32 nations declare interest in staging Euro 2020 matches

European football's governing body has revealed that a host of nations have submitted their interest in hosting tournament matches in seven years time

Uefa has announced that 39 cities from 32 nations have declared an interest in hosting matches at the 2020 European Championships.

The competition is set to break from tradition and be staged across the continent rather than in one country and London, Rome, Munich, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Madrid are among the cities to have been put forward as prospective venues, with Paris a shock omission from the bid submitted by the French Football Federation, who instead put Lyon forward.

Five countries - Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Ukraine - have named more than one city, with Uefa president Michel Platini delighted at the clamour to be part of the event that will mark the 60th anniversary of the tournament.

"We are extremely proud to see the huge interest in the bidding process, with more than half of our member associations willing to host matches at Euro 2020," Platini told the official Uefa website.

"The finals will be a great celebration of football across the European continent, and the 60th anniversary edition will be truly special, by really coming to the doorstep of all football fans."

The Uefa Executive Committee will decide in September 2014 on the 13 cities that will host games during Euro 2020.

Cities could be awarded one of 12 standard packages that include three group matches and one knock-out game, or the showpiece package of both semi-finals and the final.

The 32 member associations on the UEFA shortlist are: Armenia (Yerevan), Azerbaijan (Baku), Belarus (Minsk), Belgium (Brussels), Bulgaria (Sofia), Croatia (Zagreb), Czech Republic (Prague), Denmark (Copenhagen), England (London), Finland (Helsinki), France (Lyon), Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Skopje), Germany (Munich), Greece (Athens), Hungary (Budapest), Israel (Jerusalem), Italy (Rome and Milan), Kazakhstan (Astana), Netherlands (Amsterdam), Poland (Warsaw and Chorzow), Portugal (Lisbon and Porto), Republic of Ireland (Dublin), Romania (Bucharest), Russia (Saint Petersburg), Scotland (Glasgow), Serbia (Belgrade), Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia), Sweden (Solna), Switzerland (Basel), Turkey (Istanbul), Ukraine (Kyiv and Donetsk) and Wales (Cardiff).

Alexis: I still have room for improvement

The Chile international aims to build on his good start to the season at Barcelona and is determined to fulfill his potential this term

Alexis Sanchez says he is feeling very well at Barcelona following his fine start to the 2013-14 campaign, but has insisted that he still has room for improvement.

The Chile international has netted two goals in three La Liga appearances so far this term, including the winner in Barcelona's 3-2 win over Sevilla last weekend, and he has made it clear that there is more to come in the remainder of the season.

"I feel the confidence of the coach and of my team-mates, which makes me feel very well out there on the pitch," Alexis was quoted as saying by La Tercera. 

"But I still have room for improvement. I am not yet on top of my game."

Alexis joined Barcelona from Udinese in the summer of 2011 and has since made close to 100 appearances for the Catalans, winning one La Liga title and a Copa del Rey in the process.

Alexis: I still have room for improvement

The Chile international aims to build on his good start to the season at Barcelona and is determined to fulfill his potential this term

Alexis Sanchez says he is feeling very well at Barcelona following his fine start to the 2013-14 campaign, but has insisted that he still has room for improvement.

The Chile international has netted two goals in three La Liga appearances so far this term, including the winner in Barcelona's 3-2 win over Sevilla last weekend, and he has made it clear that there is more to come in the remainder of the season.

"I feel the confidence of the coach and of my team-mates, which makes me feel very well out there on the pitch," Alexis was quoted as saying by La Tercera. 

"But I still have room for improvement. I am not yet on top of my game."

Alexis joined Barcelona from Udinese in the summer of 2011 and has since made close to 100 appearances for the Catalans, winning one La Liga title and a Copa del Rey in the process.

Alexis: I still have room for improvement

The Chile international aims to build on his good start to the season at Barcelona and is determined to fulfill his potential this term

Alexis Sanchez says he is feeling very well at Barcelona following his fine start to the 2013-14 campaign, but has insisted that he still has room for improvement.

The Chile international has netted two goals in three La Liga appearances so far this term, including the winner in Barcelona's 3-2 win over Sevilla last weekend, and he has made it clear that there is more to come in the remainder of the season.

"I feel the confidence of the coach and of my team-mates, which makes me feel very well out there on the pitch," Alexis was quoted as saying by La Tercera. 

"But I still have room for improvement. I am not yet on top of my game."

