONTD Football have all the goods on the Liverpool star’s wedding here!
The bride is Nagore Aranburu, a Spanish actress. They’ve been dating for the last 9235 years and finally decided to tie the knot. Don’t you think she kinda resembles Penelope Cruz in some of the angles? We’re guessing that’s where the similarities end.
In other news, Silvio and Vesgo went to Pato’s wedding and Vesgo came dressed as a duck!
That boy on the right seems to be completely mesmerized by Stable Boy’s lovely hair up there. Wouldn’t you be too if you were standing in the tunnel?
Anyway, David Villa scored the winner for Espana yesterday against Iraq and Xabi Alonso’s quick thinking decisions earned him the Man of the Match award. Just like that, Spain are in the semis of the Confeds!
We’re trying to grasp the concept of “Spaniards Gone Tribal”. At the moment, it has proven to be a difficult task. Oh, there’s a tinge of Spanish Sporting Pride towards the end. You can’t get any cheesier than adding Fernando Alonso and Rafael Nadal to a video about the Confederations Cup.
So Portugal’s Euro 2008 dream is effectively over. And as Brazil’s former colonial brothers, it was almost like seeing the Selecao themselves eliminated from a championship. Portugal had a hundred chances but didn’t make use of it like they should’ve. Germany only had three chances and converted all three of them into goals. And in the end, you wonder why the Germans had so much space at the flanks to roam. Deco’s run-ins came too late, and Scolari decided to field Gomes as the lone striker at such a crucial time.
The Germans are known for their incredibly boring defensive tactics and relying on 1) Corner kicks 2) Tap in goals 3) Man-marking to death. They did just that last night. Playing the most boring football in the world as usual, just like England. Scolari could’ve at least fielded Nani from the very first minute. Gomes is like Portugal’s answer to Luca Toni. Both have been firing blanks and making the midfielders do all the work for them. I’ve never seen Deco and Ronaldo create more perfect through-balls than yesterday.
You know what’s funny was I had the longest sleep after that and dreamt that Portugal won 5-4 on penalties. Deco scored the winning goal. In my dream, he was actually running real fast and the commentator had gone absolutely berserk. Waking up was a bitch.
On hindsight, many things have changed about this Portuguese squad. Ronaldo, four years ago, was like the 18-year-old Kaka in Korea/Japan. He’d cry or blame the referee for every small decision that was made. But yesterday, he played the role of a very composed young captain, even when Portugal was two goals down. Very impressive for a player I loathed for his utter arrogance. And yes, if the reports are true and he does come to Real Madrid to play for his ‘childhood dream club’, I may actually not harbour such hatred for Cristiano Ronaldo. Every player knows they need to get the hell out of Manchester United at some point of their professional careers. Ronaldo wants to come to Spain because they have Ibiza and Club Pacha where he can carry out all his dodgy activities there. Who cares, just win us titles man!
Spain’s next and we have a lot to look forward to in their match against Italy, whose key players will not be playing due to suspension. Oh well, the sexiest team in Europe better work it! I’d be really sad if they were out. Euro has never been a better tournament.
VILLA VS TORRES MID-THIGH AIR SHOWDOWN
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