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Tenerife 1-5 Real Madrid

Alberto Navarro / Translation by realmadrid.com

Real Madrid earned a crucial victory at Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez Stadium on Saturday eight years after their last visit. The Whites displayed magical football against a Tenerife side that gave them a lot of room to play open, vertical football. Gonzalo Higuain scored a brace and Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul followed suit with one goal apiece. With the win, Real Madrid set a new club record for the most points earned over the first 24 weeks of play.

Higuain is the poster child of efficiency. The Argentine forward needed just two shots to add another two goals to his season tally; the first with his left foot and the second with his right. Two moves that did away with the suffocating pressure applied by Tenerife, who knew that their only chance of pulling off the upset was by leaving it all on the pitch.

The first of the night was a by-product of a steal by Marcelo along the left flank, followed by a Zidane-patented pirouette by the Brazilian and a brilliant pass to Higuain, who slipped the ball past the keeper. Tenerife almost pulled level with a shot by Nino, but Casillas was too quick to the ball. Higuain wasn’t done yet, and Garay’s cross found Pipita, who sent a shot across the grain and into the back of the net for his 14th goal in league play.

Tenerife struck back early in the second half when Ayoze headered home a ball that Casillas appeared to have a solid grasp on, but Real Madrid didn’t take long in answering. Kaka capitalized on an Higuain assist with shot that strayed away from Aragoneses’ legs. Higuain nearly had a hat-trick, but his lob caromed off the crossbar. Cristiano Ronaldo added his name to the score card with a penalty kick resulting from a handball by Luna, and Raul put the icing on the cake with a flick following a cross by Van der Vaart… A sheer display of might by the highest scoring team in Spanish football and a team that has set a new club record for points over the first 24 weeks of La Liga.

Nike will pay Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo six million euros per year until 2014 under a new sponsorship deal it has reached with the Portuguese winger, sports daily Marca reported Thursday.

The 25-year-old earned 4.5 million euros (6.0 million US dollars) under his previous contract with the world’s largest sporting goods maker, the newspaper said.

While the new deal makes Ronaldo the best paid footballer of those which Nike sponsors, the amount he makes is still lower than that dished out to other athletes, such as basketball stars Kobe Bryant and LeBron James of the NBA.

Source:news.yahoo.com

“I hope to play with him again some day,” Ronaldo said. “Anything is possible. I am really happy for him this season, and not just for him but for the other players at Manchester.”

Rooney has scored 27 goals for United this season and excelled under the extra responsibility thrust upon him by Ronaldo’s exit in July.

With Rooney so central to United’s progress, it may take Ronaldo to move back to the Premier League to reunite the pair. Ronaldo said that he is still in touch with many players at the club as well as manager Alex Ferguson.

“I speak with the boss, Ferguson, sometimes,” Ronaldo said. “Rooney I speak with. Rio (Ferdinand), (Nemanja) Vidic, (Patrice) Evra, Nani, Anderson, many of them. Just because I have left the club does not mean my relationship with these guys ends.

“I have spent many years playing with them and they are still my friends. But what I speak to the boss about is private.”

Unlike Ronaldo, Rooney has stated his loyalty to United and not expressed any desire to switch clubs, even for one as prestigious as Madrid or Barcelona.

“The form of Rooney does not impress me, because of the quality he has,” Ronaldo said at the launch of Nike’s Mercurial Superfly boot in London. “He was always brilliant. This season he is playing very well and scoring many goals, but he is not a different player.

“He is a winning guy.”

Source:sports.yahoo.com

“I want to take full advantage of every opportunity I get so I can contribute to this team’s success”

Cristiano Ronaldo commented on his love of the game and undying desire to improve during a media event in London on Wednesday.

“A team cannot change its way of playing based on one player. Big teams have plenty of stars as is the case of Madrid, which isn’t two-sided when a players isn’t available.”

“I have had some injuries this season, but I want to take full advantage of every opportunity I get so I can contribute to this team’s success. I play for the greatest club in the world and all I want to do is win. I don’t care if I play for Portugal or Madrid, I always try my very best.”

“There are a lot of facets of my game that I would like to improve, like my speed, my free kicks and shooting with my left foot. I am at the perfect club to continue improving as a player and person.”

“Last Sunday I lifted up my shirt to express my support for the people of Madeira. I love my town and was very sad about the catastrophe. It was a small gesture, nothing more.”

“When I finally hang up my boots I want people to look at me and to tell me that I was a fantastic player. Nothing else. I want them to be able to say that I left my mark in football history books.”

Source:realmadrid.com

Coaches of some of the most important national teams share their views on the Portuguese player

Coaches of some of the most important national teams share their views on the Portuguese player

Realmadrid.com / Translation by Michael J. O’Donnell

Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible performance against Villarreal has garnered praise from some of the most important coaches in the international football scene. Marca published the following remarks.

Vicente del Bosque, Spain coach
“Ronaldo is playing at an incredibly high level. Portugal will have chances to win the World Cup with him on the team.”

Fabio Capello, England coach
“Everything can change in just one moment with him on the pitch”

Antic, Serbia coach
“He is an excellent player under pressure.”

Dunga, Brazil coach
“He is one of few players who really make a difference.”

Marcello Lippi, Italy coach
“He stands out in the most important games.”

Joachim Low, Germany coach
“Cristiano is the best. Every single one of his actions is tremendous.”