Alexis joined Barcelona from Udinese in the summer of 2011 and has since made close to 100 appearances for the Catalans, winning one La Liga title and a Copa del Rey in the process.

Roma confirm new Totti deal

The Giallorossi legend has been in talks with the capital club over a new deal for some time and has now penned a contract that is likely to see him end his career in Rome

Roma have confirmed that Francesco Totti has signed a two-year contract extension that will see him remain at Stadio Olimpico until 2016.

The 36-year-old's current deal had been due to expire at the end of the current season but after lengthy discussions with the capital club, the Giallorossi legend revealed his delight at extending his stay with his hometown club on Friday.

"I have another two years of responsibilities and I'm sure we'll achieve some great things together," Totti told reporters at a press conference.

"I'd like to thank the president for this new contract. Everyone wanted it to happen, me and the club."

Totti retired from international duty after winning the World Cup with Italy in 2006 but his form last season - which saw him score 12 goals in 36 Serie A appearances - prompted speculation he could return to theAzzurri fold.

And though he insists his primary focus remains improving on last season's sixth place finish with Roma, the Italian admits he would consider a recall if Cesare Prandelli comes calling.

He added: "Going to the World Cup? My jersey is the Roma jersey but obviously I remain open to the possibility. We'll see."

Club president James Pallotta was sat beside Totti at the announcement of his new deal and said his committment to the club was a sign of progress.

"I'm honoured that Francesco Totti is staying here and I'd like to toast to a great future for Roma and Francesco," said Pallotta.

"I'm pleased with what we've achieved in the last few months. We're a work in progress and we're forging ahead."

Baines wanted to join Manchester United, admits Stubbs

The left-back was the subject of frequent bids by the Premier League champions over the summer but, even while Marouane Fellaini was sold to Old Trafford, the Toffees held firm

Everton coach Alan Stubbs has revealed that Leighton Baines wanted to join Manchester United in the summer but was refused the chance.

The Red Devils bid repeatedly for both the left-back and midfielder Marouane Fellaini throughout the summer but eventually had to settle for only the Belgian, agreeing a £27.5 million deal late on transfer deadline day.

Speaking at a Football Writers Association event, Stubbs confirmed that the Toffees drew the line at selling Baines before recruiting the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Gareth Barry and James McCarthy late on.

"The way the transfer deadline goes, everyone looks at it and it got to a stage where we knew the Gareth Bale [to Real Madrid] thing was going to happen," he recalled. "That was the big one. Underlying from that, there wasn't really an awful lot going on.

"Probably come seven o'clock on the night [September 2] at Everton the word from the training ground was that no one was going to go.

"Fellaini was staying. Bainesy was never really an option - the club had dug its heels in. Bainesy had obviously said he'd like to go.

"And then, come nine o'clock, suddenly we started to get linked with Lukaku and then the Fellaini thing was starting with negotiations with United. By the time it had finished we'd bought three in and they are great additions to the squad."

Falcao reminds me of Ibrahimovic, says Alex

Ahead of the eagerly anticipated Ligue 1 clash against Monaco, the Paris Saint-Germain defender has drawn comparisons between the Colombian star and his own team-mate

Paris Saint-Germain defender Alex is relishing the opportunity to measure himself against Monaco strikerRadamel Falcao in this weekend's Ligue 1 clash and has likened the Colombia international to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Falcao has netted four goals in five league appearances for Monaco so far and Alex has acknowledged that PSG must keep a close eye on the 27-year-old.

"I have never played against Falcao so far, but I obviously know him," Alex told reporters.

"You can never relax against him, because he's always waiting for his moment. He reminds me of Ibrahimovic. He is one of the best and we will have to keep a close eye on him.

"He is a great player and a very dangerous striker. He is among the best in the world with his qualities. We have to be very careful against him and can't afford to allow him any space."

Sundays encounter at the Parc des Princes kicks off at 21:00CET.

Paris Saint-Germain can win Champions League - Ginola

The ex-France international also thinks Monaco can challenge among Europe's elite, once they are back in the competition, admitting Ligue 1 is a two-horse race between the pair

David Ginola believes former club Paris Saint-Germain can win the Champions League in the next few years and insists their big spending in Ligue 1 will benefit French football.

PSG host rivals Monaco on Sunday, with Claudio Ranieri’s side top of the table after five games following a summer of huge spending financed by Russian billionaire owner Dmitry Rybolovlev.

