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Tuesday Kickoff: Rodriguez, Kroos set to make debuts; Atleti to sign Jimenez; and more

JamesRodriguezUnveiledRealMadrid1 (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

Real Madrid’s two newest galactico signings are set to take the field for the first time in the legendary shirts of Los Blancos.

After missing the club’s U.S. tour due to their post-World Cup break, James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos are expected to start for Real Madrid vs. Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup on Tuesday afternoon at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The new duo will line up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema in one of the most expensive lineups ever assembled.

“Cristiano has been training at full intensity without any problems,” Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said in a press conference in Cardiff. “He has done everything he needed to to be ready for the game. The problems he had last year are gone. I think he will start [the season] well. Kroos and James will play.”

With Diego Lopez set to sign for AC Milan, Iker Casillas is in line to start and regain his starting place in the lineup, after spending the last year and a half playing second fiddle to Lopez.

Here are some more stories to start off your Tuesday:

ATLETI SET TO SIGN EL TRI’S JIMENEZ

Rising Club America star Raul Jimenez is set to make his dream move to Spain.

According to reports in Mexico, the 23-year-old forward is close to sealing a €10.5 million transfer move to Atletico Madrid, where he is expected to sign a six-year contract. Jimenez would be a replacement for Diego Costa and David Villa, along with new Atleti forward signing Mario Mandzukic.

Jimenez is coming off another strong season with America, scoring 18 goals in all competitions, while helping keep El Tri’s hopes alive with one of the goals of World Cup qualifying history when he scored against Panama on a bicycle kick.

Jimenez has started the Apertura season on fire, scoring a hat-trick against Puebla and adding another goal against Club Tijuana to give him four goals in four games.

PSG’S SILVA SUFFERS INJURY IN FRIENDLY MATCH

Despite opening their league season last Friday, Paris Saint-Germain still had one more scheduled friendly match to play.

Unfortunately for the reigning champions, the friendly was more thorns than roses, even though PSG beat Napoli, 2-1. Captain Thiago Silva, making just his second appearance of the season since returning from the World Cup, suffered a leg injury in the first 15 minutes of the match, and according to reports in France, could miss anywhere from one to two months.

Silva is expected to undergo medical tests on Tuesday in Paris, but if he is out for the near future, it would be a huge loss to a side that has already shown it has defensive frailties, even with the veteran centerback in the lineup.

MAN CITY INK SILVA TO NEW CONTRACT

One of the top playmakers in the English Premier League is prepared to stay in England for the long haul.

Manchester City announced on Tuesday that they’ve signed David Silva to a new five-year contract, keeping him at the club through 2019. Details of the contract were not disclosed.

From the moment I joined the club four years ago it has felt like a second home to me,” Silva told Man City’s website in a statement. “On and off the pitch, I feel incredibly content and fulfilled professionally and personally, so why wouldn’t I want to stay and keep winning trophies with this fantastic team? Over the last four years, we have achieved so much together, establishing Man City as a dominating force in England and now, when I look around this dressing room, I can see no reason why we won’t become one of the top teams in the world.

“It was a straightforward decision to extend my stay here and spend my peak years at Manchester City, a club with unbelievable fans who have always supported me.”

If Silva sees out his contract, he’ll be 33-years old. Silva joined Man City in July 2010 from Valencia for a reported £24 million.

QUICK KICKS

The investment group owned by James Pallotta has become the first foreign owner to own a full stake in an Italian club, buying out UniCredit’s final 31 percent shares in AS Roma for €33 million. (REPORT)

Carlo Tavecchio, who allegedly made racist comments last week, was elected the newest president of the Italian FA. (REPORT)

Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez arrived last night in Milan and is scheduled to undergo a medical ahead of his move to AC Milan on Tuesday. (REPORT)

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has picked up a back injury in training, though it’s not expected to keep him out for more than a few days. (REPORT)

PSV Eindhoven have signed Netherlands World Cup midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum to a contract extension through 2018. (REPORT)

Montpellier have signed Paraguayan forward Lucas Barrios on loan from Spartak Moscow with an option to buy at the end of the season. (REPORT)

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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Rodriguez and Kroos settling in well with Real Madrid’s squad? Think it could be too unbalanced? Do you see Jimenez thriving for Atletico?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Oh yeah i will sit wth joachim low anytime but he needs to stop earing his buggers i cant sit in a table with someone like that, but excellent work… You actually convinced the world and florentino perez is good … When he actually isnt. Klinsmann is brilliant and he’s tge one who really turned Germany around but sometimes brilliant minds are helpless when it comes to making the US team win a WC. You need talent too.

