Real Madrid Vs. AC Milan This August At Yankee Stadium

I am a pretty big fan of European soccer clubs doing summer tours in the United States, it gives newer soccer fans a taste of what the top teams around the world look like; even more so when they play in historic, non-traditional venues like Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium.

This August 8, Real Madrid will face AC Milan. That's right, Real Madrid head coach and superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will be in the Big Apple as the Spanish giant travels across the U.S to play one of Italy's top teams.

Real Madrid is slated to play at the Los Angeles Galaxy on August 2, against Juventus in Las Vegas, NV (which could be brutal given the desert heat) on August 5 and they wrap things up in Philadelphia, PA with an exhibition against Celtic on August 11. This will be the third straight summer that Real Madrid has used a preseason tour of the U.S. prepare for its grueling La Liga regular season.

AC Milan will play Chelsea on July 28 in Miami and they have another match in Pittsburgh, PA on August 4 against an opponent to be determined.

If you're wondering, there has never been a soccer game at Yankee Stadium (which opened in 2009). Chelsea faces Paris Saint-Germain on July 22 in what will be the first soccer game there, a prelude to Real Madrid vs. AC Milan. Over the last few years, there have been college football games-(Notre Dame vs. Army) and the Pinstripe Bowl-in the Bronx but this should bring a much more diverse and lively crowd since they'll be drawing from the biggest city in the U.S. that is chock full of every nationality you can think of.

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Adebayor loaned to Real Madrid

The big transfer news in England and Spain the last few days has been Emmanuel Adebayor shifting from Manchester City to Real Madrid.

Adebayor, 26, is in the Spanish capital to complete a move for the rest of the season and after undertaking tests on the Togo striker, Real's chief of medical services Carlos Diez said he was impressed with Jose Mourinho's latest signing.

Diez told Real's official website: "He is a physical marvel. He is in very good physical condition and will be able to immediately be incorporated into the team.''

Real will sign Adebayor on loan with an option to buy him in the summer, though the former Arsenal frontman has been signed chiefly as a temporary replacement for injured striker Gonzalo Higuain.

He was initially a massive hit at City following his £25 million move north from the Gunners 18 months ago, scoring in his first four games, but his star faded after Roberto Mancini replaced Mark Hughes as manager.

A change in scenery often turns things around and this could be the case with Adebayor. He's got the talent, now he just needs the results with Cristiano Ronaldo and his new Real Madrid teammates. Then he'll get paid and everyone will be happy.

Higuain out four months following back surgery

Argentine striker and Real Madrid star Gonzalo Higuain is expected to miss four months of action after back surgery for a hernia.

The 23-year-old Argentina international flew to Chicago in the United States to resolve a problem that has kept him off the playing fields since the beginning of December.

"The operation went very well," Doctor Richard G.Fessler said. "The recovery period is four months but to be get back to 100 percent after any operation takes a year.
"Higuain will stay in Chicago for a week for his back to be monitored. He will be able to walk immediately, stretch in a week, and to start to run in two or three.
"He will train in two months but he will not play for three or four months."

That news will be a blow to Real, who had hoped to have him back within two months, as it leaves them with one recognised centre forward in Karim Benzema moving into the crunch time of the season.

The French international has struggled to shine in Higuain's absence and even though Kaka has just returned to action after five months out following knee surgery, and Cristiano Ronaldo is in fine form, Real may decide to dip into the transfer market.
Jose Mourinho's side are still alive in three competitions, two points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga, in the quarter-finals of the King's Cup and they resume in the Champions League last 16 against Olympique Lyon next month.

This is a tough break for Real Madrid and it also reminds me to tell you (not that you need the help if you're reading this) to watch Barcelona whenever you get the chance. I've just started to remember to watch their games on GOL TV (with Ray Hudson!) and they are magical. They are truly the best club team in the world at the moment and Messi is still on his own planet.

Ozil going to Real Madrid

For those of us who don't live and breath the German national team (cough, cough Shimer), Mesut Ozil was one of the breakout stars of the 2010 World Cup.

The silky smooth midfielder is only 21 but he was one of the top playmakers and offensive minds in the world. Therefore, it should be no surprise that he's taking his talents elsewhere: Real Madrid.

