The Brazil international has dismissed suggestions that his relationship with the Portuguese has turned sour.

Real Madrid defender Marcelo has insisted that he does not have a problem with Cristiano Ronaldo and has backed his team-mate to win the Fifa Ballon d’Or.

A number of recent reports have suggested that the Brazil international did not get along with the Portugal international, but Marcelo has now made it clear that there is no tension between the two players.

“I do not have a problem with Cristiano. These rumours are wrong. I never had any problems with him,” the left-back stressed when question about his relationship with the Portugal star at a press conference.

“People are creating things that are not there. If anything, I have an excellent relationship with Cristiano.

“Who should win the Ballon d’Or? Cristiano Ronaldo. He deserves to win it, not just based on his performances this season, but also for all the hard work he always puts in.”

Marcelo then went on to discuss Wednesday’s Champions League match against Galatasaray and insisted that Madrid want the full three points in order to seal top spot in their section.

“It’s very important to us to finish first in the group, not just for the round of 16 draw, but also for our confidence,” he said.

“We are in a good mood. We’re strong in attack and have improved defensively.”

Madrid have collected 10 points from four games so far in Group B and will be guaranteed Champions League football after Christmas with a draw on Wednesday.

According to Goal

Arturo Vidal signed a one-year contract extension with Juventus on Tuesday which will keep him at the Turin club until June 2017.

The new deal will reportedly see Vidal’s wages increase to five million euros per year.
A statement from Juventus read: “Arturo Vidal has signed a contract extension with Juve until 2017.
“Vidal is one of the most complete players in the world and can play in any role.
“His story in Turin began two years ago but he has already made a mark.
“We hope he will continue to write many more memorable pages in the history of Juventus.”
The Chile midfielder was strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer after his impressive performances helped Juve win back-to-back Serie A titles.
However, Vidal, who joined Juve in 2011 from Bayer Leverkusen for nine million euros, always stated his wish to remain at the Bianconeri.
“It’s a very important day in my life and I hope that the Juventus fans will be happy,” Vidal said.
The 26-year-old scored 15 goals and set up a further 11 in all competitions last season.

According to Foxsports

The Scot says that the Dutch striker could make his return from injury at Old Trafford, while also praising Toffees successor Roberto Martinez for the job he has done to date.

Manchester United boss David Moyes says that Robin van Persie “has a chance” of facing Everton on Wednesday night.

The Netherlands international has been struggling with toe and groin injuries in recent weeks and missed United’s Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen and the 2-2 draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

The champions now host Roberto Martinez’s high-flying Toffees at Old Trafford and, when asked if Van Persie could return, Moyes told a pre-match press conference: “Robin’s okay. He’s got a chance.”

United go into the game two points behind Everton, having drawn their last two Premier League games, and the Scot hopes to see his side return to winning ways.

“The job is to keep it going, keep winning and keep on a good run of form,” he added.

“We’ve done that but, as I’ve repeated myself many times, we let in a late goal at Cardiff which turned what would have been a really good week into one that wasn’t quite as good as we would have liked.

“But we still drew two games and won one last week. We’d like that to be a better ratio but nevertheless it’s not a bad one either.”

The match sees Moyes face his former side for the first time as United boss and he took time to praise Martinez’s impact since suceeding him at Goodison Park.

“They have a new manager there and he’s brought in his own players as well. Roberto Martinez has done a really good job,” he observed.

“I had a great time at Everton – they were fabulous to me – but I’m manager of Manchester United now.”

According to Goal

Veteran Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo has been ruled out of action for around six weeks after suffering ligament damage in his right knee.

The 34-year-old Italy international took an early knock in Sunday’s 1-0 Serie A victory over Udinese and limped off the Juventus Stadium pitch after only 13 minutes.

Medical tests conducted in Turin on Monday have since revealed “a second-degree lesion to the collateral medial ligament in his right knee”, according to an official club statement.

The reigning league champions, who lead the current table by three points from Roma, did not offer a prognosis for the playmaker’s recovery but he can expect to miss 40 days of action.

Juve must face Bologna, Sassuolo and Atalanta in the league before the winter break, with Pirlo also unavailable for a difficult Champions League Group B meeting with Galatasaray in Istanbul.

The former Inter Milan and AC Milan player joined the Bianconeri on a free transfer in 2011 and has won back-to-back Serie A titles under the management of Antonio Conte.

According to Skysports