AS claimed the Portuguese coach had come to an agreement with Real president Florentino Perez on Friday, the day before Mourinho’s Inter Milan side beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Champions League final in Madrid.

Marca, which headlined “Real Madrid recruits a champion”, said the new coach of the Spanish giants would be unveiled on either Tuesday or Wednesday.

The two sports dailies concurred that the length of the contract would be four years, with the former Chelsea coach netting €10 million a season.

Some Inter players could also follow Mourinho to Madrid, according to the papers, notably Brazilian right-back Maicon and Argentinian striker Diego Milito, the former Zaragoza player who scored a brace against Bayern on Saturday.

Mourinho, who also guided Porto to European glory in 2004, follows Ernst Happel and Ottmar Hitzfeld as a member of the select band of coaches to have won the Champions League with two different clubs.

The Portuguese, who joined Inter two years ago, has also won two Serie A titles and an Italian Cup.

And speaking after the Champions League final, he acknowledged to having his eye on making history and confirmed that he would meet Perez on Monday.

“I want to be the only coach to win the Champions League with three different clubs,” he said. “It’s more likely that I will leave rather than stay.

“Only Real are interested in me but I haven’t spoken with anyone and I haven’t signed anything,” said the Portuguese coach, who has delivered Inter’s first European title since 1965.

“When I win I don’t stop and in Italy I have won everything. I’ve won the Champions League with two clubs and I can do it with three.

“There are many things (in Italy) that I haven’t liked and for three to four months I’ve been thinking of going.”

He said that only after speaking to Perez will he know if Real can offer him what he wants.

“I don’t know their project yet, I need to know it first and that’s why I can’t (yet) say I’m the coach of Madrid,” he said.

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Reigning champions Barca lead their arch rivals by a point with two matches left and play at Champions League hopefuls Sevilla, in fourth, while Real host Athletic Bilbao, who are eighth and bidding for a Europa League berth.

Ronaldo’s hat-trick against Real Mallorca on Wednesday put the Portuguese third on the La Liga scoring chart with 25, one behind team mate Gonzalo Higuain, and Argentine Messi leads on 31 after his double against Tenerife on Tuesday.

Ronaldo became the world’s most expensive player when he joined Real from Manchester United for around €94 million at the end of last season, while Messi has been at Barca since the age of 13. A Barca victory in Sevilla and a slip-up by Real at home to Bilbao will guarantee Pep Guardiola’s side a second straight title as they won both this season’s “Clasicos” and head-to-head record separates sides if they are level on points.

Barca’s total of 93 from 36 matches is a record, surpassing the 92 accumulated by Real under Fabio Capello in the 1996-97 season when there were 22 teams rather than 20.

“Let’s hope Sevilla can take points off them, but our fate is not in our own hands,” Real coach Manuel Pellegrini said at a news conference after the 4-1 win in Mallorca.

“Our obligation is to get to 98 points and we’ll see if Barca can get to 99.” Five teams are deep in relegation trouble, with promoted Xerez hanging on by a technical thread after their 3-1 defeat at Valencia on Tuesday.

Tiny Xerez, who have an annual budget around 40 times smaller than Real and Barca, are bottom on 30 points and their superior head-to-head record over Malaga is the only thing that is saving them from going straight back down.

Racing Santander are in 17th on 36, one point above the relegation places and the same tally as Malaga in 16th, who have a superior head-to-head record. Tenerife are 18th on 35 and Real Valladolid are 19th with 33.

In Saturday’s games, which are all at 1900 GMT, Xerez host Real Zaragoza, Racing travel to Valladolid, Malaga play at Getafe and Tenerife host Almeria.

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Real were comfortable 4-2 winners over local rivals Getafe on Thursday as they moved back to the summit, above Barcelona on goal difference, and now face more illustrious neighbours Atletico at their fortress Santiago Bernabeu where they have won all 14 home matches in the league.
Madrid have held the upper hand in the city derby to the extent that Atletico have not managed to beat their rivals for over a decade with their last win back in the 1999/00 season.

Real have plundered 78 goals in the league this season with Gonzalo Higuain leading the way with 22 goals in 22 appearances after grabbing a brace against Getafe.

“I am happy with my form and to be scoring goals,” said Higuain.

“There are 10 games left which is a long way to go and we have to stay calm and do what we have been doing. Now we have to concentrate on beating Atletico (Madrid) on Sunday.”

Real, who will face Barcelona on the weekend of April 10/11, won the first game 3-2 in a scintillating derby at the Vicente Calderon that could have ended in a draw but for a fine last minute save from Iker Casillas.

Atletico defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 on Thursday to move five points off the top six and captain Antonio Lopez said his side were far from intimidated.

“Real Madrid don’t scare me,” said Antonio Lopez. “They are special games and we hope for a different result to that of the last few years.

“We started the league campaign very poorly and now we are in no-man’s land but we are going to climb up some places in the table.”

Champions Barcelona, behind Real on goal difference, have a testing game on Saturday when they travel to fourth-placed Real Mallorca who have been a real force at home this season.

