Balague says they wanted Johnson on loan as well, it seems they're not too keen on paying big money for a wideman from England.

Haven't they been linked with Amantino Mancini, too?

be very careful when reading AS. it's a real madrid propaganda rag, just as SPORT is for barcelona.
and do you really think latics would let him go on loan?

He's only on loan at Latics anyway isn't he?

signed him start of 2008
rlhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/7195636.stmrl

Overrated showpony. Real are welcome to him. God knows why Inter signed him in the first place.

Thanks - still in FM08 mode

If Wigan don't get European football this year he'll be off I'm sure - already talk of him and Palacios going to United or Liverpool last summer so should make the most of them while Latics have them.

I thought Marca was Madrid's rag?

they essentially perform the same function. AS is marginally more accurate with its transfer rumours in my experience, though they're still incredibly pro-Madrid. Not once since I've begun reading it have Barcelona made the top story.

Spanish paper for a Spanish team Mr. Penguin. There's enough pro-Barca stuff out there

Marca is the 'sensible' madrid rag. el mundo deportivo being barcelona's reasoned argument

Valencia only signed for £1.5 million so we will make a great profit if he does go.

TBF, the girl guides could probably find a better defence than Madrid at the moment. However, Arbeloa is crap regardless of whether he is better than what they have at the moment or not.

Madrid, happily, are a joke team at the moment anyway. Arbeloa would probably fit in well.

Visca El Barca.

Preview of the weekendgame of the round
Sunday January 4
16:00 Almeria v Real Betis Balompié
16:00 Athletic Bilbao v Espanyol
16:00 Real Madrid v Villarreal
16:00 Recreativo Huelva v C.D Numancia
16:00 Valladolid v Racing Santander
16:00 Málaga v Sporting de Gijón
18:00 Sevilla v Osasuna
20:00 Getafe v Deportivo la Coruna

After the Christmas hiatus, La Liga is back and two matches immediately stand out. Valencia, whose recent form goes DWLWL, welcome Atletico Madrid to the Mestalla on Saturday – a rojiblancos outfit unbeaten in 15 matches in all competitions – where have all the Aguirre critics gone all of a sudden? These two are level on points and a win for either would go a long way to entrenching their position in the top four. Its Saturday’s second live game, following Barcelona’s match against struggling Mallorca. The islanders are in all sorts of bother on and off the pitch, and its unlikely to get any easier visiting the leaders. Andres Iniesta should be back from injury and one expects Guardiola’s men to start 2009 as they ended 2008 – comfortably.

On Sunday, Real Madrid and Villarreal clash at the Bernabau. Another two who are level on points in the UEFA Cup places, recently things have been hard for both. Pellegrini’s side are 3 games without a win while Ramos will get his first chance to utilize Lassana Diarra. This one could go either way but if anyone’s capable of springing a shock it’s the Yellow Submarine. A top-half clash also later in the capital as Getafe host high-flying Deportivo who seem to at last have got their groove back this campaign. Getafe are a tough nut to crack at home but Depor are in such good form they could well succeed where the likes of Real Madrid and Valladolid have failed.

Elsewhere, Nikola Zigic and Toni Moral are in line for Racing Debuts away at Valladolid, Sevilla will hope that Osasuna’s flamboyant end to 2008 does not stretch into 2009 at the Pizjuan and two of the promoted sides meet in Andalucia as Malaga meet Sporting Gijon. Along the coast relegation strugglers clash as Recreativo and Numancia will no doubt battle desperately for points. Hugo Sanchez’s first assignment as Almeria coach is the visit of Real Betis while in the Basque country Athletic Bilbao, going nicely, will look to take 3 points off Espanyol who are still looking for their first win under new coach Mané.