La Liga

LUIS SUAREZ has already been paid a bonus thanks to his stunning form for Atletico Madrid.
The goal machine has hit the ground running since his move from Barcelona last summer.

Luis Suarez has bagged himself a bonus at Atletico MadridCredit: Splash News

The 33-year-old is LaLiga’s top scorer with 16 goals in 17 games, and seven in his last four.
His stunning form has fired Atletico Madrid to the top of LaLiga – five points ahead of Real Madrid with two games in hand.
Former club Barca are eight points behind.
And Mundo Deportivo report that the Uruguayan was paid a million Euros bonus (£880,000) for scoring 15 goals.

Suarez is also in line for another payout if and when he makes it to 20 goals, which seems like a formality.
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The Uruguay striker has found a new lease of life since his tearful exit from Barcelona last year.
Suarez was reportedly told by new boss Ronald Koeman that he wasn’t part of his plans.

He was seen driving out of the training ground for the last time in tears after six years at the club – during which he won four LaLigas and the Champions League.
Atletico have lost just one league game this season and Suarez credits manager Diego Simeone with their record.

Suarez is rejuvenated at Atletico Madrid after his tearful Barcelona exit last yearCredit: Barcelona FC

He told Onda Cero: “He is one of those coaches who convinces you by his desire and positivity and by everything he knows about this.
“I rely more on the coach’s conviction when speaking to you than on the style of play he has.
“Simeone is a coach who reaches out to you and motivates you.
“I would not like to be a coach, you suffer a lot and you can’t keep everyone happy.”

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IKER CASILLAS’ wife has been hospitalised after suffering a setback in her fight against cancer.
Sports journalist and model Sara Carbonero was admitted to a private hospital in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona just two days after turning 37.

Iker Casillas has been pictured driving to hospital to visit wife Sara Carbonero

Details of her new health scare emerged on Wednesday after she had to suspend work commitments.
Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker is said to be taking it in turns with Sara’s family to visit his wife at the University Clinic of Navarra Hospital.
She has been operated on at the hospital, which boasts of being the best private hospital in Spain on its website, after her admission last Friday.
Local reports quoting sources close to the journalist say she is recovering and looking forward to getting back to her daily life as normal if things go to plan.

Sara announced in May 2019 she had been operated on for ovarian cancer.
Doctors discovered the malignant tumour shortly after the heart attack which brought her husband’s playing career to a premature end.
She underwent surgery at Madrid’s prestigious Ruber International Clinic to remove the tumour before undergoing several months of chemotherapy.
Sara, who has two children with Iker, is yet to make an official comment.

Casillas and Carbonero are one of Spain’s most famous footballing love storiesCredit: Reuters

The couple have suffered a number of health scares in recent yearsCredit: Alamy Live News
Her last social media post, two days ago while still in hospital, was to publicise her participation in a new ad campaign for cosmetics firm L’Oreal.
Iker marked his wife’s birthday last Wednesday with a touching photo of her by the sea alongside a message that read: “The dance goes on…we have to dance to the end.”
He has also made no official comment as Spanish magazine Semana published photos of the 39-year-old, who made 725 appearances for Real Madrid, driving into the hospital where his wife is being looked after.
Her mum and sister are also said to be visiting her regularly along with her close friend Isabel Jimenez.
Sara announced she had cancer just three weeks after Casillas suffered his heart attack while he was training with Porto.
She admitted at the time: “When we hadn’t yet recovered from one shock, life has surprised us again.
“This time it’s my turn, that wonderful word of six letters that I dare not write.”
Real Madrid announced in December that the club legend had joined the club foundation as assistant to the general director, saying in a statement: “Real Madrid are proud to welcome one of their great captains home.”

The 39-year-old former Spanish international, dubbed Saint Iker for his ability to produce spectacular saves, officially announced his retirement from football last August.
He married Sara in March 2016 three months before the birth of their second child Lucas.
They famously kissed on air during a post-match interview after Spain won the 2010 World Cup.

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REAL MADRID legend Enrique Perez, or Pachin as he was affectionately known, has passed away at the age of 82.
The former defender had been battling illness for a number of years and entered hospital in the Spanish capital over a month ago, according to Marca.

Enrique Perez, or Pachin, has died at the age of 82Credit: Getty Images – Getty

The defender (back row, third from left) won two European Cups with Real MadridCredit: Getty – Contributor

On Wednesday, the LaLiga club confirmed his passing and paid tribute to a long career at the Bernabeu.
Joining in 1959 from Osasuna, Pachin made his debut for Real and the Spanish national team later that season.
At the end of his first campaign, he started in Madrid’s 7-3 European Cup final victory over Eintracht Frankfurt that saw Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo di Stefano share the goals.
The next season, Real won the first of seven consecutive LaLiga titles that Pachin played a part in.

The Spaniard also featured in triumphs in the 1960 Intercontinental Cup and the 1966 European Cup.
Madrid released a statement to join in the tributes to Pachin.

Real Madrid are deeply saddened by the passing of Enrique Perez Pachin, one of the great legends who wore our club’s jersey.

Club captain Sergio Ramos tweeted ‘RIP’ as the 82-year-old was hailed as ‘one of the great legends’ in Los Blancos history.
The club statement read: “Real Madrid, the club’s president and the Board of Directors are deeply saddened by the passing of Enrique Perez Pachin, one of the great legends who wore our club’s jersey between 1959 and 1968.

