Transfer news and rumours LIVE: Real Madrid to meet with Modric

A Friday meeting has been set as club tries to keep their star happy

Real Madrid officials will meet with Luka Modric's represenatives on Friday amid reports of Inter's interest, reports Marca.

The Serie A club have been linked with a blockbuster move for the Croatia star, but Madrid have denied any interest in parting with him.

The club and Modric's representatives will meet to discuss a new contract, in hopes of ending another possible standoff following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure.

News Source: Goal.com

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Benzema: I won't go 10 years without scoring

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema says he is not too much concerned about his current goal drought for France, claiming "it will not last 10 years".

Di Maria: Ancelotti believes in me

Angel Di Maria has voiced his satisfaction with life at Real Madrid and is pleased with head coach Carlo Ancelotti's faith in him.

The Argentina international's future at the club was seemingly in doubt following the arrival of Gareth Bale from Tottenham this summer, but Di Maria has impressed with a string of fine performances in the opening months of the 2013-14 campaign.

"Things are going really well for me at Madrid," Di Maria was quoted as saying by AS.

"I have Ancelotti's trust and I had a great pre-season. I am feeling very well at Madrid.  

"Thing can always change, but everything's going fine at the moment."

Di Maria, 25, has made 10 appearances in all competitions so far, scoring two goals, while setting up five more.

'Bale must stand up to Ronaldo' - Redknapp

Gareth Bale will have to stand up to Cristiano Ronaldo if he is to survive and thrive at Real Madrid, according to former manager Harry Redknapp.

Bale, who first broke into the Tottenham team under the current QPR boss, eclipsed Ronaldo's transfer record by making an €100 million move to Real Madrid this summer.

And Redknapp believes Santiago Bernabeu's biggest superstar presents the biggest obstacle to the Welshman making a success of his time in Spain.

"His biggest test will be to step out of the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo with confidence. That won’t be easy," the QPR boss wrote in his new autobiography, serialised in the Daily Mail.

"Ronaldo is a huge star at Madrid and will probably want to take nine out of 10 free-kicks - at least. Gareth will have to assert himself and that will require a strong mind.

"He has to think ‘I’m an £86million player’ and act like it, taking responsibility, claiming the ball when he fancies his chances. 

"And yet at the same time he cannot dwell on his fee and what it means too much because that would put him under immense pressure. It is a tricky balancing act. 

"He will have to be ready for the matches when he goes it alone, has a shot, misses and Ronaldo starts throwing his arms up in the air.

"He cannot, at that point, go into his shell and become this timid little creature. But it is not natural for Gareth to behave in an assertive way. Don’t get me wrong, he knows he is good. 

"The fee is crazy, amazing money, but he wouldn’t have fought so hard to get the deal done if he didn’t fancy his chances of living up to expectations in Madrid.

"Yet, equally, Gareth is a quiet lad, who spends time with his girlfriend and family, and I’m not sure being in the same bracket as Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will suit him.

"If Ronaldo feels threatened by Gareth’s arrival, Madrid could be a lonely place so he will need to lean a lot on Ancelotti, who speaks good English, and Paul Clement, Carlo’s assistant, who is English.

"Luka Modric is another old friend who could help him settle in.

"The one thing the club cannot provide for Gareth and Cristiano is a ball each — so they will need to work hard on that partnership because they are such similar players."

Redknapp insists he recognised Bale's potential very early on - even if the Welshman did seem a little too preoccupied with his hairstyle.

"He drove me mad in training," the QPR boss added. "Technically, he was outstanding but he always seemed to be playing with his hair. It was never right. 

"He’d be flicking the fringe or wiping it out of his eyes and I would be going quietly mad, just watching. ‘Gareth, leave your barnet alone! Gareth! Stop touching your hair!"

Madrid to renew Ronaldo's contract

The 28-year-old has since been linked with a return to Manchester United, whom he left in 2009 to join the Spanish capital club, but Perez remains confident of keeping his star man at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"Keep calm, we are going to renew with Cristiano Ronaldo. The club are going to pay him," he told
Blancos fans at a meeting. Jose Mourinho's side face Borussia Dortmund in a
European semi-final first leg in midweek and have a Copa del Rey final with Atletico Madrid approaching and Perez says he is happy with theway things are going.

The Uefa Champions League Semi Final Draw

The Draw for the Uefa Champions League semi-final have been made and Bayern Munich will Host  FC Barcelona after the Spanish Giant defeated PSG on  Away Goals . While Real Madrid will be hoping to reach the Final after being paired with Borussia Dortmund.

The first-leg will be played on April 23 and 24, while the return-leg will be played on April 30 and May 1.

Casillas: I always wanted to be like Buffon

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Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas has revealed he has always aimed to emulate Italy counterpartGianluigi Buffon.

Ribery - Winning Madrid at home is half way to final

Franck Ribéry said he was "very happy" after scoring the opening goal in FC Bayern München's last-gasp 2-1 first-leg victory against Real Madrid CF but warned that the semi-final tie was far from being decided.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Losing is not in my vocabulary

Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo has highlighted the importance of Wednesday's 4-1 victory against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon, believing it was a vital step towards claiming the Primera Division title, and added that 'losing is not in his vocabulary'.