Neptuno is where Atletico’s fans traditionally congregate when their team wins a title. The 2-1 win against Fulham on Wednesday is the first silverware of note for the club since 1996, when it won the Spanish league and Copa del Rey double.

Police have organized safety cordons around the square as fans arrive waving the red and white shirts and flags of Atletico.

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Merkur says Real have been in touch with Dzeko’s representatives about the prospect of the Bosnia international moving to Spain in the summer.

However, the 24 year-old, according to the Munich newspaper, has his heart set on staying in Germany and joining Bayern Munich. There is also interest in England from Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea.

Real’s approach for Dzeko casts fresh doubt on the future of French striker Karim Benzema.

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Another Premier League club were quoted wage demands of £200,000 a week to move to the English game, or more than £10m a year, which would match the wages of the world’s toppaid player, Leo Messi at Barcelona.

Villa, 29, is almost certain to leave Valencia at the end of the season, with the club’s debts having risen to £600m.

At least two of Villa, David Silva and Juan Manuel Mata, the club’s best players, are likely to be sold to reduce the debt and meet interest payments.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are in a better position to offer Villa the deal he wants.

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33 year-old Guti has spent 15 years at Real Madrid but told Madrid radio station ‘Ona Madrid’ that this weekend’s ‘Classico’ against Barcelona will be his last.

Guti said, “This will probably be my last Classico. At the moment, there is no possibility of another. I have one more year (on his contract) but hopefully will reach an understanding. Surely they will understand, my choice is to leave and go.”

Looking towards his future, Guti predicts that he has a further two years left to play and would like to spend those years in England or Italy, leaving the door open for a move to Tottenham who have recently been linked to the Spaniard.

Guti continued, “I have two more years…The idea is to go to England, Italy or an Arab country.”

Harry Redknapp is reportedly interested in bolstering his squad with Guti ’s vast experience, which may prove invaluable particularly if Tottenham qualify for the Champions League.

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Barcelona have known to be interested in signing the Spaniard for some time, but City believe their huge bid could see Fabregas staying in the Premier League.

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After tonights lose to Barcelona for the El Classico, a disappointing performance from Los Blancos, it is officially back to the drawing table for Perez and company. The question is what now? Where are Real Madrid’s weak spots? Lets take a lot.

Defense
There is certainly a lot of talent in the Los Blanco’s defensive line, but the club still has a high amount of goals conceded. It just seems that the talent is not in form, perhaps a shake up is necessary? Maybe introducing a new leftback or rightback as the sides are where Los Blancos seem to be at their weakest.

Midfield
There is creativity lacking in the midfield, even with Kaka there. The 60 million dollar man has been awfully quiet in games, and the rest of the midfielders aren’t chipping in. Perez needs to swap some of them for new creativity, players along the lines of Misimovic and Xabi who pull the strings for their teams, Wolfsburg and Barcelona respectively.

Attack
Higuain can be a solid striker, but he is still young and in big games like Champions League games or the El Classico, he does not produce. In the clash with Lyon we saw him miss clear opportunities, in the El Classico he wasted chances and was mostly quiet. Benzema is a solid sub, he still hasn’t found his footing but he has skill and can produce. He simply needs more time to find his ground. Raul is simply too old, and barely lasts a full 30 minutes, no disrespect to the legend. Ronaldo is the only solid attack option that produces day in and day out, he just needs a partner. Berbatov from Manchester United might be an option, it has been shown that strikers who couldn’t make it in the Premier League could make it in La Liga (case in point Floran and Athletico Madrid).

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After his brilliant four-goal Champions League haul against Arsenal on Tuesday, the Argentina forward struck in the 33rd minute at the Bernabeu before Pedro doubled the visitors’ lead in the 56th with a clinical left-foot strike.

Both goals were created by Barca’s Spain midfielder Xavi, the first when he chipped the ball to Messi over the Real defence and the second when he sent Pedro clear to finish low beyond Iker Casillas.

La Liga top scorer Messi twice came close to adding to his 27 goals of the campaign and Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes was rarely troubled as Real struggled against the European champions’ slick passing game.

The victory puts Barca on 80 points with seven matches left and leaves the big-spending Madrid club, who have 77 points, facing a season without silverware after their exits from the Champions League and King’s Cup.