The former Werder Bremen star, reportedly signed with Real Madrid for around 15 million Euros.

Werder turned down an offer which was described as "risible" by general manager Klaus Allofs last week but have now reached an agreement for Ozil, who would have been available on a free transfer when his contract expired in 12 months.

The playmaker, who helped Germany reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in South Africa, will undergo a medical in Madrid on Wednesday. Allofs said: "We are respecting the player's wishes to take the next step in his career immediately.''

A statement on Madrid's official website read: "Mesut Ozil lands at Real Madrid after a standout performance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The midfielder earned a permanent spot on Germany's senior side by the age of 21 after winning the 2009 Under-21 European Championship.

"His unique touch, unmatched individual technique, excellent ball control and deadly last pass make the German midfielder one of the brightest up-and-coming stars in European football.''

Werder had opened up new contract talks with the Ozil a year ago, but the player officially rejected the club's final offer prior to the World Cup. From that moment, it was clear Bremen would be forced to sell the 21-year-old.

Earlier on Tuesday, Werder claimed they would play Ozil in the Champions League on Wednesday, leaving him cup-tied, unless a deal was agreed in the next 24 hours.

"If a club is looking to sign Mesut to play Champions League, then that club needs to make a decision before Wednesday," Allofs said. "If Mesut Ozil is a player of Werder Bremen on Wednesday, we are going to play him against Sampdoria."

However, Ozil did not take part in the club's final training session ahead of the clash as Real moved quickly to complete the deal.

Picturing Ozil dishing to Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain, not to mention all the Spanish national team stars around him, is mouth-watering. Somebody give Ray Hudson a few moments alone.

Still crazy after all these years

It's probably a few years too late but Ricardo Carvalho and Jose Mourinho have reportedly been reunited once again: this time at Real Madrid where the former tries to keep his career going and the latter begins his latest coaching stint.

The pair were together at Porto in their native Portugal before Mourinho took over at Chelsea and brought in one of his favorite defenders.

Carvalho has agreed to a two-year deal worth approximately eight million pounds.

A club statement read: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm it has agreed terms with Real Madrid for the transfer of Ricardo Carvalho. The transfer is subject to a medical and the player agreeing personal terms. Chelsea would like to thank Riccy for his six years of service, and we wish him well in his future career."

At the weekend, Jose Mourinho suggested that Carvalho's advancing years meant he was unlikely to link up once again with the defender, who under the new Real coach won the 2004 Champions League with Porto and two Premier League titles with Chelsea.

However, Real saw their bid to sign Inter Milan right-back Maicon collapse and while Benfica's David Luiz and AC Milan's Thiago Silva were alternative targets, they have turned to Carvalho in an effort to improve their defence.

Carvalho, who joined Chelsea from Porto in the summer of 2004 for a fee of £19.85 million, recently claimed he has been given permission to leave Stamford Bridge and that he would go to Madrid "swimming or running", such is his desire to be reunited with Mourinho.

The Portugal international picked up a third Premier League title last season but has seen his first-team chances reduce in recent seasons, with Brazilian defender Alex finding favour under Guus Hiddink and then Carlo Ancelotti.

If Carvalho does complete his move to Real then he will join Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Deco and Juliano Belletti in leaving Stamford Bridge this summer.

I'm Portuguese, Mourinho is my favorite manager in soccer and I was a big Carvalho fan when he was at Stamford Bridge. However, I'm a realist and I realize that he probably won't have much of a role at Real Madrid and therefore, this will not end well.

Kaka out 3-4 months following knee surgery

It has not been a good few months for Kaka and it just got even worse.

The Brazil and Real Madrid star midfielder will be out for the next 3-4 months following knee surgery.

The Spanish club said Thursday that Kaka left the team's camp in Los Angeles to have the operation on his meniscus in Antwerp, Belgium.

Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said "if we lose him for some time it's no drama, we have other players, but he's one of the best in the world."

The team said a routine medical exam performed on Kaka after the Brazil international returned from vacation revealed a problem with his left knee.

Hindsight being 20/20 as always, perhaps this is why he wasn't up to his usual sublime standards at the 2010 World Cup. Or maybe he just didn't play well, who knows? Regardless, hopefully he gets better and can go back to being himself, an out of this world talent for both his club and country.

