Man Utd Chased Sergio Ramos Never Wanted Real Madrid Exit Insists President

Powerful Ecuadorian forward Felipe Caicedo stayed at the club and remains their main goal threat ahead of the weekend, and while Espanyol have signed exciting Madrid youngsters Burgui and Marcos Asensio on loan, neither will eligible to play against their parent club.

Just two matches into his Madrid tenure, Benitez can be wrong, but what he cannot afford to be is perceived as weak.

Four of the players that helped Espanyol to a respectable 10th-place Liga finish last term departed the Catalans for pastures new and left Sergio Gonzalez with a spine to rebuild. Moving Bale’s position after 180 minutes might be translated as trepidation, which is cancerous at a club like Real Madrid.

After all, his side have looked well-structured and hard to break down whilst maintaining their attacking invention – a combination which should stand them in good stead on Saturday afternoon.


Real drew their opening match of the campaign 0-0at promoted Sporting Gijon before thrashing Real Betis, the second-division champions, 5-0. The Benitez era starts now.

The former Liverpool boss took the reins at the Bernabeu this summer following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti.

“I think my ambition goes hand-in-hand with this badge, and every Madrid player needs to have it”. With games against Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid on the horizon after Saturday, victory over Espanyol is arguably even more important.

Benitez is without playmaker James Rodriguez (thigh) and defender Danilo (foot) after the duo sustained injuries while playing for Colombia and Brazil, respectively.

Right-back Dani Carvajal is expected to come in for the Brazilian, while Isco is the obvious choice to succeed the other.

On the day David De Gea signed a new long-term contract at Manchester United a week after failing at the last gasp to leave for Real, Benitez last week showed some of the mentality Arbeloa was referring to.