ANCELOTTI CONFESS THAT DI MARIA COULD LEAVE MADRID

Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti confess that Angel di Maria could leave the club - news that has put Manchester United on high alert.

Reports suggest Manchester United are preparing to spend up to £100 million on Di Maria - a £50m transfer fee and around £200,000-a-week wages on a five-year deal. Di Maria has also been heavily linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Di Maria will feature for Madrid on Tuesday against city rivals Atletico in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup at the Bernabeu, but Ancelotti has revealed he does not know where Di Maria's future will be when the summer transfer window closes on September 1.

"I don't know what Di Maria has decided," Ancelotti said. "But I know that he's training and that he could help us in tomorrow's match. Until August 31 it will continue the same way and after that everything will be cleared up and things will return to normal."

Madrid have already spent around £85m to bring in James Rodriguez, the top scorer at this summer's World Cup, and Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich.

Ancelotti, though, still sees Di Maria as part of his plans, regardless of the speculation surrounding his future.

"Di Maria is available like all the others. He may or may not start the game and has opportunities, but like everyone else," he said.

"What I won't do is put out the same team in both legs. One team will play tomorrow and on Friday I will change it a little."
-Brilla Fm

World Cup star, James Rodriguez joins Real Madrid

One of the World Cup's most exciting players has joined Real Madrid.

James Rodriguez -- Colombia's star man at Brazil 2014 and winner of the Golden Boot -- penned a six-year contract with the reigning European champion after his transfer from Monaco was completed in a reported $121 million deal.

The 23-year-old midfielder's six goals and two assists at the World Cup had heads turning at all the big clubs, but Real was destined to get its man after Rodriguez told Spanish sports newspaper Marca that he dreamed of playing for "Los Blancos."

"It's really flattering to know that a club of Real Madrid's stature is interested in me. It'd be a dream to join the club of my dreams," Rodriguez said.

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"Would I jump at the chance to go to Real? No doubt about it, my answer is a resounding yes," he added.

It was then only a matter of time before Real Madrid came knocking on Monaco's door.

Rodriguez joined Monaco last year for a fee of $60.8 million and scored 10 goals in 38 appearances as the French club finished runner-up to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.

Former Monaco chief executive and technical director Tor-Kristian Karlsen, who has regularly scouted players from Latin America, says Rodriguez is right up there with the world's best.

"He's possibly the best playmaker in the world at present," Karlsen told CNN in June.

Rodriguez even caught the attention of NBA star and avid football fan LeBron James.

"Man watching this Colombia game I think I have my new favorite player in the World Cup! Obviously his name help that out #Biased" LeBron tweeted.

The 10-time European champion has always aimed to buy the world's top players, and Rodriguez certainly fits the mold following his exploits at Brazil 2014, where he scored the goal of the tournament against Uruguay.

His innate ability to pick a pass and his willingness to attack with speed and control make him an exciting prospect for a Real Madrid team intent on playing a counter-attacking style of football.

After beating Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final last season, Real Madrid will want to ensure it keeps up its trophy-winning ways.

Rodriguez follows World Cup winner Toni Kroos to the Bernabeu -- the Germany midfielder was bought for a reported $34 million from Bayern Munich last week.

Culled