Where are they now: Raul headed to Germany

Stop me if you've heard this one before: washed up player, seeks new challenges in a foreign land.

No I'm not talking about another European coming to MLS, that general statement covers Raul Gonzalez. The former Real Madrid and Spain star is headed to Germany's Schalke, after signing a two-year deal yesterday.

With Spain's Euro 2008 title and 2010 World Cup trophy, it's easy to forget how dominant Raul was when the national team wasn't at quite the level it is today.

He joined Schalke on a free transfer, after spending his entire pro career (15 years) with Real Madrid.

"I'm looking forward to starting on a new challenge," Raul said. "It's an important challenge for me."

Coach Felix Magath, who secured Raul's agreement on Tuesday evening, said it was "great news for Schalke."

"I'm glad that we succeeded in enthusing such an exceptional footballer and world-class goal scorer about a move to the Bundesliga and to Schalke," Magath said. "His signing is a decisive step in our efforts to strengthen and restructure the squad."

Schalke had a gap to fill in its attack after Kevin Kuranyi left for Dynamo Moscow at the end of last season. Kuranyi's 18 goals helped the club to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga behind Bayern Munich, qualifying it for Champions League play.

Raul is Schalke's second signing from Real Madrid in the offseason, joining former Germany defender Christoph Metzelder, who spent three injury-filled seasons at Madrid and saw little playing time.

Raul announced his departure from Real Madrid on Monday.

"I want to experience another type of football, a different culture -- that's an important challenge in life," he said at the time. "German or English football -- those are the only two places I would go ... my motivation is to keep playing football."

Raul was mostly relegated to the bench at Madrid following a spending spree by the club last summer.

At Real Madrid, Raul won three Champions League titles, six La Liga titles and two International Cups.

He leaves with 228 league goals for Madrid and a record 44 goals in 102 appearances for Spain, though he hasn't played for the national team since 2006.

Raul is also the leading scorer in UEFA competitions with 66 goals, including 64 in the Champions League.

Mourinho can't get out of Italy fast enough

It only took four days after winning the Champions League final with Inter Milan for Jose Mourinho to pick up his stuff and say: peace out suckers.

It's all going to be finalized on Monday with the Special One signing on with Real Madrid.

Pairing him with Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the World's top 3 players, should make for fascinating stuff.

Madrid sacked Manuel Pellegrini on Wednesday and outlined their intention to replace him with Mourinho once both they and the Portuguese had negotiated his release from Inter.

The two clubs had been struggling to reach a compromise as Inter were insisting they must be paid the full €16 million due to them under the terms of Mourinho's contract.

However, an agreement, reported to be worth €8 million, has been reached after a meeting between Real president Florentino Perez and his Inter counterpart Massimo Moratti in Milan.

A statement from the Italian club read: "The president Massimo Moratti and Florentino Perez met this afternoon.

"In light of the excellent and constructive relations of friendship that exist between the two clubs, an agreement was reached on the contractual clause that binds Jose Mourinho to FC Internazionale. The time and the manner by which the agreement will be honoured has been defined.

"Massimo Moratti thanks Florentino Perez for his willingness to join him in Milan and for his courtesy, which confirms, once again, the strong link between the two prestigious club.''

Real director general Jorge Valdano said earlier on Friday that the reason for Pellegrini's sacking was that the board believed the Chilean's record in Real's key games was not good enough.

"Pellegrini created a very good working environment, avoiding dressing room conflicts and he had an impeccable record in the league," Valdano said. "But in the most important games of the season he was not able to succeed and so we decided to dismiss him.''

Valdano was also adamant striker Gonzalo Higuain would not be leaving the Bernabeu despite speculation in England linking him with big-spending Manchester City.

Higuain was Madrid's leading scorer in the Primera Division with 27 goals in 32 appearances in the recently-completed season and his fellow Argentinian insists he is not for sale.

Valdano said: "Higuain is under contract for three more years. He has been a benchmark for others and is not available for transfer.''

And as Shimer said on Sunday when we saw the first reports of this, Italian football is not for Mourinho. Their boring, defensive style is not what he favors and putting him in Spain should allow him to continue to flourish playing an exciting, attacking brand of football.