Ronaldo is fed up at Real Madrid

The Portuguese has been linked with a move to Manchester United next year and former president Ramon Calderon has fanned the flames of speculation
Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon claims Cristiano Ronaldo has become "fed up" with life at the club.

Hazard close to agreeing record new Chelsea deal

The particular Belgian playmaker is usually within the verge associated with negotiating new phrases that may expand his commitment in order to no less than 2019 along with create him or her your highest-paid gambler inside the club's heritage

Di Maria: I stayed at Real Madrid for Ronaldo

The attacking midfielder has revealed that he would have already left the Champions League winners last year had it not been for the Portugal star
New Manchester United signing Angel Di Maria has revealed that he stayed at Real Madrid last season because of his friendship with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Suarez to Barcelona and the 10 most expensive transfers of the summer

The Uruguay star tops the list of the biggest deals in a hectic window which saw a number of moves among the world's major clubs
The 2014 summer transfer window has finally slammed shut after a remarkable few months of big-money moves.

Although the world-record set by Gareth Bale's €100 million move from Tottenham to Real Madrid last year still stands, we have seen the €80m barrier broken twice this time around. The British transfer record was also shattered, while Barcelona enjoyed a lavish final window before their ban on signings is expected to begin in January.

Paris Saint-Germain 5-0 Saint-Etienne: Ibrahimovic hits hat-trick in inspired comeback

The striker returned from injury in sensational style as his treble, along with a strike from Edinson Cavani and an own goal, saw the champions romp to victory

Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit a hat-trick on his return from injury as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Saint-Etienne 5-0 on Sunday.
Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier miscontrolled a simple back pass from Jeremy Clement in the 24th minute and was unable to prevent it from crossing the line before he desperately hacked it away, with only a sympathetic handshake from Ibrahimovic to console him.

Madrid must rebuild again after a Real debacle

The Blancos' 4-2 defeat at Real Sociedad has highlighted major flaws throughout the team, just three months after they won La Decima

By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer

The fuchsia looked bright. Real Madrid were all pretty in pink as they cruised into a two-goal lead at Real Sociedad in their new away strip on Sunday, but what came next was anything but that as the home side struck four times without reply to leave the visitors in utter chaos.

Madrid were without Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portuguese takes time out to fully recover from his knee problem, but barely noticed early on as Sergio Ramos headed home the opener and Gareth Bale added a superb second. Impressively, Carlo Ancelotti's side were making light of one of La Liga's most difficult fixtures.

But then it all went wrong. First, Inigo Martinez finished from close range at the far post from a corner and then David Zurutuza was left all alone to head home and level the scores before half-time. All of Madrid's good work was undone by the interval - and it was all their own fault.

Instead of reasserting themselves after the break, however, they collapsed. Zurutuza got in front of Dani Carvajal with Ramos in no-man's land to fire home a third for the Basques from a Sergio Canales cross with 65 minutes gone and Carlos Vela compounded Madrid's misery by blasting in from a corner after appearing to control the ball with his hand. Whether he did or not was irrelevant, though, because the visitors were well beaten by then anyway.

The four goals came from four crosses, two from set-pieces - an old problem for this Madrid team. And each time, goalkeeper Iker Casillas was rooted to his line. "We were negative in everything we did," the club captain said afterwards. "Horrible."

That was no exaggeration. But the dead-ball debacle is nothing new for Real and the skipper still seems to be suffering with fragile confidence from the Jose Mourinho era, when he was dropped, injured and then benched for the remainder of the Portuguese's final season at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Now, there appears little or no communication between Casillas and his defenders at set-pieces and, given the team's inability to protect themselves in such situations, surely now is the time to try out summer signing Keylor Navas - La Liga's best goalkeeper last season and a man much more comfortable at dealing with crosses into his area.

As bad as Madrid were in defence, however, matches like this one are won and lost in midfield. And without Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria, respectively sold to Bayern Munich and Manchester United last week, Ancelotti's men were overrun. The Argentine's boundless energy would have been useful at both ends of the pitch, while the Basque would have brought better balance, provided protection and also attitude on his old stomping ground.

"This isn't a problem with just one player or another, but a general problem," Ancelotti said afterwards. "The team lost after a fantastic first half-hour. When there isn't a good attitude, it makes no difference if Xabi Alonso is there or not."

Alonso, however, is the type of leader who would not have allowed his team-mates to fold like they did on Sunday. In his absence, Toni Kroos looked uncomfortable in the role of defensive pivot, while Luka Modric and Isco offered little in the way of protection to their back four.

Further forward, Bale worked tirelessly and scored a wonderful goal, but James Rodriguez flattered to deceive once again and is still struggling to fit in following his summer move from Monaco, while Karim Benzema endured one of those nightmare nights when nothing at all goes right for him.

The transfer window slams shut on Monday and Madrid now look set to bring in Javier Hernandez on loan from Manchester United, a player who is unlikely to improve the team but should sell a few shirts and help the club in the Mexican market. Or that's the idea, anyway. No more arrivals are expected, but none should have been needed. Now they probably are.

If it ain't broke, the saying says, don't fix it. But Florentino Perez can't seem to help himself. Kroos and James are top players, but both will take time to settle into this team. With Di Maria and Alonso still at the club, they could have been eased in gradually. Instead, they have been thrown in at the deep end and Ancelotti has to find the balance again after fanning the flames from the Mourinho era to lead the club to their holy grail last term: La Decima.

The Italian's debut campaign was the club's most successful season in over a decade and should have brought stability, strength and calm. As chairman of a construction company, Perez should know all about the importance of firm foundations, but Madrid's movements in the transfer market mean they now have to rebuild all over again. The future, all of a sudden, isn't looking as bright at it should have.

Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid:

James Rodriguez put the Champions League winners in front, but an equaliser just minutes later sets up what should be a tense second leg

Real Madrid and James Rodriguez were thwarted by a late Raul Garcia strike as they drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana.