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MADRID

Falcao not on Real Madrid radar: Ancelotti

Monaco's €60 million ($82m) striker Radamel Falcao is not on Real Madrid's shopping list, according to the Spaniards' coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Published: 14 December 2013 11:04 CET
Falcao not on Real Madrid radar: Ancelotti
Photo: AFP

Reports suggested Real were lining up a deal for the Colombian, particularly given speculation in France of a problem between Falcao and Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri — which has been denied by both parties.

But Ancelotti insisted Friday there is no truth in the rumours.

"Falcao is a great player but right now we're very happy with all our forwards because we score a lot of goals and combine well," said Ancelotti.

"I don't think Falcao is the player we need."

Falcao has missed Monaco's last three matches with a hamstring injury and is set to sit out against Guingamp as well on Saturday.

His absence has led to sections of the French press claiming all is not well between Monaco and their star signing.

But on Thursday, Falcao said: "I'm very happy at Monaco.

"My wife is very happy to live here. There's no problem with the coach, no problem with the doctor and no problem with the team.

"I've just got a little problem with a (hamstring). But I'll soon be playing again."

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OFFBEAT

Madrid police end escaped camels’ night on the town

Eight camels and a llama took to the streets of Madrid overnight after escaping from a nearby circus, Spanish police said on Friday.

Published: 6 November 2021 09:35 CET
A camel in a zoo
A file photo of a camel in a zoo. Photo: ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP

It was not immediately clear how the long-legged runaways managed to get out but Quiros Circus, which owns them, blamed sabotage by animal rights activists.

They were spotted at around 5:00 am wandering around the southern district of Carabranchel close to where the circus is currently based.

“Various camels and a llama escaped from a circus in Madrid overnight,” Spain’s national police wrote on Twitter, sharing images of eight two-humped camels and a llama hanging around a street corner.

“Police found them and took care of them so they could be taken back safe and sound,” they tweeted.

There was no word on whether the rogue revellers, who are known for spitting, put up any resistance when the police moved in to detain them.

Mati Munoz, one of the circus’ managers, expressed relief the furry fugitives — Bactrian camels who have two humps and thick shaggy coats – had been safely caught.

“Nothing happened, thank God,” he told AFP, saying the circus had filed a complaint after discovering the electric fence around the animals’ enclosure had been cut.

“We think (their escape) was due to an act of sabotage by animal rights groups who protest every year.”

Bactrian camels (camelus bactrianus) come from the rocky deserts of central and eastern Asia and have an extraordinary ability to survive in extreme conditions.

These days, the vast majority of them are domesticated.

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