Les Parisiens won the Ligue 1 title last season following massive expenditure on leading players themselves, and Ginola believes a French side could conquer Europe in the coming years.

“I think Paris could win the Champions League in the future,” Ginola told Goal. “Monaco maybe as well when they are back in the competition. It’s good for the promotion of French football to have two teams who can compete with the best.

“We now have players in France who would never have considered  playing before in our league. The investors from abroad are also promoting the domestic game because the best French players might prefer to stay in France now.

“Before, they’ve gone abroad for titles and because of money, but now they may feel they can fulfil their careers at a club like Paris or Monaco.”

Ginola subscribes to the view that Ligue 1 is a two-horse race but feels it is too early in the campaign to make a definitive judgement on Monaco following their promotion last season and heavy spending spree over the summer.

The former midfielder has also been impressed by Radamel Falcao, who has scored four league goals in five appearances since his €60 (£50.5) million switch to Monaco, and believes the Colombian should beat PSG rivals Zlatan Ibrahimovic to become the division’s top scorer this term.

“They are obviously the two best teams and one of them will win Ligue 1,” Ginola added. “Sunday will give us a better idea of what will happen in the next few months. We don’t know much about Monaco yet and this is the first test for them - maybe the only test.

“Falcao is looking promising and scored four goals already. He’s a great player but so are Cavani and Ibrahimovic so it will be interesting to see who is better. 

“They are all players who guarantee you goals every year and that’s why one of these teams will win the title.”

Hart calls for calm ahead of Manchester derby

The 26-year-old revealed the players are all looking forward to one of the "most anticipated and exciting games in world football" but hopes to avoid a repeat of last year's scenes

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has called on fans to behave sensibly in Sunday's derby againstManchester United at the Etihad Stadium.

The 26-year-old was forced to intervene as a home supporter got onto the pitch and lunged for Rio Ferdinand in United's 3-2 win at City last December, minutes after the defender was left bleeding from a head wound after being hit with a coin thrown from the stands. 

The England international does not want to see a repeat of the unsavoury scenes that marred last season's derby at Eastlands, and has urged for calm from the spectators.

"There were incidents last year which no-one wants to see repeated," he told reporters. "The eyes of the world will be on this game as usual, and I'm confident our supporters will do the club proud.

"Our fans are the best in the world and we want you to show your passion for the club, but in the right way.

"The derby is one of the most anticipated and exciting games in world football. As players, we are all looking forward to Sunday, and we know that the fans will be too.

"The home support is so important for us, and I know they will be like an extra man for the team on the day.

"As always, we need our fans in full voice, but we also need them to respect the occasion. We want everyone to enjoy the game but be sensible too."

Reigning champions United have emerged victorious in three of the last five Manchester derbies hosted at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League, and will be looking to come out on top again on Sunday.

Messi doesn't need World Cup glory to be the best ever, says Gabriel Milito

The former Argentina centre-back has hailed his compatriot's fine performances and feels he is arguably the best player ever

Former Barcelona defender Gabriel Milito believes that Lionel Messi is the best player in the history of the game even if he never wins the World Cup with Argentina.

The 26-year-old, who recently stated that he dreams of winning Brazil 2014, has often been criticised for his relatively underwhelming performances with the national side, but Milito feels his compatriot doesn't need international success in order to be seen as the best ever.

"It doesn't seem right to me to claim that you have to win the World Cup in order to be regarded as the best ever," Milito told RAC1.

"He just keeps on improving and outdoing himself year after year and that's why he is the best ever for me.

"I simply cannot imagine that there will ever be a player who can do what Leo has been doing on the pitch."

Messi has been in fine form in the opening weeks of the 2013-14 campaign, netting nine goals in six appearances for Barcelona.

Real Madrid are like Ferrari, says Perez

The Madrid supremo has likened his club to the automobile marque's racing team division but has insisted that Real's financial prowess is not the reason for their success

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has compared the Santiago Bernabeu side to Formula 1 team Ferrari as he feels they both attempt to sign the best athletes around in their respective sports.

The Primera Division giants spent over €170 million to bring in the likes of Gareth Bale, Asier Illarramendi, Isco, Dani Carvajal and Casemiro this summer, while Ferrari have two-time world champion Fernando Alonso driving for them and have recently signed Kimi Raikkonen, a 2007 world champion, for the 2014 season to replace current No,2 Felipe Massa.