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Defense

Chiellini – currently plays for Juventus in Serie A, a highly rated centre back. He is younger, and would do well in United’s back four. Might be easy to prey from Juventus do to the clubs poor run this season, especially with the temptation of Champions League action.

Miacon – currently plays for Inter Milan in Seria A, rated as a top right back in the world. Responsible for Inter’s recent success in the Champions League, by holding off many attacks. He is 28, but comes with experience that is needed and relative youth compared to the rest of United’s right back options.

Midfield

Relatively, United’s midfield is fairly solid, there is decent depth with Park, Nani, Anderson,Hargreaves and company. However, there is not one player that has been able to step into the creativity side that C. Ronaldo fulfilled. This is why United should pursue the following players:

Gourcuff – currently playing for Bordeaux in the French Ligue 1, and has demonstrated that he can create play. An attacking midfielder who has an eye for the game, and can anticipate.

Misimovic – currently playing for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, and perhaps one of the few reasons that the club is not doing worse the midtable. Fellow Bosnian international Dzeko, and Brazilian Grafite might be credited with Wolfsburg title win last season, but it was Misimovic pulling the strings.

Ribery – currently playing for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, fast paced and always on the run trying to create play. The French international is looking to move from Bayern this summer, but his price tag is going to be high. Not to mention that the likes of Real Madrid are also in pursuit of him.

Robben – plays for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga as well, and perhaps a more affordable target. Has a fast pace, and a powerful kick with either his right or left leg. The Dutchman saved Bayern against Fiorentia, and helped the club advance past United in the Champions League.

Attack

Dzeko – currently plays for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, and a top rated striker. Last season helped Wolfsburg win the league title, and this season continues to be a scoring threat with 18 goals, 2nd in the league. He does come with a price tag of 40 million, but is youthful and experienced.

Aguero – currently plays for Atlético Madrid in La Liga, and is a dream signing. This striker can play alone, or along side a partner, and loves to go wide. Continues to be a serious scoring threat in La Liga, and could be an easy signing if Atletico Madrid’s financial problems do not improve.

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Biography
Ronaldinho was born in city of Porto Alegre, capital of the Rio Grande do Sul state of Brazil. His mother, Dona Miguelina, is a former salesperson who studied to become a nurse. His father, João, was a shipyard worker and footballer for local club Esporte Clube Cruzeiro (not to be confused with Cruzeiro EC). He suffered a fatal heart attack in the family swimming pool when Ronaldinho was eight. After Ronaldinho’s older brother, Roberto, signed with Grêmio, the family moved to a home in the more affluent Guarujá section of Porto Alegre, which was a gift from Grêmio to convince Roberto to stay at the club. Roberto’s career was ultimately cut short by injury.

Ronaldinho’s football skills began to blossom at an early age, and he was first given the nickname Ronaldinho because he was often the youngest and the smallest player in youth club matches. He developed an interest in futsal and beach football, which later expanded to organized football. His first brush with the media came at the age of thirteen, when he scored all 23 goals in a 23-0 victory against a local team. Ronaldinho was identified as a rising star at the 1997 U-17 World Championship in Egypt, in which he scored two goals on penalty kicks.

Today, Roberto acts as Ronaldinho’s manager, while his sister, Deisi, works as his press coordinator. Ronaldinho became a father for the first time on 25 February 2005, after Brazilian dancer Janaína Mendes gave birth to their son, who was named João after Ronaldinho’s late father. (Source)

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Biography
Ibrahimovi? was born to a Bosniak father, Sefik and a Croatian mother, Jurka, who emigrated to Sweden, where they first met. Ibrahimovi? grew up in Rosengård, a Malmö neighbourhood known for its immigrant communities. After receiving his football boots, Ibrahimovi? began playing football at the age of 8, alternating between local junior clubs Malmö Anadolu BI and FBK Balkan While in his early teens, he was a regular in his hometown club Malmö FF. At the age of 15, Ibrahimovi? was close in quitting his football career, but his manager convinced him to continue play. Ibrahimovi? successfully completed junior high school in the ninth grade, and though he was admitted to Borgarskolan, he soon dropped out of high school to focus on his football career.(Source)

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