Spanish football // marca.com

Rafa Benítez is after Morata

MARCA.com — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:28:38 GMT

The Spain U-21 international's great performance in the European match against Israel hasn't gone unnoticed by the former manager of Liverpool, Chelsea and Valencia. Leer

Jorge Mendes keen to sign up Óliver Torres

Luis Aznar. Madrid — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:34:22 GMT

Óliver is one of the players with the most promising future in Spain. Simeone knows it; Miguel Ángel Gil knows it, the Atlético de Madrid fans know it, and of course, the biggest agents also know it. Leer

Full steam ahead to La Primera for Girona

MARCA.com — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 21:29:44 GMT

Girona got through the first qualifying round for the playoffs for a place in the Spanish Primera, after crushing Alcorcón in Montilivi. An early goal by Acuña and a brace by Juanlu clearly reflected the superiority that the Catalan club had over the Madrilenians, who tried all they could right to the final whistle. A goal by Sergio Mora toward the end did little to ruffle Girona's feathers, who will now face Almería next week. Leer

A brace by Charles puts Almería with one foot in La Primera

MARCA.com — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:50:08 GMT

Almería has qualified for the playoff final for a place in the coveted Spanish Primera division, after eliminating Las Palmas in a game that went into extra time. Leer

Atlético de Madrid looking to Otamendi for central defence

MARCA.com — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:39:06 GMT

Atlético de Madrid's search for central defenders is going on, but the decision has been taken. The chosen player is Nicolas Otamendi. The FC Porto defender is the most likely to be pulling on a red and white shirt next season. Leer

Brain drain spells pain for Spanish football

Marcos López — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:11:27 GMT

Madrid and Barça are world-level clubs; businesses which operate all over the globe. Many of the others are local clubs already stretching themselves to compete domestically, their businesses centred on our own country. Leer

Marcos Senna: "Neymar has to do what Messi says"

MARCA.com — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:42:38 GMT

Former Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna, spoke to Radio MARCA about his experience ahead in the USA and gave his view on the signing of Neymar. Leer

Premier League comes knocking for Godín again

David G. Medina — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:51:08 GMT

Diego Godín has become one of Atlético's prized assets. The Uruguayan centre-back is coming off the back of a fantastic season and the sharks have wasted no time in circling. Interest in the defender is particularly strong in England. Leer

Málaga swoops for Schuster as new coach... until 2018!

MARCA.com — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:01:10 GMT

Former Xerez, Getafe, Levante, Shakhtar Donetsk, Besitkas and Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has been named the new manager of Málaga, having signed a five-year contract to replace Chilean Manuel Pellegrini. Leer

MARCA signs dream team in FIFA 13

David Cerezo — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 07:11:56 GMT

If an Arab Sheikh or a Russian billionaire wanted to sign the BBVA League dream team handpicked by MARCA, they would have to prepare a few hundred million Euros. Leer

Bernd Schuster to replace Manuel Pellegrini at Málaga

MARCA.com — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:16:00 GMT

Málaga is set to close a deal with manager Bernd Schuster next week.This is when the Andalusian club will officially announce his signing. Leer

Atlético unveils new strip

MARCA.com — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:11:56 GMT

Atlético has unveiled its new shirt for next season. The home kit is inspired by one of the golden ages in the club's history. The red and blue will be slightly darker to resemble the colours which Atlético wore when it won the Cup and the league in 1996. Leer

Gabi: "Were going to continue challenging the big teams"

MARCA.com — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:32:05 GMT

Atlético de Madrid captain, Gabi hopes that his team continues to be talked about next season as a "solid side capable of challenging for trophies." He thinks that next season is going to be "very exciting". Leer

Giovani dos Santos: "I want to carry on playing in Spain"

MARCA.com — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:30:38 GMT

Giovani dos Santos is one of Mallorca's best options to cash in, as it drops down to the Second Division. However, the Mexican wants to continue playing in Spain. "I want to respect my team, which I have a contract with. After my commitments with the national team, we'll make a decision, but I obviously want to carry on playing Spanish football," he said. Leer

"I dont see Albelda as a starter, it was hard to tell him in person"

MARCA.com — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:02:37 GMT

Djukic explained his decision not to renew David Albelda's contract: "I don't like seeing him on the bench and I didn't want that. I didn't see him as an indisputable starter and it wasn't easy to give him a secondary role. That's what I told him, and it's no easy thing to tell someone that in person." Leer

Joaquín on verge of Fiorentina move

Jesús Ballesteros — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:59:43 GMT

Joaquín Sánchez is all set to sign for Fiorentina. Earlier today, Wednesday, Málaga confirmed that a deal is in place with the Florence-based outfit, with the winger's medical the only loose end to be tied up before the move is completed. Leer

Demichelis could be defensive option for Atlético

Luis Aznar — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:29:35 GMT

Atlético Madrid continues to search the market for new players and one of the areas Coach Diego Simeone has requested to reinforce is at centre-half, which has put the club on alert to find a player to cover the position. Leer

Granada sign Iturra

Juan Prieto — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:20:11 GMT

Granada has announced the signing of Manuel Iturra, who had a great campaign for Málaga last season. The Chilean midfielder will sign for the club for the coming three seasons. Leer

Isco: "Shameful, regrettable, unfair"

Efe — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:27:42 GMT

Málaga has reacted to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision to turn down its appeal against the UEFA ban preventing it from playing in next season's Europa League. A statement by the club assured that the court's decision is without "precedent in the realm of sports law in the world of football". Leer

La Liga and BBVA renew vows

Miguel Ángel Lara. New York — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:50:26 GMT

The Big Apple was the chosen venue to present the extension of BBVA's sponsorship deal with the Spanish top flight, at an event featuring the bank's chairman, Francisco González, and the Spanish football federation's president, Javier Tebas, together with Iker Casillas and Andrés Iniesta. Leer

Málaga dumped out of Europe

Efe — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:56:40 GMT

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has turned down Málaga's appeal against the imposed UEFA ban, meaning that it will not be able to take part in the upcoming Europa League tournament after qualifying by finishing sixth in La Liga BBVA. Leer

Yellow Submarine rises back to top flight

MARCA.com — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 20:20:39 GMT

Villarreal has completed the job, beating Almería 1-0 at El Madrigal and sealing a return to the Spanish top flight just one year after swallowing the bitter pill of relegation. The 'Yellow Submarine' can now relish a return to the big time alongside second-division champions Elche, who secured promotion several weeks ago. Leer

Courtois to stay another year at Atlético

MARCA.com — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 20:06:10 GMT

"I decided to stay on at Atlético," Thibaut Courtois confirmed. The Belgian keeper put an end to the rumours surrounding his future whilst staying away with the Belgian squad in Kortrijk. Leer

UEFA bows down to Atlético

David G. Medina — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 08:18:36 GMT

UEFA has decided on its best 11 players of La Liga and Atlético de Madrid has come out as the clear winner with four of its players: Courtois, Miranda, Filipe Luis and Falcao. Leer

"Its as though Ive always known Juve was my team"

Ó. Campillo | J. Mª Rodriguez | M. Uriarte. Bilbao — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 08:15:07 GMT

He's had an extremely difficult time, but is excited about a new challenge which he feels more than ready for. Fernando Llorente is counting the days to his presentation as a Juve player, without losing sight of his roots: Athletic. Leer