Will Real be getting a manager who can resurrect their season or will they get the man who failed so badly in the Premiership? I believe that he will thrive being back in a familiar league, as it was hinted at that the language barrier played a big part in his Spurs downfall. Even though he may feel comfortable in his new, familiar environment, the Real board are unlikely to let him go crazy with the cash, considering he is on a contract that only runs to the end of the season: why bring in expensive players now that will only get turfed out by the new boss in July?

Ramos appears to understand some people may have felt he never lived up (anywhere near) to his reputation at Tottenham and hopes its doesn’t happen again:

I hope I don’t let anyone down and that I achieve the successes that this club has set for this season.

Ramos arrives with the nine-times European Champions in a bad way, physically and mentally. With Mali international Mahamadou Diarra recently joining others such as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Gabriel Heinze, Pepe, Wesley Sneijder, Miguel Torres and Ruben de la Red on the treatment table. Goalkeeper Iker Casillas shed some light on the morale at the Santiago Bernabéu:

We are going through a bad run. Defensively we are vulnerable – and I’m the first (to blame). At the moment it seems that our opponents will have three chances and score three goals and it’s clear that we are all to blame.

I have been 10 seasons in the Primera Liga and this, for now, is the worst start I have had.

With the way that Spurs tended to leak goals under his tenture, are Real destined to climb or fall in La Liga table with Romas at the helm?

Chelsea will not succeed with a £25m bid for Real’s attacking forward and his dreams are “broken” as the Spaniards refuse to sell.

Robinho has been hankering to be reunited with ex-Brazil coach Big Phil Scolari since he was unveiled at Stamford Bridge back in July. However, Los Blancos have taken a leaf out of Manchester United’s book and not budged on their “he aint going anywhere” stance.

Robinho’s agent, Wagner Riberio, has done everything he can to engineer the move from saying that his client is being used as a makeweight for a Ronaldo move to being undervalued by the Spanish champions, but it looks as though the powers that be at the Santiago Bernabéu have made all that hard work ultimately pointless:

The dream of Chelsea is broken because Real Madrid will not even negotiate. It is impossible to advance any conversation.

However, Riberio has not given up on the idea of a summer move to Chelsea, stating that 2009 may be the time to aim for:

Next summer we will sort out the situation if people can show some sense.

Don’t forget to check out Online Football Manager!

Real have been chasing Hamburg’s midfield maestro Rafael van der Vaart for the past couple of months, a pursuit that has been overshadowed by the boring and inactive Ronaldo saga. Hamburg have rejected several bids from Los Blancos for the 25-year-old attacking midfielder, starting as low as €6 million (£4.7m). However, the race to bolster the midfield at the Santiago Bernabéu has stepped up a gear due to yesterday’s knee injury to van der Vaart’s Holland colleague, Wesley Sneijder. This has prompted Madrid to balloon their bid to €13 million (£10.2m).

Hamburg are eager to get the best price for their star asset, while they also have to consider a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave for just €1.5 million (£1.1m) in 12 months time. In joining Madrid, van der Vaart would be in good company with Ruud van Nistelrooy, Royston Drenthe, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder.

As the two teams met during this weekend’s Emirates Cup in London, representatives of the two sides discussed the transfer. A spokesperson for Hamburg stated:

Our chairman [Bernd Hoffmann] held talks with Real Madrid during the Emirates Cup.

Nothing has yet been signed, but we expect things to move on during the course of today.

With Madrid moving for van der Vaart, could the long-running pursuit of Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo be called off? The idea is one that would be welcomed in Manchester.

The idea that Real will call off a move for Ronaldo by signing van der Vaart is reinforced by a statement by Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster, printed in AS last week:

Ronaldo is the best in the world at the moment, but if we cannot sign him then I would be just as happy with van der Vaart.

Watch Manchester United live online

Eric Cantona, the flamboyant Frenchman who graced the Premiership from 1992 to 1997, claimed that Ronaldo would be making a mistake moving to La Liga as his style and United’s suit each other so well, something that might not be replicated with Los Blancos:

Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world right now. He is a genuine artist.

His style of play fits Manchester United’s very well, and the reverse is also true. It is pleasing to see such harmony.

The Frenchman went on to say that if he was after new challenge, having won the Champions League, Premiership, FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield with United, then it would be understandable, but if money and fame were a factor in Ronaldo’s reluctance to snub Real’s advances, then it would be “stupid” to move:

He is still young, and so maybe he wants to take on fresh challenges. I can understand if this is the reason why he wants to leave for Real.

But if he were to leave because of something else, I think he would be doing something absolutely stupid.

The saga rumbles on, with the 23-year-old still refusing to commit to Old Trafford, while he recovers from ankle surgery in America. However, Real have cast their eye over new targets, such as Hamburg’s Rafael van der Vaart to fill the space they have been saving for Ronaldo. Could Ronaldo’s chance have come and gone?

Watch Manchester United live online

Having inherited Alex, Belletti, Ricardo Carvalho, Henrique Hilário and Paulo Ferreira, Scolari has set about signing Deco and allegedly had a hand in bringing Porto right-back Jose Bosingwa to Stamford Bridge. Now it has been revealed that another one of Scolari’s international ‘students’ is in talks to head to Fulham Road.

