Real Madrid are in talks to buy Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Gareth Bale, coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed, amid widespread speculation that the Wales international is poised to move to Spain for a world record fee.

“It is difficult to talk about Bale because at the moment he is not a Real Madrid player,” Ancelotti said at Real’s training camp in Los Angeles.
“I believe the club is in talks to find a solution and we will see what happens,” said the Italian, adding that he had not spoken to Bale.
“I am not used to talking about players who are not in my team and it would not be right to do so.”
According to media reports in Spain and England, Real are leading the chase for Bale and are prepared to offer Spurs what would be a world-record fee of £85 million for the 24-year-old.
It would eclipse the fee of around £80m the world’s richest club by income agreed to pay Manchester United for Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas said on Friday the club had opened new contract talks with Bale and were confident of keeping him.
He signed a four-year deal last year and had an outstanding season although Spurs missed out on a Champions League place by one point.
Real, who qualified for Europe’s elite club competition by finishing second behind Barcelona in La Liga, are rebuilding under Ancelotti after a trophyless season with Jose Mourinho, who left to rejoin Tottenham’s Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Ancelotti also insisted there is no truth to rumours that Luka Modric – linked heavily with Manchester United – could leave the club this summer.
“All of the players are happy to be here with us. We have not spoken about any player leaving. It’s completely false that Modric could leave. He is a very important player for us. Modric will play for Madrid this season,” he said.

According to Yahoo

Neymar spoke of his delight at making his Barcelona debut: “I’m happy I made my debut. It makes me very proud to be able to play for Barça. I need a bit more time to adapt and become match-fit,” he said.

The Brazilian analysed his performance against Lechia Gdańsk: “There were some strong tackles flying in, but everything is ok. They didn’t hurt me. I didn’t speak much to Martino, but he has the total support of the club and the players”.

Neymar is still awaiting the moment to play alongside Messi. “I feel comfortable with him. He’s an idol for me and I’m delighted to be able to play with him. He’s a great player and a great person and I want to help him to continue making the Barça fans happy,” he added.

The forward’s debut at the Camp Nou will be against Santos. “When I went onto the Camp Nou pitch I thanked god. It’s a real honour to play here. It will be strange and different to play against Santos, but now my team is Barcelona,” he concluded.

According to Marca

DAVID MOYES flies back to Manchester today intent on convincing Wayne Rooney his future is at Old Trafford.

Roo was forced to return home just one day into the club’s Far East pre-season tour with a hamstring injury.
The England striker was snapped yesterday on holiday in Portugal while the rest of the United squad beat Kitchee FC 5-2 in Hong Kong.
Rooney wants out but United rejected Chelsea’s £30million bid and Moyes is desperate to keep him.
The pair have talked in the last fortnight after what Moyes believes was a breakdown in communication over the player’s future.
Rooney’s camp was unhappy at the boss suggesting he would be second string to Robin van Persie. Moyes, in fact, wants to find a way to play them together.
But Rooney is also concerned about former manager Alex Ferguson’s continued presence at the club as a director.
Fergie fell out with Rooney at the end of last season, dropping him for the final two games and claiming the striker wanted to quit the club.
Rooney’s camp denies this — and wanted the club to make that clear. But Old Trafford officials were not prepared to refute what Ferguson said.
Moyes insists that he personally has no problems with Rooney and definitely wants him to be part of his team this season.
And the former Everton chief was delighted yesterday as his side finished their tour on a winning note and admits is feeling more comfortable as the boss of Manchester United.

Moyes said: “Yeah I’m a bit more relaxed because of being around the players and them getting to know me.
“And I think they’ll feel a wee bit the same way. I’ve enjoyed being with them, they’ve been really good to work with.
“This was going to be a daunting job for anyone who was going to replace Sir Alex. Whoever takes over the job at Manchester United would find that.
“But certainly you grow into it and as the days go on you start to feel a bit more comfortable.”
United put on one of their best displays of the tour yesterday with a convincing victory over the Hong Kong side.
Moyes had called on Danny Welbeck to improve his finishing and the England striker added another goal yesterday to his two in the 5-1 win over the A-League All Stars.
Welbeck volleyed into an open goal on 18 minutes after Ashley Young’s shot crashed off the post.
Four minutes later Chris Smalling powered in a header from Tom Cleverley’s cross.
And it was 3-0 on 26 minutes when Wifried Zaha fed Fabio, whose right-footer found the far bottom corner of the net.
Alexander Buttner set up fellow half-time sub Adnan Januzaj to head home the fourth just after the break.
Lam Ka Wai got one back for the home side on 53 minutes and Alex Alkande netted their second goal 15 minutes later.

But Jesse Lingard — one of United’s big hits on tour — bagged the goal of the game 10 minutes from time, curling a long-range effort into the top right-hand corner.
United played in stifling heat and Smalling admitted it was a struggle.
The England defender, 23, said: “It was difficult — all of the games have been difficult in this heat — but it will hopefully stand us in good stead during the season.
“It was nice to pop up with a goal, too. But to be fair, I probably should have had a hat-trick.
“I have been due one because I didn’t get too many last season. Hopefully, I will be able to get a few more this season and chip in a little more.”
United expect Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea will be fit for the start of the season despite an injured finger.

According to The Sun

The Barcelona forward says he is “very excited” after topping our annual list of the world’s most outstanding players for the third time

Lionel Messi has won the Goal 50 award for the world’s best footballer after another record-breaking season.

The Argentinian forward claims the title for the third time in recognition of an incredible campaign during which he beat Gerd Muller’s 40-year-old record of 85 goals scored in a calendar year.

The 26-year old scored 91 goals in 2012 and increased his total as Barcelona’s all-time top scorer to 313 goals in all competitions by the end of the season.

Messi struck in his 19th consecutive La Liga game in March 2013, becoming the first footballer in history to score in consecutive matches against every team in a major professional league.

After receiving the trophy from Goal’s Barcelona correspondent Pilar Suarez at the club’s training ground, Messi said: “I’m very excited about this. As players, we work the entire year to win honours for the team, we don’t look for the individual awards, but when they come it’s an incentive and gives us strength to continue on the same path.”

The Goal 50 is regarded as one of the most credible and respected awards in sport because it is chosen by the world’s biggest football website.

Voting takes place at the end of domestic and international seasons for the majority of countries.

More than 500 Goal journalists from around the world vote to select their top 50 players, giving a truly global view.

Messi heads this year’s list in front of second-placed Franck Ribery, who helped European champions Bayern Munich win an historic treble. Last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo is third.

Commenting on the results, Graham Shaw, Editorial Director, said: “Messi had a spectacular season and it is incredible to think he has achieved so much by the age of 26. His award this year takes him past Cristiano Ronaldo to a record three Goal 50 titles and recognises the individual brilliance of a player who is rightly recognised by some as the greatest of all time.”

According to Goal