However, Perez has stressed that Madrid's financial resources are not the main reason behind their success.

"Real Madrid are a bit like Ferrari," the Blancos president was quoted as saying by Marca. "Ferrari always aim to sign the best drivers around as well, yet don't always emerge victorious.

"Our strategy is not to just pull out the cheque book time and time again. We are successful because our model is unique and allows us to sign the best players."

With Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, Madrid have the two most-expensive players in the history of the game in their squad.

Gotze nearing Bayern comeback

The Germany international is expected to resume squad training shortly, while Javi Martinez is on his way back, too

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola will shortly be able to call upon the services of Mario Gotze after a spell on the sidelines for the 21-year-old.

The Germany international picked up an ankle injury in his side's Super Cup win over Chelsea back in August and has been out of action ever since.

Nevertheless, the former Borussia Dortmund star is set to resume regular training action as he is edging ever closer to his comeback.

"Gotze's currently working out individually with the ball but, if all goes according to plan, he should be able to join in parts of the squad workout in a couple of days," a statement on the official Bayern website reads.

Meanwhile, Javi Martinez is still some way off making his comeback after groin surgery earlier this month, but the Spain international is off crutches at last and has begun stamina-building running.

"I’m feeling better with every passing day. I hope I can be back helping the team very soon," the holding midfielder said.

Anti-racism movement in England stands divided in pivotal season of action

The Football Association's handling of high profile race rows and Kick It Out's perceived reluctance to speak out have sparked a public feud with disillusioned players

It is 20 years since Kick It Out chairman Lord Herman Ouseley, in partnership with the Professional Footballers’ Association, launched his crusade to rid the sport he loved of the hate he despised. Sadly, though, the birthday celebrations are likely to be muted. 

His organisation, which began life in 1993 as a campaign whose title, ‘Let’s Kick Racism Out of Football’, served as both slogan and mission statement, has much to be proud of. Racial prejudice within the country’s most popular game is now almost universally regarded with the disgust it deserves. Kick It Out, meanwhile, has expanded its scope to fight against all forms of discrimination at all levels of the sport, and continues to make tangible gains as it embarks on a 'Season of Action' this year.

But at the top, football’s anti-racism movement stands divided. The Football Association’s handling of the Luis Suarez and John Terry race rows invited accusations of inconsistency, complacency and even apathy from a high-profile minority of increasingly disillusioned black footballers, while Kick It Out was perceived by some as kow-towing to the organisation which provides part of its funding, rather than fighting for the cause – and the people – it was set up to champion.

“From my perspective, we can’t start looking at the next 20 years without trying to arrest the discontent among some of our supporters,” former Stoke striker and Kick It Out trustee Garth Crooks tells Goal at the London Metropolitan Archive, where an exhibit consisting of letters, photographs and press cuttings dating back to the 1980s documents the history of the organisation.

"What has been displayed in the public arena is footballers having a row – strong opinions being voiced on an issue." - Garth Crooks  Kick It Out trustree

“We want them on board. They’re very much entitled to express their views, and I welcome that. Their views are to be respected, and so are ours.”

Arresting that discontent will be no easy task. Last October, a group of around 30 black players made their feelings clear by boycotting Kick It Out’s anti-racism t-shirt campaign. For some it was nothing new – Joleon Lescott has refused to promote the cause since the FA failed to punish Newcastle midfielder Emre for allegedly subjecting Everton defender Joseph Yobo to racial abuse in 2007 – but most were showing their hand publicly for the first time.

It was a stance which left many at Kick It Out shocked and saddened. “It did,” Crooks admits, “because it was largely incorrect. 

“It was a group of players with a very loud voice and a very high profile picking on one of the small boys in the playground, when really they should have been voicing their opinions with some of the bigger boys who have something to do with their issues.

“But I take that on board, and if it means we have to have more of a say with the Premier League, and bring those concerns to the table on their behalf, then so be it.”

As anger on both sides subsided, however, the door to reconciliation appeared to be creaking open. Rio and Anton Ferdinand released a joint statement indicating their willingness to work behind the scenes to help make Kick It Out “more relevant in its fight to stamp out racism in football”, and Jason Roberts, one of the organisation’s most vocal critics, presented ‘The Way Forward Document’ to all key parties involved, detailing the changes the protesters wanted to see enacted.

