Real Madrid says it has extended Toni Kroos' contract until the end of the 2023 season. The 29-year-old midfielder, whose contract was to expire at the end of the 2022 season, joined from Bayern Munich after winning the World Cup with Germany in 2014. He has helped Real Madrid win 11 titles, including three Champions Leagues and a Spanish league. Madrid just completed one of its worst seasons in recent years with a 2-0 home loss to Real Betis. The club finished third, eight points behind Atletico Madrid and 19 points behind champion Barcelona. Madrid is expected to revamp most of its squad under Zinedine Zidane, who returned as coach near the end of the season. … [Read more...] about Real Madrid extends Kroos’ contract until 2023
Atletico madrid real madrid
Real Madrid named most valuable brand in world football
Real Madrid have been named the most valuable football brand in the world. Los Blancos, whose brand is worth 1.646 billion euros, overtake Manchester United (1.472 billion euros) into first place on the list. Also in the top six are Barcelona (1.393 billion euros), Bayern Munich (1.314 billion euros), Manchester City (1.255 billion euros) and Liverpool (1.191 billion euros). These six clubs make up 40 percent of the brand values of the 50 clubs in the Brand Finance Football 50 rankings. Real Madrid's brand has risen 27 percent in value in the past year and the club has become the first in the world to receive 750 million euros in ticket revenue. As for other Spanish clubs in the top 50, Atletico Madrid stay in 14th, Sevilla have risen 13 places to 35th, Athletic Club drop to 45th, Villarreal climb to 47th and Valencia are 48th. … [Read more...] about Real Madrid named most valuable brand in world football
Atletico Madrid’s obsession to find the net
Atletico Madrid are going through one of their worst spells in front of goal this season. Finding the net with regularity again is one of Diego Simeone's main aims before they face Alaves, Girona and Barcelona over the course of the next three weeks. Atletico are two points ahead of rivals Real Madrid in the LaLiga Santander table and will need to improve their efficiency up front if they are to hold off Zinedine Zidane's resurgent side. In the three games prior to the international break, against Leganes, Juventus and Athletic Club, the Rojiblancos netted just once. That one strike came after Saul had missed from the spot against Leganes at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano. Their lack of goals saw them crash out of the Champions League and fall 10 points behind Barcelona at the top of the league table. Simeone opted to start Antoine Griezmann, Alvaro Morata and Diego Costa up top against Athletic Club but none of them could find the net. Costa wasn't included in Luis Enrique's Spain … [Read more...] about Atletico Madrid’s obsession to find the net
Messi: After Atletico Madrid’s defeat, Barcelona couldn’t falter
Real Betis were on the receiving end of another Lionel Messi masterclass, with the Argentine scoring a memorable hat-trick, and the Barcelona captain admitted that his team couldn't afford to falter after Atletico Madrid's defeat on Saturday. The weekend's results leave the Catalan giants 10 points clear of the chasing pack at the top of LaLiga Santander, with the chances for a dramatic collapse lessening by the day. "After Atletico's defeat, we couldn't falter," he explained in the mixed zone. "It's a very important victory today. "Goals are important as they allow us to take three points, and we took advantage of a very good opportunity." Quique Setien's charges provided an incredibly unique challenge with their pressing game and attacking style, both intense and unpredictable in equal measure. The first half saw the hosts create a number of chances, and the Argentine feels as though it took a lot for Los Cules to come away with all three points. "They're a team that treat the … [Read more...] about Messi: After Atletico Madrid’s defeat, Barcelona couldn’t falter
The financial costs of Atletico and Real Madrid’s Champions League exits
The early Champions League eliminations of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are disappointing in a sporting sense and also in a financial sense. The losses in the last 16 could see the two capital city sides miss out on up to 45 million euros. Last year, for example, Real Madrid earned 85.5m euros from their triumph in the tournament, while they took in 86m euros the season previously. In that same 2016/17 season, Atletico Madrid collected around 67m euros for reaching the semi-finals, where they lost to Los Blancos. The economic situation has changed this year and the prize money has gone up, with the amount for the winner up to around 115m euros. Having gone out so early, Real Madrid are set to earn around 70m euros for this season's efforts, while Atletico Madrid are to earn around 67m euros. The exact figures won't be known until later as there are a number of variables involved, but it's likely that the two Spanish sides will take in around 45m euros less than the winning … [Read more...] about The financial costs of Atletico and Real Madrid’s Champions League exits