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Goooool! Cristiano Ronaldo makes history as Real Madrid top scorer

Cristiano Ronaldo became the club's joint leading scorer of all time with two goals on Wednesday, but refused to commit his future to Real Madrid.

Published: 1 October 2015 09:09 CEST
Goooool! Cristiano Ronaldo makes history as Real Madrid top scorer
Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP

Ronaldo equalled Raul's record of 323 goals for the Spanish giants in their 2-0 Champions League win over Malmo despite Raul playing over 400 games more for Los Blancos than the Portuguese star, who also passed 500 career goals on the night.

Ronaldo has long been linked with a return to Manchester United, where he starred between 2003 and 2009 before a then world record €80 million ($90 million, £59 million) transfer to Madrid.

A move to Paris Saint Germain or even a shock transfer to Major League Soccer in the United States have also been rumoured.

“I am happy here, I want to win things here. I feel good, but as I have said millions of times no one knows what will happen in the future,” the three-time World Player of the Year told Spanish radio station Cadena SER.

“We will see what happens tomorrow but at this moment in time I am happy at Real Madrid,” he added.

“No one knows what will happen next year. I am happy here, but you never know what will happen in the future.

“I have to achieve things here, I feel good, I want to win things with Real Madrid because I think this club has potential to win things, but I don't know what will happen in the future.”

Ronaldo spoke to the Spanish media present in Sweden for the first time since February after Real were humiliated 4-0 by Atletico Madrid.

The Portuguese was heavily criticised for going ahead with his 30th birthday party the night of that defeat after Colombian rapper Kevin Roldan posted pictures of Ronaldo and other Madrid players enjoying themselves on social media.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique then sarcastically thanked Roldan for his part in Madrid's rivals success after they won the treble of La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey last season.

“It isn't the moment to speak about these things. When I don't speak it is because something isn't right, so every one can think what they like,” added Ronaldo.

“It was my decision. I didn't want to speak and there is no one that obliges me to. I speak when I want to, Real Madrid have never put pressure on me to speak.

“Why do I not speak more often? Because the questions aren't good. What does this (Roldan) have to do with the game?

“You want to put me in a mess with what Pique has done, why does that matter to me?”

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FOOTBALL

Black Lives Matter: Marcelo ‘takes the knee’ to celebrate Real Madrid win

Marcelo celebrated by taking a knee as Real Madrid returned from three months away following the coronavirus suspension by beating Eibar 3-1 on Sunday.

Published: 15 June 2020 09:42 CEST
Black Lives Matter: Marcelo 'takes the knee' to celebrate Real Madrid win
Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo kneels on the field to celebrate his goal. Photo: AFP

After scoring Madrid's third goal in the 37th minute, Marcelo dropped onto his left knee and raised his clinched right fist into the air, apparently in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Madrid's win may have come at a cost as Eden Hazard and Sergio Ramos were both substituted early in the second half and were seen with ice packs strapped to them while sitting in the stands.

Hazard was making his first start since February and his ice pack appeared to be around his troublesome right ankle, which he injured in November and February, before undergoing surgery in March.

“We knew Eden would lack a bit of rhythm playing the whole game,” coach Zinedine Zidane said.

“He played well for an hour, he took a knock which was a scare but at half-time he said he was fine. He is happy with what he has done and we are happy with him.”

Madrid's win means they reduce the gap behind league leaders Barcelona back to two points after the Catalans thrashed Real Mallorca 4-0 on Saturday.    

Madrid struck in the fourth minute after a superb strike from Toni Kroos before Ramos tucked away Hazard's pass on the counter-attack.    

Eibar pulled one back in the second half through Pedro Bigas but never found the second to make Madrid nervous, despite a brief spell of pressure.    

Before going off, Hazard was busy, the Belgian involved in all three goals.    

His weaving run through midfield led to Kroos' shot and it was his effort that was cleared out to Marcelo, who drove into the corner.    

After a miserable opening season in Spain, it was a bright start for Hazard, who could now redeem himself by playing a crucial role in the run-in, if he can stay injury-free.

Perhaps even more impressive though was Karim Benzema, who linked up brilliantly with Hazard and was unfortunate not to get the goal an excellent all-round performance deserved.

Gareth Bale started on the bench but came on and could start against Valencia on Thursday.

Zidane is likely to rotate heavily over the next few weeks, with the games coming thick and fast.

New surroundings

Madrid's coach will also have been pleased to get off to a positive start in their new training ground home, which was the 100th different stadium to be used in La Liga.

They will be playing all their remaining home matches at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium to allow renovation work at the Santiago Bernabeu to continue this summer.

“We know the situation, it's all a bit strange,” said Zidane. “But the players are all champions and we have to get our heads around it.”    

Barca had needed less than two minutes to score against Mallorca and Madrid were only slightly later, as Hazard broke through Eibar's midfield and Casemiro set Benzema free.

The ball was cleared to Kroos on the edge of the area, who struck first time, sidefooting perfectly into the far top right-hand corner.   

Ramos doubled their advantage after starting, and finishing, a ruthless counter-attack. In between, Benzema and Hazard were involved again, the former picking out the latter, who generously gave Ramos an open goal.

Marcelo put Eibar all but out of sight before half-time as Benzema played through for Hazard and his shot spilled out to Marcelo to lash into the corner.

Eibar were better after the break as Edu Exposito forced a full-stretch save from Thibaut Courtois and then Sergi Enrich headed against the crossbar. 

Bigas did score after diverting in Pedro Leon's shot but Madrid held on.    

Earlier, Diego Costa scored his first goal since October but Atletico Madrid missed the chance to move into La Liga's top four by drawing 1-1 away at Athletic Bilbao.

Costa celebrated by holding up the shirt of Virgina Torrecilla, a player from Atletico's women's team, who underwent surgery on a brain tumour last month.

His equaliser came two minutes after the excellent Iker Muniain had given Bilbao the lead towards the end of the first half and neither side could find a winner at the empty San Mames, with Atletico defender Santiago Arias missing the best chance late on.

Diego Simeone's side stay sixth, level on points with Getafe and one behind Real Sociedad, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Osasuna.

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