In the year since the boycott, the healing process appeared to be gathering pace. The PFA released a six-point plan to deal with the concerns raised and increased the number of staff in its Equalities Unit from one to five. Kick It Out established a new players’ advisory board, while the FA and Premier League were also receptive to the desire for a different approach.

One word, however, has brought all the old tensions bubbling angrily back to the surface. In his new autobiography, outgoing PFA chairman Clarke Carlisle describes his emotional reaction at the time of the t-shirt protest, condemning the players who “would happily throw in a grenade, but do nothing when it explodes”. He then lobs one of his own, labelling them “shithouses”.

The consequences have been predictably explosive. Many of the players concerned are believed to be deeply upset, while Roberts described the insult as “disgusting” and “wholly inappropriate” in an interview with the Independent on Sunday earlier this month.

Lord Ouseley, however, has broadly backed Carlisle’s argument, and Crooks – who says the former QPR defender, who prepares to stand down in November, has been a “magnificent chairman” – is also reluctant to condemn him. “From my perspective, the debate is helpful,” he insists. 

“What Clarke engaged in was the kind of argument you’d hear in every dressing room in the country every day, using dressing room language, which is often quite graphic. With that sort of thing there’s often an explosion, the dust settles, you shake hands and get on.

“What’s been displayed in the public arena is footballers having a row – strong opinions being voiced on an issue. It’s very healthy.

“I respect what Jason has said. I respect if Rio and Anton want to remain silent. I respect their position. They’re entitled to it, but Clarke’s entitled to his view as well. We’re all grown ups, we don’t have to agree with each other.”

Roberts was unavailable for comment when contacted by Goal, but did deliver a strongly-worded response to Carlisle’s comments on his personal blog earlier this month, while defending the attitude of the boycotters towards Kick It Out. “Far from being S***houses, cowardly or 'beating up on a small charity' we were fighting for its soul, and independence…a fight that has been lost,” he wrote.

Crooks disagrees with that gloomy assessment, and still views Roberts as a potential partner rather than an adversary. “I would welcome Jason into Kick It Out in a heartbeat, and if not perhaps the FA might find him a role,” he continues. “He’s articulate, he’s sharp, and he’s passionate about the subject. He has enough passion to add to our organisations, without doubt.”

At present, the prospect of such an alliance seems remote. But Crooks believes dialogue with the doubters is the way forward. “I would like to have the opportunity to hear their challenges and to talk through where they fall down, because there’s no doubt in my mind that they have a fundamental lack of understanding of what Kick It Out’s responsibility is,” he insists.
 
“Our responsibility is to raise issues and place them at the door of the only organisation [the FA] that can bring about change. We can’t affect it ourselves.”

Blanc: Paris Saint-Germain were in negotiations for Ozil

The Ligue 1 big spenders were in discussions over a move for the former Real Madrid playmaker before Arsenal secured his signature, although were not close to signing Juan Mata

Paris Saint-German coach Laurent Blanc has revealed his side were in negotiations over a move for Mesut Ozil before the Germany international opted to join Arsenal.

The Gunners smashed their transfer record after securing a €47 million deal to sign the midfield playmaker from Real Madrid, with Ozil having hit the ground running after grabbing an assist on his debut against Sunderland on Saturday.

Ligue 1 champions PSG were also strongly linked with a move for Chelsea star Juan Mata, with speculation over the summer suggesting that Jose Mourinho was ready to offload the former Valencia man as he actively pursued Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney.

Blanc, however, insists that it was Ozil that the big-spending French club were negotiating for, and not Spain international Mata. He told RMC: "Both players would have been good. 

"To my knowledge, the only negotiations that took place were over Ozil."

PSG are currently third in the Ligue 1 table with 11 points from a possible 15, while they got their Champions League campaign off to the perfect start with a 4-1 win over Olympiakos on Tuesday.

Rayo Vallecano-Barcelona Preview: Catalans target 17-game unbeaten run

Barcelona will be out to stretch their unbeaten La Liga run to 17 games when they travel to Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

Gerardo Martino's men have made an excellent start to the season, picking up 12 points from their first four games while scoring 14 goals.

Reigning champions Barca sit joint-top of the table with Atletico Madrid, and make the trip to face another side from the Spanish capital to whom they have not lost since 2002. 

The Catalan club won both outings between the two sides in emphatic fashion last season, dishing out a 5-0 thrashing at Rayo in October 2012, before easing to a 3-1 success at the Camp Nou in March. 

Their visit to the Campo de futbol de Vallecas in 2011-12, meanwhile, resulted in a 7-0 success. 

