Ramon Calderon to RMC
Calderon, who resigned as Real president in January after allegations of vote rigging over the club’s proposed budget surfaced, revealed without naming names that he had helped to secure the signing of a current leading player.
I can’t give any names. What I can say is that one of the best players in the world, thanks to Ramon Calderon and difficult and laborious negotiations that having been going on since last year, is already formally a Real Madrid player. Subject obviously to him being able to sign the relevant contract.
Pepe press conference
Pepe is confident in the team’s chances to win la Liga this year. He said the squad will do its best to make a comeback.
Barcelona reached the Champions League semis. Did you expect Bayern Munich to make a comeback?
I don’t think so. Barcelona played a good game and deserve to be in the semis.
The decisive stage of La Liga is about to begin. Do you expect Getafe to do you a favour this weekend?
Getafe’s morale will be high thanks to their latest important triumph. They will try to play well against Barcelona and they will also be confident.
Are Barcelona favourites to win the Champions League?
They are in great form, but other teams are also having a great run in the Champions League. Porto are doing very well. There are no favourites from now on.
Former President Ramon Calderon said he signed a superstar for the coming season. It seems it might be Ronaldo… Does that make you happy?
Any player that comes will be given a warm welcome, but I honestly think nobody has been signed yet. The election still has to take place, so many things haven’t been decided yet.
Whom to do you prefer, Manchester United or Porto?
I have many friends at Porto, but Cristiano and Nani play for ManU. I nevertheless support Porto because I played there and the team is doing a great job.
Do you think Barcelona may be tired from facing Chelsea in the Clasico?
I think derbies motivate teams even more and that exhaustion doesn’t show. I think that if Barcelona drop points here it won’t be due to exhaustion.
Do you think they can win La Liga, the King’s Cup and the Champions League?
We are going to fight hard for the league title. They will play in the King’s Cup final and they will also try to reach that of the Champions League. I’m happy with the season we are having and with our ability to make comebacks.
This is the least scored upon Real Madrid side in history and one of the top-scoring ones…
Many people thought were were dead this year, but we’ve showed courage, excitement and a will to win something. With the new coach came a new attitude and now Real Madrid is a strong team. We want to continue to play this well.
Your next away games look complicated…
We will have to be strong and united to defeat Huelva, Sevilla and Valencia, and to at least keep this distance with Barcelona.
Do you agree with Casillas’ opinion that the team lacks the superstars needed to be strong in Europe?
Casillas is a team captain and I accept his opinion. We must look on the bright side. I think he said that to grab the attention of some players.
Which away game will be more complicated this weekend, yours or Barcelona’s?
They’ll be different encounters against different teams. Both Getafe and Recreativo want to avoid getting into trouble.
Would you like Cristiano to join the team?
I like quality players that want to wear this shirt to join the team. The Club is what’s important. We had a rough time, but we recovered and we are currently in good form.
Miguel Torres to Marca
In an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, Miguel Torres analyzed the team’s situation and their options for winning the league title.
I feel very good and hope to continue having opportunities to play. The minimum you must be willing to offer when playing for this team is pride, commitment and sacrifice, and I think we are demonstrating all right now. We will be champions if we win the remaining eight matches. We all want to celebrate something at the end of the season.
Bernd Schuster to Marca
Former Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster has revealed his ‘surprise’ at his old club’s pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.
Look, we asked for three or four players if Cristiano didn’t come. I understood the club would have to pay an extortionate fee to bring that kid, and they made it clear to me that if he came it would be very difficult to get anyone else. Maybe one more, but at a very low price. But of course, if he didn’t come we could bring someone else in, someone who we really needed. The thing is we didn’t need Cristiano, that was more a theme the club had going. We knew that with him alone we wouldn’t solve other problems because he can’t defend nor play on the wing. The big surprise was that in the end nobody came. They said they had no money. (There was money for Ronaldo) but not for the others. I don’t know why Villa never came, but I have an idea. What I thought was really odd was that we had a meeting in April to talk signings, as is normal, to decide things in good time. But then with all that time nothing was done about anything we spoke about.
Just another Madridista
Junta speak