Former Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who helped bring a host of world stars to the club including David Beckham, Thursday announced he hopes to return to the post in elections next month.

The hugely successful businessman said he made the decision as a result of the “serious events” at the reigning Spanish champions in recent months.

Former president Ramon Calderon resigned on January 16 over allegations he rigged voting at the club’s last general assembly in December, which approved its financial accounts.

A judge last week placed Calderon and 13 others, including caretaker president Vicente Boluda, under judicial investigation, the first step to formal charges, for suspected corruption and fraud.

“We have experienced three years of convulsion and improper behaviour at the greatest sports institution in the world,” Perez told a news conference.

“This club has always been characterised by fairness and generosity. It is a sad period that we must overcome.”

Perez promised a “a spectacular sports plan” for the club.

“We have to compete with Chelsea, with Manchester United, with Barcelona, we want to lead European football again,” he said.

Perez led Real from 2000 to 2006, when it earned the nickname “Los Galacticos”, winning the Primera Liga twice and European Champions League with such stars as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Beckham.

The newspaper El Pais said Tuesday that 2008 World Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United have both signed agreements with Real regarding the Portuguese winger’s transfer to the Spanish side at the end of this season.

It said Perez has already discussed the payment of 80 million euros (109 million dollars) with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes.

Real´s ´Galactico´ President in Comeback Bid … read more »

Liverpool          4 – 0                Real Madrid
Torres 16,

Gerrard 28(pen), 47,

Dossena 88

A commanding performance took Liverpool FC through to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the third season in a row as two goals by Steven Gerrard and one each from Fernando Torres and Andrea Dossena overwhelmed Real Madrid CF at Anfield.

Bright start
The result, Los Merengues’ biggest margin of defeat in this competition, was nothing more than Liverpool deserved as they took hold of the game from the outset. Torres opened the scoring just past the quarter-hour and Gerrard doubled the lead from the penalty spot before half-time. Gerrard scored his second and Liverpool’s third early in the second period and substitute Dossena added a late fourth, leaving Madrid to reflect on yet another campaign ending in the first knockout round. They have been eliminated at this stage in each of the last five seasons, though few exits have been more painful.

Casillas excels
A lightning-quick move almost unlocked the visiting defence as early as the fourth minute, Gerrard’s stunning burst of pace setting up Torres for a clever back-heel that created space for a side-footed shot which Iker Casillas’s right foot deflected to safety. From the resulting corner Javier Mascherano tried his luck with a dipping volley and once again the Madrid goalkeeper produced a tremendous stop to tip it on to the crossbar and over.

Lethal Liverpool Too Much For Madrid … read more »

Real Madrid have decimated Barcelona’s 12-point lead at the top of the Primera Division standings after reeling off ten successive league wins. “We have reduced the gap to just four points and it would seem as though our job is done, but in fact, it has only begun,” he said in an interview with AS.

“Anyone who thinks we have successfully hunted down Barcelona is gravely mistaken. Of course, I am thrilled that we have cut down their lead, but we are not done harassing them.

“There’s still a long way to go with a lot of games to be played. There’s every chance that we can stumble ourselves one day and they will recover their advantage

Rafael Benitez enjoyed an unforgettable Madrid homecoming as a late Youssi Benayoun header helped Liverpool defeat Real Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League duel at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Benayoun headed in a Fabio Aurelio cross in the 82nd minute for a vital away goal and Liverpool now hold the advantage ahead of the return leg at Anfield on March 10.

Deprived of their inspirational captain Steven Gerrard – scorer of five goals in this season’s Champions League – Liverpool lacked punch with former Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres lacking service but a set-piece undid Real in the closing stages.

The build-up to the match had surrounded Benitez’s return to Real Madrid where he coached the youth team and the former Valencia coach, who continues to stall on a new contract, has consistently been linked with the Real job.

But for now his loyaly lies firmly with Liverpool and Real will have to pull out all the stops to eliminate the 2005 champions.

Gerrard, out since the beginning of February with a torn hamstring, lost his fitness battle and started on the substitutes bench with Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano forming the midfield axis.

Happy Return For Benitez as Liverpool Down Real … read more »

Real Madrid 0 – 1  Liverpool
Benayoun 82

Liverpool FC hold the whip hand in this tie after Yossi Benayoun secured the Premier League side a famous 1-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu, leaving Real Madrid CF with it all to do if they are to seize a UEFA Champions League quarter-final berth at Anfield on 10 March.

Tense encounter
Benayoun decided a tense first leg with a header after 82 minutes, rising unmarked to direct Fábio Aurélio’s free-kick past Iker Casillas. It capped a resilient performance from Rafael Benítez’s charges, who began the game a little wastefully but grew in confidence as the clock ran down.

Gerrard absence
Steven Gerrard’s absence from the Liverpool starting lineup undoubtedly gave Madrid a pre-match boost. The sizzling atmosphere cannot have hurt either as the men in white made early inroads. An Arjen Robben through ball almost led to an opening goal after five minutes and, although Pepe Reina denied Raúl González, an early pattern had emerged. Madrid were dominating possession and hunting down openings, while the visitors lost the ball too easily and looked increasingly resigned to a night of defending.

Madrid Caught By Benayoun Sucker Punch … read more »