Lionel Messi scored four goals in last term's encounters and the Argentine talisman approaches this contest in fine form, having netted his 24th hat-trick for Barcelona in a 4-0 win over Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Messi, who has also scored six goals in three league appearances this season, will once again be expected to play a prominent role in the Barca side, but Martino's men will be without Jordi Alba, who has a hamstring injury.

Carles Puyol (knee) is close to recovery, but this game is likely to come too soon for the Barcelona captain, while Ibrahim Afellay (thigh) is also out.

Rayo have endured a dismal start to the campaign, tasting victory in just one of their four matches thus far.

That win came on the opening day of the season against newly promoted Elche, but since then Paco Jemez's men - who finished eighth last term - have collapsed, conceding 12 goals in their last three games.

Striker Lass Bangoura, sent-off in the defeat to Levante, is still suspended for Rayo, Nery Castillo is a doubt while Iago Falque (groin) and Jose Carlos (knee ligament) are both long-term absentees.

Nurnberg-Borussia Dortmund Preview: BVB aim to bounce back from Champions League disappointment

Borussia Dortmund will aim to bounce back from a midweek defeat by extending their record-breaking start in the Bundesliga at Nurnberg.

Jurgen Klopp's side suffered a 2-1 Champions League loss at Napoli on Wednesday and they will be keen to return to Germany where they have looked dominant in the early stages of the season.

Dortmund have won all five of their league matches so far - a club record to start a season - and they visit struggling Nurnberg on Saturday as strong favourites.

They scored four goals in just 16 second-half minutes against Hamburg in their last Bundesliga match, taking the game from 2-2 to a 6-2 hammering.

They travel to face a side who sit 16th in the table and are yet to win this season.

Dortmund, who have beaten Nurnberg in seven of their last eight league meetings, have scored more goals than any other team in the opening five matches of the Bundesliga season, averaging three goals per game.

New signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been responsible for five of those, while Polish forward Robert Lewandowski has added four.

Despite being sent off in Napoli, first-choice goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller is likely to play, although central defenders Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic are doubtful.

Hummels was substituted with a back injury in Italy, while Subotic was treated for a head problem.

Club captain Sebastian Kehl (foot), Ilkay Gundogan (back) and Lukasz Piszczek (hip) are all long-term absentees for Dortmund.

Timo Gebhart, Markus Feulner and Markus Mendler are all set to miss for Armin Reutershahn and Michael Wiesinger's men, but Javier Pinola will return from suspension.

Nurnberg striker Daniel Ginczek is aware of his side's poor start but hopes a visit from Dortmund will finally kick-start their season.

"We aren't at matchday 34 yet. We have played two bad games, but we will give all we can to be the first team to steal points off Dortmund," Ginczek told the club's official website.

Coach Michael Wiesinger, meanwhile, believes a sell-out home crowd at the Grundig-Stadion is sure to lift his side.

"Dortmund arrive with exceptional quality. We will have to be alert and carefully be aggressive. We must take matters into our own hands," Wiesinger said.

"The thought of playing in front of 50,000 fans is sheer motivation for us."

Revealed: Casillas set to stay despite miserable year at Real Madrid

The club captain has endured trying times in 2013 and suffered an injury on his return to the starting line-up on Tuesday. However, he has no plans to leave Spain in January

Iker Casillas is set to stay at Real Madrid until at least the summer despite his nightmare year at the Spanish side, Goal can reveal.

The Spain skipper has barely featured for Madrid in 2013 and was hit with a fresh setback on Tuesday as he was forced off through injury after just 13 minutes of his first-team return at Galatasaray in the Champions League.