Raymond Domenech, France coach
“Just seeing what he is capable of defines the Portugese player. He has great potential.”

I’ve added again new photos from training today and from the new Nike presentation yesterday.

Gallery links:

24/02/2010 Cris unveils the new Nike boots [HQ]

25/02/2010 At the Valdebebas Real Madrid training camp [HQ]

Madrid – The website of sports daily Marca announced on Monday that Cristiano Ronaldo will play in an upcoming benefit match for the storm-battered Portuguese island of Madeira. Ronaldo, 24, was born and brought up on Madeira. On Saturday a freak storm, accompanied by torrential rain and mudslides, caused 42 deaths and 120 injuries.

Ronaldo scored the first goal for Real Madrid in Sunday’s 6-2 thrashing of Villarreal, and displayed a shirt with the name “Madeira”.

Afterwards, he dedicated the victory “to the people of Madeira, who are suffering so badly at the moment.”

The benefit match, for which a date and venue has not yet been set, will be between Portuguese champions FC Porto and a team made up of players from Maritimo and Nacional, Madeira’s two professional teams. It is understood that Ronaldo will play for the Madeira side.

Sourse:earthtime.org

So today I’ve added a lot of photos to gallery from the match Real Madrid against Villareal. It was a great match.

Gallery link:

21/02/2010 RM vs. Villareal [HQ]

Cristiano Ronaldo interview about tragedy in Madeira

February 22, 2010 — Updated 0105 GMT (0905 HKT)
Madeira native Ronaldo pays his own tribute to the victims of the mudslides and floods.

(CNN) — Real Madrid made amends for their midweek Champions League defeat in Lyon with a 6-2 rout of Villarreal in the Bernabeu on Sunday night.

Inspired by the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo, Real closed to within two points of leaders Barcelona at the top of the Spanish Primera Liga.

The 1-0 defeat at Lyon has added to the pressure on coach Manuel Pellegrini, but he will rest easier after a comprehensive rout with former World Player of the year Ronado at its heart.

Gonzalo Higuain and Brazilian ace Kaka both scored twice but it was Ronaldo who set Real on the way in the 18th minute with a trademark free kick.

Madeira-born Ronaldo then paid his own tribute to the victims of the floods and mudslides on the Portuguese island by lifting his jersey to reveal a white t-shirt with “Madeira” written on it.

A penalty from former Liverpool star Xavi Alonso completed the goal glut as they kept pace with Barcelona, who had beaten Racing Santander 4-0 on Saturday.

Atletico Madrid had inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Barca last weekend but their joy proved short lived as they were beaten 1-0 by lowly Almeria.

Pablo Piatti scored the winner three minutes from time for Almeria while Malaga boosted their hopes of survival after a 2-1 win at Espanyol.

In the battle for European qualification, Athletic Bilbao kept themselves in the hunt with a 4-1 win over 10-man Tenerife, who had Jose Antonio Culebras sent off in the 17th minute for violent play.

Osasuna and Real Valladolid played to a 1-1 draw in Pamplona as the home side scrambled a point with an 86th-minute equalizer from Javier Camunas.

Real Madrid made a great impression against Villarreal, defeating the visiting side 6-2 with strikes from Ronaldo, Kaka (2), Higuain (2) and Xabi Alonso. Nilmar scored both of Villarreal’s goals. The Whites are the top scoring side in La Liga and the team with the most goal scorers in the competition.

Lass made the starting lineup next to Xabi Alonso, who served the first assist of the match by passing the ball to Marcelo. The Brazilian controlled it with his chest and tested the reflexes of goalkeeper Diego Lopez (12’).

A free-kick was awarded a few minutes later and Ronaldo scored with a beautiful shot that went through the top right corner of the goal; there was nothing Lopez could do to save it (18′). The Portuguese star celebrated his strike by lifting his shirt to reveal another in support of the people of his island, Madeira, which is suffering from terrible floods.

Higuain was tackled inside the box one minute later. Kaka took the penalty and scored (20´). Villarreal didn’t give up the fight and Senna kept their hopes up with a brilliant set piece goal on the 31-minute mark. The visitors had another chance before half-time when a cross by Nilmar ricocheted off Albiol.

Villarreal had the first chance in the second half when a powerful shot by Bruno grazed one of Casillas’ posts (50’). Real Madrid responded with an effort started by Arbeloa down the right wing, followed through by Ronaldo and brilliantly finished off by Higuain (55’).

The Whites had even more chances. Lopez saved the day in a one-on-one with Ronaldo (65’) and a couple of minutes later, Nilmar scored a second strike for Villarreal (67’). It nevertheless took the Madridistas just four minutes to net yet another goal when Marcelo, practically on the goal-line, served an assist for Higuain, who scored again. Kaka (79’) and Xabi Alonso sealed the victory for Real Madrid (the latter from a penalty).

Cristiano Ronaldo on Madeira tragedy

The Portuguese archipielago of Madeira was hit by a severe storm that killed at least 32 people and injured over 60. Upon hearing the news, Madeira native Cristiano Ronaldo wished to express his support for his countrymen.

“Nobody can be indifferent to such a tragedy, especially me. I was born and raised on the island. It’s given me so much. This is why I want to make myself available to help in whatever possible way. I would like to help official bodies and organisations to minimize the effects of this great tragedy and to get over them as soon as possible.”