Liverpool courts Tello

Cristian Tello has been watched by Liverpool for some time, but the English club has finally decided to act, and its managing director, Ian Ayre, arrived in Barcelona on Monday to negotiate with both the Azulgranas and the player.

Barcelona, in principle, wouldn't be opposed to loaning the youngster out, but a transfer can't be ruled out if a sizeable offer comes in. Tello dreams of playing for the club he's grown up with but he knows he won't be in the first team.

The youngster had hoped that he would be called up to the first team, but Barça has decided that he'll stay with the B-team. The club was, however, planning to improve his contract. The promising forward, who joined up with the Barcelona squad late because he was involved at the Olympics, has also been able to get some playing time in the last two pre-season friendlies in Gothenburg and Bucharest.

Liverpool's manager, Brendan Rogers, is looking for a forward and has made it clear to the club that Tello is what he's looking for. The Merseyside club's interest in the player isn't new anyway. When Kenny Dalglish was in charge Liverpool already expressed an interest in the winger and Barça said no.

Sahin wants to go to Arsenal, Mou prefers Liverpool

Nuri Sahin may have the definitive answer on his future this very week. Everything points to the Turkish midfielder's destiny lying in the Premier League. The player who was voted Bundesliga Player of the Year only two seasons ago still has a good reputation in Europe.

Madrid wants the player to regain his confidence and form by playing regularly in a competitive league. They still have faith at the Bernabéu that he has a promising future; he's only 23 and has a contract until 2017. That is the reason Real Madrid is only considering a loan agreement or, otherwise, a transfer in which it maintains a repurchase option. There do not appear to be any obstacles to a deal as both Arsenal and Liverpool are well disposed to Madrid's proposal.

Herein lies the problem, however. The player would prefer to join Arsène Wenger's team in Arsenal. The offer from the Gunners and the chance to play alongside footballers like Robin Van Persie or even Santi Cazorla, appeals to the Turk. However, Madrid's manager sees Liverpool as ideal.

Mourinho has his reasons for that. Liverpool's manager, Brendan Rodgers, had his introduction to the Premier League as coach of Chelsea's reserve team while Mou was in charge. He is someone Mou trusts and admires. "Liverpool will relive its glory days with Rodgers", he commented on learning of the Reds0' new managerial appointment.

Sahin's loan move is expected to be confirmed this week

Nuri Sahin is expected to complete a loan move to the Premiership this week. Arsenal are the club that have shown the most interest in the Turk, who last month did not travel with Madrid to their friendly against Benfica in Lisbon because he was negotiating the move with representatives from Madrid and Arsenal. Negotiations did not go as planned, and Sahin travelled with his team-mates to the United States for their pre-season tour. However, Wenger has maintained his interest in Sahin nonetheless. The player's agent, Reza Fazeli, meanwhile revealed "there are many clubs who are interested in him, we'll just have to wait and see".

Sahin's loan deal does not depend on whether or not Madrid sign Luka Modric, even though Spurs are one of the clubs who have been knocking at Sahin's door. Sahin will go on loan regardless if the Croatian joins Madrid (at the moment, it looks as if he will).

Mourinho wants Sahin to get more matches under his belt, something he cannot guarantee at Real Madrid due to his level of fitness and mental state. Before the game with Benfica Mourinho said: "I want to be honest. Sahin is in a grey area because the transfer window is open. It'll be for the best if he goes to another club and has a chance to play more games."

It's clear that Mourinho does not want Sahin in his team next season, so much so that during the tour of the USA he played him at left-back in training and in matches as opposed to in central midfield, his usual and preferred position and the one in which he won player of the season with Borussia Dortmund in 2011/11.

Sahin does not want to leave Real Madrid, even on loan, and has made this clear to the club. However, he also knows he may have to accept Madrid's decision to let him go for a season or two. Sahin was bought as cover for Xavi Alonso but last season only played in 10 games due to injury.

Luka Modric to Real Madrid: money is no longer the issue

The Luka Modric soap opera is coming to a close. Discussions between Tottenham and Real Madrid in the last few days have been very productive, with the clubs close to reaching a fee they can both agree on. The transfer fee no longer seems to be the issue and an agreement is imminent. The operation is expected to be finalised for 32 million euros plus bonuses. Only a few days ago Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was asking for 38 million euros, and he began negotiations demanding 45 million euros, a fee Paris Saint-Germain were believed to be ready to pay until Modric made it clear he only wanted to join Real Madrid.