“Real Madrid would like to express its condolences and its warmth and sympathy to his wife Mercedes, his daughters Cristina and Mercedes, his grandchildren Javier and Cristina and all his relatives and loved ones.
“During his nine seasons at Real Madrid he played 218 games and won two European Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, seven Spanish Leagues and one Spanish Cup.

Pachin (back row, left) reunited with his fellow legends of the 1960 triumph at the 2002 finalCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing – The Sun Glasgow

“He was also an international with the Spanish national team.
“Pachin passed away at the age of 82. Real Madrid, the club to which he was associated with throughout his life, extends its condolences to all of madridismo.”
Pachin left Madrid in 1968 and played for Real Betis and Toluca before embarking on a long coaching career, overseeing the likes of Valladolid, Levante and Albacete.

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REAL MADRID will sign either Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe this summer, according to reports.
The LaLiga champions have endured a disappointing campaign to date, currently sitting eight points off the pace at the top of the table.

Mbappe’s future could be pointing away from PSGCredit: AP:Associated Press

Erling Haaland is rubbing his hands together at the prospect of scoring goals in Manchester or MadridCredit: AFP

Club president Florentino Perez decided against signing a single player last summer as the coronavirus pandemic compromised clubs’ finances all around the world.
But that frugality is set to end this time around as Real Madrid re-enter the market with a bang.
With Karim Benzema having turned 33, Perez is interested in recruiting a long-term successor for the Frenchman at Santiago Bernabeu.
And the 73-year-old is aiming high.

According to Spanish paper El Chiringuito, Real Madrid are ‘clear’ in their intentions – that they ‘will sign Haaland or Mbappe this summer’.
The latter, 22, is a central part of PSG’s plans going forward as they aim to dominate Europe under Mauricio Pochettino.
But with his contract expiring in 2022 and talks yet to be concluded, Madrid sense an opportunity.
According to AS, a new deal could include a clause that means he is free to talk to Los Blancos if they match an asking price in the contract.

Florentino Perez is aiming high this summerCredit: EPA
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Haaland, 20, meanwhile, is also being courted by Manchester City.
The Mirror claim City are ‘prepared to blow his suitors out of the water’ with a £100m bid at the end of this season.
And they are reportedly ready to offer the youngster a whopping £400,000-a-week to come to the Etihad.

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BARCELONA boss Ronald Koeman slammed his side’s fixture pile-up for ‘killing’ his players as he begged football bosses to help change things.
The Dutchman has already presided over ten games in 2021 with SEVEN more games to go this month.

Ronald Koeman said the fixture frenzy was ‘killing’ his Barcelona playersCredit: EPA

The Catalan giants’ manager has implored Fifa and LaLiga to do more to protect the welfare of his stars.
This season started later than usual and with restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic – players are being asked to take the field more frequently than ever before.
Koeman, 57, told Marca: “It is difficult. The number of games that the big teams have, with three competitions, on top of the Covid situation, makes everything more difficult.
“You have to talk with the players to see how they are physically, their feelings.

“Sometimes you have to give someone a rest to be able to have everyone in the best condition.”
Barca’s mega run starts with tonight’s league game away at Real Betis before they are back down in Andalusia to face Sevilla in the Copa Del Rey on Wednesday.
Speaking on Saturday, Koeman said: “If we count tomorrow’s game and Wednesday’s game, there are 12 games in a row, of which 11 are away from home.
“And that’s playing at 9pm, coming home at 3am in the morning. It is difficult for the players to be able to play all the time. We need help.”

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Barcelona’s hectic February fixture pile-up

LaLiga: Real Betis vs Barcelona, Sunday February 7
Copa del Rey semi-final: Sevilla vs Barcelona, Wednesday February 10
LaLiga: Barcelona vs Alaves, Saturday February 13
Champions League last 16: Barcelona vs PSG, Tuesday February 16
LaLiga: Barcelona vs Cadiz, Sunday February 21
LaLiga: Barcelona vs Elche, Wednesday February 24
LaLiga: Sevilla vs Barcelona, Sunday February 28

Koeman pleaded with footy chiefs to take action as he added: “I hope that one day Uefa or LaLiga will think about the number of games and what this does to the players.
“It is not normal. The games we’ve had to play, the trips, the schedules, playing the Supercopa between four teams, in my opinion, it is a lot.
“Each coach has his opinion about the fixture schedule that the players have to go through. I think this has to stop, it’s killing the players. We will have many injuries as a result of this. It is impossible.
“Hopefully one day they will make a decision to help the players with their fitness.”

I think this has to stop, it’s killing the players. We will have many injuries as a result of this. It is impossible.”
Ronald Koeman

Barca sit fourth in LaLiga, ten points behind leaders Atletico Madrid and play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16 later this month.
The Spanish giants are set to lose skipper Lionel Messi in the summer with the Argentine’s contract expiring.
Messi is said to be ‘tired and frustrated’ at continued links with European opponents PSG.
But former Barca and Brazil icon Rivaldo admitted the skipper is ‘increasingly likely’ to leave the club due to their ‘bad agenda’.

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