    Reply
  2. The only guy who can probably sit in a table with me without me yawning after 10 mins. Is Van Gaal, that guy knows a lot (but less than me) he is not tbat crazy about big names. Just to give an example; playing a horrible player like Kuyt out of position and findimg a new role for him on the field, and taking a horrible team like Holland that far cause other than Robben… Example 2; getting Ashley Young probably the worst player I habe seen in a Man Utd uniform and making him actually work out as a full back. Expl 3, signing Cuadrado over Vidal or the other names thrown. Expl4 the GK switch for the penalties against Costa Rica. Van gaal would have been a great student of mine cause he understands that you always put the best on the field and not just the big names. And if that means findimg positions for useless players that he envisions will perform better than a big name player who is bluffing his way into the team, he will have the balls and intelligence to make that change, and I forgot , to nake make that horrible defense with guys like vlaar and blind to perform the way they did makes him deserve to sit at a dinner with me. Ok enough now .. Can’t give all my secrets and genius mind away. Please feel free to answer questions. I wil not answer stupid questions though. Please make your best effort to ask something intelligent or a smart footballing comment and I will tell you why you are wrong

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  3. Kroos is seriously overrated only because Bayern and Wc win. But Bayern chose to stay with Thaigo and J Martinez and got rid of Kroos. James Rodriguez is a bit overrated too, great player but not galactico… He had a great wc against teams like greece, japan, and …. Ivory coast!! plus a depleted uruguay, not enough to impress me, I say this will be a dissapointing season for Madrid… Maybe the league or copa del rey.. Which means dissapointing. Im saying it now not at the end of the season. I can say this because i am a genius and the guy who knows more about this sport in the planet!! Its not arrogance .. Its the truth!!I can sit in a table with mourinho guardiola , simeone, Pellegrini,ferguson … You name them and teach them and what is it they do wrong.But I have too many other interests in life its not inly football

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  4. assuming they stick to their 4-3-3 type formation, tonight i’d like to see:

    ——————————-Benz——————————
    Ronaldo————————————————–Bale
    —————–Di Maria—————James—————
    —————————–Khedira—————————–

    plus the usual suspects in defense and Iker in goal. of course, i highly doubt we see that. i think it’s safe to assume Xabi and Modric will start tonight over Di Maria and Khedira which is totally fine with me too. but i’d set up like this with them:

    ——————————-Benz——————————
    Ronaldo————————————————–Bale
    ——————————James—————————–
    —————–Modric—————–Xabi——————-

    same backline and keeper.

    on another note, Raul off to Atleti is great for Mexico but i’m really jealous. meanwhile we’re hoping that Agudelo, as a free agent, can get a contract somewhere. Sporting CP clearly interested but not pulling the trigger as quick as i would hope.

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  5. what about Di Maria and Isco and Alonso and Khedira?

    MADRID SELL SOME PLAYERS PRONTO.

    should have sold Benzema instead of Higuain last year

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  6. Benzema flanked by Ronaldo and Bale, supported by James and Kroos… Unreal…

    The D-mid sure has a lot of work to do covering for those 5, especially Ronaldo…

    Reply
    • Where does that leave Modric? Outside looking in? Crazy.

      Kroos will do a fair share of defending. With Alonso in there, they will be fine.

      Treble. You heard it here first (or second) (or fifteenth).

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      • Yeah right sounds good on paper but lets talk at the end of the season. You can throw names all day based on WC performances but in the end the team that gels those names better will win the most and that doesnt guarantee trebles either. Look at teams like atletico madrid … Those are teams!! Not a collection of names. As for me, im done with the premier league and liga. I will only follow bundesliga. Im sick and tired of leagues dominated by name players and 85% foreign players in their teams.

      • Let me spoil the ending for you. Bayern wins. At least the Prem has multiple genuine contenders. Parity makes things more interesting.

      • is Kroos better than Modric? I’m not so sure. Modric is quicker, and has better feet. He was key transitioning play and creating space last year. Of course, James could pick up some of that responsibility…

    • which is why Khedira is so important and should stay. Xabi is a beast, but he can’t run for days while Khedira can. we need that. Illara should be a good option as well given his age.

      still don’t know how we’re going to keep James, Kroos, Modric, Isco, and Di Maria all happy. but i seriously can’t wait for FIFA15!

      also, once again Sid Lowe saying Falcao to Real is basically a done deal. i see no need. in games where Benz needs to rest, play Ronaldo up top and bring in Jese out wide. i really want to see that kid get serious minutes after his unfortunate ACL injury last season.

      Reply
  7. um why is PSG still playing friendlies when the season has started? it’s ridiculous

    and jeez how come AMERICANS aren’t making 15 million dollar moves to european clubs? prejudice?

    Reply
  8. David Silva was on close to $200k pounds a week this raise should take him to $220k pounds range on par with yaya toure. Considering what it would cost to replace him the move makes sense.

    Liverpool need to triple Coutinhos money and set a sky high release claus considering what the competition is paying for that level of talent in that position.

    Reply
  9. Italy SAYS they are trying to stamp out racism…yet they elect a racist in charge???

    That’s a main reason why i’m glad Yedlin isn’t going to Roma. No American should play in the Serie A until that league and country do more to stamp our racism in the sport there.

    Reply
    • Soccer in the US is SUCH a great option. The stuff that happens in Euro soccer is beyond comprehension and so far removed from my experience at games here.

      Reply

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