Now the only factor preventing the transfer being confirmed is Tottenham's need to find a replacement for the Croatian, and the Londoners have asked Real Madrid to wait until they've signed a new midfielder, or at least are on the verge of singing someone. Some of Spurs targets include Porto's Moutinho Partizan Blegrade's Medo Kamara or France international M'Vila, who is currently at Rennes.

Whoever the new midfielder is, it seems as if it's now a case of when Modric signs for Madrid rather than if.

Professor Zidane

Thousands of children dream of becoming part of Real Madrid's youth set-up. Only a chosen few are able to realise that dream and, of those, the privileged few make it to play for Castilla, the final rung on the climb to the heady heights of the Bernabéu.

This year, however, there is a bonus for playing in the Madrid youth team; a double bonus. Following five years of exile in Segunda B (the Spanish Third Division), Castilla has again been promoted to the silver level of Spanish football (the Second Division, Segunda A). In addition to that, Toril's team will have the best football teacher imaginable: Zinedine Zidane.

Zizou will give individual classes to the Castilla and Real Madrid select while completing his training for the next step in his professional career: becoming a coach. Zidane's work will once again see him dressed in football kit and with a ball at his feet. Just like the good old days.

On the pitch, he will focus on field training with the reserve team footballers. The hero of Real Madrid's ninth Champions League win's main mission will be to instruct the midfielders and attacking midfielders from the reserve teams, particularly those from Castilla, Madrid C and the youth players. Technical moves, dribbling, long and short passing, shooting…That is to say, private masterclasses from the French genius.

Nacho and Callejón, Madrid's youngsters of the moment

From the young players who were involved in Madrid's pre-season tour, Nacho has proved to be quite a revelation. Without a right-back to replace Arbeloa, the young defender ended up playing in every game and notched up 162 minutes on the pitch.

It's also possible to draw conclusions about the battle between Varane and Albiol for a starting place, and the answer seems clear. Mou left the Spaniard out for a while, but the tour has shown that he's the favourite to start rather than the Frenchman, who's just been called up to his national squad. Albiol played the fifth most minutes during the tour.

Those who are definite to get a start, Ramos, Alonso, and Arbeloa, have had a similar amount of action, as have Khedira and Özil. Mou has managed their time on the pitch to take into account the internationals this week.

Regarding Kaká, the manager has shown that he isn't going to leave the Brazilian out, although he won't be a pivotal player either. It's also worth mentioning Jesé. The star of the B-team, who scored in the first game, only played for 37 minutes. He wasn't involved in the games against Milan and Celtic.

However, the man who stood out most during the tour might be Callejón. He played in every game, and did so at a consistently high level. Bringing him on off the bench has undoubtedly been Mou's best trump card, and with three goals he was the pre-season's top scorer. His form would suggest he's ready to get into the starting eleven, but as usual it's difficult to know who could be dropped to let the youngster get a game.

Mourinho: "They call me the Special One and it should be the Only One"

José Mourinho, the Real Madrid manager, said that the nickname he was known by in English football, the 'Special One', should be changed to the 'Only One', after having won the English, Italian and Spanish leagues.

"In England I was referred to as the 'Special One'. Things have continued to go well for me, thank God, and, whether you like it or not, I'm the only manager to have won the English, Italian and Spanish leagues. As such, instead of the 'Special One' they should start to call me unique", he said in an interview with the Portuguese TV channel SIC.

Mourinho assures that, with time, "after having won practically everything" with the clubs that he's managed, he's "continually becoming less egotistical and egocentric." He remembers his time with Inter Milan with particular fondness. "Making a team like Inter win again, after 50 years, gives me particular pleasure. That's my type of challenge."

Aged 49 and soon to start his third season with Real Madrid, the Portuguese admits that he likes to win for the pleasure it gives to those around him. "I've always preferred the happiness of others, of those who surround me. That's why winning with Inter was particularly pleasing. These are challenges, not personal goals."