CASILLAS CHAOS - A TIMELINE
DROPPED BY MOURINHO
DEC 22nd	The Real Madrid captain is left on the bench for the league game against Malaga as Adan starts
BACK IN AFTER ADAN'S RED CARD
JAN 6th	Casillas comes on against Real Sociedad after Adan is sent off for bringing down Carlos Vela
SUFFERS HAND FRACTURE
JAN 23rd	Sidelined with a bad injury after taking a kick to the hand from Alvaro Arbeloa at Valencia
MADRID SIGN DIEGO LOPEZ
JAN 25th	With Casillas sidelined, Mourinho brings in Diego Lopez from Sevilla on a long-term deal
MADE TO WAIT BY MOURINHO
MAR 29th	Iker is ready to return, but his coach claims he is "not match fit" and he sits out once more
BACK ON THE BENCH
APR 6th	Back in the Madrid squad but does not feature again in the first team for the rest of the season
MOURINHO: I PREFER DIEGO LOPEZ
MAY 7th	Mourinho once said Iker was the world's best but now claims he likes Diego Lopez better
LEFT OUT FOR MOU'S LAST GAME
JUN 1st	The Portuguese leaves the goalkeeper out of the squad for the game against Osasuna
BENCHED BY ANCELOTTI
AUG 18th	New coach, same conclusion: Casillas is left on the bench by Carlo Ancelotti for the league opener against Betis
INJURED IN REAL RETURN
SEP 17th	Iker is back in the Madrid line-up and starts well but injury curtails his return after just 13 minutes

The 32-year-old has considered his future since being omitted by Jose Mourinho last season and again by Carlo Ancelotti for the opening rounds of La Liga this term. However, he has been given hope of regaining his starting spot after appearing last week and would now be unable to sign for another Champions League side in January, in any case, following his cameo in Istanbul - which included three fine saves before he was replaced by Diego Lopez.

But there is more to it than that.

Casillas' partner, journalist Sara Carbonero, is 25 weeks pregnant and expecting a baby boy either late this year or in January 2014. Asked last week whether the baby would be born in Madrid, Carbonero gave an ambiguous reply:"I don't know if my son will be born in Madrid or not," she said. "But now is not the time to talk about that ..."

However, the pregnancy makes a move in January almost impossible: Carbonero will be unable to travel in December and will not want to uproot in the advanced stages of the antenatal procedure, while adapting to life in a new city without the support of friends or family is also far from ideal following the birth of a first child. With all of that in mind, Casillas has decided to remain in Spain until the summer at least.

At Madrid, however, there is concern that Casillas may seek a transfer next July. The 32-year-old is seen as an institution by the Santiago Bernabeu hierarchy, but Ancelotti's goalkeeping coach Villiam Vecchi backed Diego Lopez to start at the beginning of the campaign because of his extra sharpness in pre-season training. Iker, short of match fitness, was still playing catch-up; he still is.

"It [the injury] was bad luck," Ancelotti explained on Tuesday night. The Italian added: "[Iker] made a great save and showed he is in great form - he will play the next Champions League game."

It has since been confirmed that the goalkeeper will be out for only around five days with bruising to his ribs and he will therefore be back in the starting line-up for Madrid's next European fixture: at home to Danish side Copenhagen on October 2.

Although this is without question his most difficult year at the Santiago Bernabeu, Casillas has been out of the Madrid line-up before, having been benched by former Real coach Vicente del Bosque back in 2001-02. Even that had a happy ending as Iker made a heroic return in the Champions League final of that same season against Bayer Leverkusen, when he replaced the injured Cesar Sanchez and made a number of important saves as the Spanish side claimed the trophy for a ninth time.

Del Bosque (the first to drop Iker and now, ironically, the only one picking him) caused controversy recently by claiming the Spain shot-stopper has all but decided his future: "I asked Iker how he is; he told me he had got through some difficult moments, that he was more comfortable and more relaxed," the national coach explained earlier this month. "He told me he had half-resolved his future ..."

Spending most of his time on the bench right now and with fan criticism still ringing in his ears at every home game as he is accused of being a media 'mole' by sections of the Madrid support, Casillas will only consider staying at the club in the long term if he can regain his place in the side.

In the meantime, he has the support of his Madrid team-mates, including Diego Lopez. As Casillas left the pitch on Tuesday night, the two men embraced and the Galician later said: "It was a knock [that he received] and I could see that it was painful. We are all saddened by our team-mate's injury."

Ancelotti, meanwhile, has never previously rotated two goalkeepers in his 18-year coaching career, and the Italian tends to favour tall players between the sticks. "The best three goalkeepers I have coached are [Gianluigi] Buffon (at Juventus and Parma, 1.91m), Dida (Milan, 1.96m) and [Christian] Abbiati (Milan, 1.91m)," he has said.

Diego Lopez stands at 1.96m, towering over team-mate Iker (1.83m). So, while it is a big man who is keeping the Spain star out of the Madrid line-up at the moment (Lopez), it is a little guy (his soon-to-be-born son) who will ensure Casillas remains in the capital for the next few months, and, given his spectacular story of success with both Real and Spain, anything could happen by then.