Real Madrid striker Robinho is reported to be in contact with Scolari’s Chelsea over a £25million move. How credible this claim is depends on your stance on agents, with Robinho’s agent Wagner Riberio leading the claim in Spanish paper AS:

It’s true that Chelsea are interested in signing Robinho. They have been after him for a while and there has been much more contact since Scolari became the new coach.

I met with [Chelsea director, Frank] Arnesen in London and he confirmed to me that Chelsea wanted my player for next season.

The move apparently depends on Real’s outcome in the Cristiano Ronaldo saga. If Ronaldo arrives at the Santiago Bernabéu, Los Blancos will let Robinho move to Chelsea.

It can also be seen as a way of making Real sweat on Robinho’s contract talks. The agent was again in the press this week saying that Real do not value his player high enough and the club stalling in contract negotiations demonstrates this:

Robinho’s priority is to continue at Real Madrid. But he cannot stay in a place in which they don’t recognise his talent and at the moment Real Madrid are not doing that and I’m not talking about money

We don’t like this attitude and we want Madrid to start valuing Robinho because at the moment they’re not.

Whether or not Robinho will arrive at Stamford Bridge remains to be seen, but regardless of the outcome, the agent will have his nice slice of the pie.

Wagner Ribeiro, Robinho’s agent, supposedly flew to London this week to spread the word about his client’s interest in leaving the Santiago Bernabéu. Robinho had been in talks with Real about a new contract, but the process has been very slow and could signal an exit for the unsettled 24-year-old, with Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly waiting in the wings.

Fans may agree that it would be good to see Robinho in the Premiership, but his agent is obviously drumming up interest to help his client gain a more lucrative contract. A few factors run against his agent’s claims.

Arsenal have made moves for the forward before, most recently in 2007 when the Gunners and AC Milan battled it out, only for Real to decide to hold on to the player. Should they actually make a move to bring Robinho to the Emirates stadium again, there would be stumbling blocks in the form of limited transfer funds and wage ceilings, pushing Stamford Bridge to the front of the ‘queue’, through the tenuous link of the arrival of ex-Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Also, Real maintain that he will not leave, with president Roman Claderon stating:

He is not transferable. We are not going to sell Robinho.

So is Robinho making moves to switch the Premiership, or is his agent trying to make himself some money from Real?

Wesley Sneijder released a statement on his personal site, rejecting claims he was on his way to Manchester as part of a deal to bring Ronaldo to the Santiago Bernabéu. He told his fans that, despite interest from the newly-crowned European champions after a sparkling display at Euro 2008, he will remain in Madrid:

I’d like to comment briefly on the reports and rumours that I might be going to Manchester United as part of some kind of exchange deal

As I’ve said already, when I left Ajax, all I wanted was to go to Real Madrid. They are the best club in the world. And now that I’m here, all I want is to win as many trophies as I can with them and wear the white shirt for as long as possible.

In short, I’m flattered to be linked to Manchester United…but it’s not happening. End of story.

Many different types of deal have been flying about with regard to Ronaldo’s protracted move to Real. Some have been as high as €100million (£80million), others have including Real players, including Sneijder himself, Sergio Ramos and Brazillian Robinho. Sneijder proclaimed his objection to Robinho being mentioned, hoping the two linkwith Ronaldo this coming season:

The same rumours have been doing the rounds about Robinho. Well, I hope he stays too, and I hope that Cristiano Ronaldo joins us at the Bernabéu.

I’m sure United fans would like to see Sneijder or Robinho (or both) at Old Trafford, whilst also pocketing £40million or so. Yet, does Sneijder’s snub show that United are always second to Real Madrid’s reputation and money in terms of attracting players?

President Roman Calderon has played down rumours that they are willing to obliterate the world transfer record for the Portuguese star, whilst reiterating that nothing will happen without United’s consent:

We are very happy with the declaration of the player [that he wants to join Real]. But it does not depend on him, it depends on United.

Right now he’s a United player – we’ll not interfere or create any problem.

In any case, Real Madrid will never pay €100million (£80million) for anybody.

Zinidine Zidane, the current World Record transfer holder, disagrees with Calderon’s claim, and he should know more than most:

Every time Madrid want good players they get them.

If he goes to Madrid, it will be a big amount, but Madrid is ready to pay far more than they paid for me [£45.8million]

The Ronaldo-Real saga has taken a very similar path to the one that proceeded Zidane’s world record move from Juvenus in 2001. Real declared an interest in the player, Juventus brushed off the talk, Zidane stated he dreamed of a move to the Santiago Bernabéu, Juventus were adamant he was not for sale, 12 days later Zidane was the most expensive player on the planet.

The same thing has happened with Ronaldo, with just the ending to come.

United have taken the most hostile approach possible in terms of trying to keep their 42-goal winger at Old Trafford, by always refusing he is for sale and even reporting Real to FIFA. Yet, with the player wanting to move and rumours of offers of £63million including Sergio Ramos and Robinho, both United targets, could we see both teams change stance and the saga finally end?