Mallorca have won 12 out of their 13 home games and beat Barcelona in this fixture last season, although Barca had already been crowned champions.

Barcelona scrapped to a 2-0 win over Osasuna on Wednesday in what was a far from vintage performance but they got the points thanks to late goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Bojan Krkic.

“We have to win games whatever it takes because we have a team (Real Madrid) up there with us that is doing very well and it is going to be very complicated for us and them,” said midfielder Andres Iniesta.

People are saying Barcelona are not as strong as last season but their tally of 71 points is two more than they had at the same stage last season. The problem is Real have upped the ante with 71 points compared with their 63 at this stage 12 months ago.

In other matches, Sevilla travel to Villarreal on Sunday as they come to terms with the dismissal of coach Manolo Jimenez on Tuesday following the 1-1 draw with bottom side Xerez.

Jimenez has guided Sevilla to the Kings Cup final but a Champions League exit to CSKA Moscow and no win since late February in the league brought about the end of his two-and-a-half year tenure.

Sevilla are currently outside the Champions League spots in fifth, two points behind Mallorca, and have a long injury list with Diego Perotti, Jesus Navas and Luis Fabiano three key players on the sidelines.

Villarreal have changed coaches too this season getting rid of Ernesto Valverde and his replacement Juan Carlos Garrido is trying to get the club into the top six.

At the moment Villarreal are five points off the European places.

Valencia have taken advantage of Villarreal’s and Sevilla’s woes this season to claim third place, six points above Mallorca, and are targeting a third consecutive win at Real Zaragoza on Saturday.

Valencia’s top-scorer David Villa is expected to be out after going to hospital with head trauma.

Fixtures

Saturday

Malaga v Tenerife
Real Mallorca v Barcelona
Real Zaragoza v Valencia

Sunday

Osasuna v Almeria
Xerez v Valladolid
Espanyol v Sporting Gijon
Deportivo La Coruna v Getafe
Villarreal v Sevilla
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid

Monday

Athletic Bilbao v Racing Santander

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The 24-year-old is the “favourite” of Real chairman Florentino Perez “for the new plan,” the newspaper ABC said.

Perez “has had his eye on Rooney for a long time, even more so in view of the great season he’s having”.

The England striker has unleashed an incredible burst of 24 goals in his last 22 matches that have kept United in contention in both the Premier League and Champions League.

Spanish media says it is unlikely that Rooney will follow former United star David Beckham to Spain.

Real are unlikely to accept the probable €70 million price tag and United manager Alex Ferguson is unwilling “to lose a player who is a substitute for Cristiano” Ronaldo, the Portuguese winger who was signed by Real last year for a world record fee.

Sports daily Marca reported Real are also keen on Chelsea’s England defender Ashley Cole to boost their back line.

The club splashed out more than €250 million on world stars last summer and are currently top of the Primera Liga on goal difference from Barcelona.

However, their exit from the Champions League in the last-16 stage to Lyon last week means they are now looking to prepare for next season.

The Portuguese forward opened the scoring with a trademark free kick on 18 minutes and was in unstoppable form to help set up four more goals as Real trimmed the gap between them and leaders Barcelona to two points.
It was the perfect tonic for Manuel Pellegrini’s side after their 1-0 Champions League defeat at Lyon on Tuesday and came a day after Ronaldo’s native Madeira was struck by violent floods and mudslides that killed at least 42 people.

“It was an exhibition,” Jose Samano wrote in daily El Pais under the headline: “Cristiano catches fire.”

“Ronaldo had been inspired either by his competitive nature, which has driven him since childhood, or the tragic rainstorms over his native Madeira, or a desire to put the setback against Lyon right as quickly as possible,” Samano added.

The world’s most expensive player had been criticised at times for being selfish since his summer move from Manchester United, but it was his creativity and generosity, as well as his awesome talent, that caught the eye against Villarreal.

“The Madrid attack found a one-man orchestra, capable of expressing himself in all the offensive forays,” wrote Orfeo Suarez in El Mundo.

“This was seen from his demonstration of power for the first goal, of speed and precision for the third, of intelligence in creating the opening for the fourth and of astuteness for the penalty in the sixth of the night,” he added.

“This Madrid, the Madrid of Cristiano, is like a predator: if you give it any advantage it won’t show mercy. It will kill you.”

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Writing in Publico, Ladislao Monino said Pellegrini’s decision to deploy Ronaldo on the flanks was key.

“Without doubt it was on the wing where Cristiano played his best match in white,” Monino wrote.

“He returned to his origins. There on the flank, where the white line limits a winger’s space, where the only escape is with a piece of exquisite skill or trick, Cristiano showed his most extreme version.”

Ronaldo offered his help to the people of Madeira on Sunday — after scoring his goal he lifted his shirt to reveal a vest with the name of the island written across it — and Marca columnist Roberto Palomar noted that the 25-year-old was motivated by the floods on the Atlantic ocean resort.

“Spurred on emotionally by the tragedy in Madeira, the lad deployed all of the repertoire we expect,” Palomar wrote.

“One supposes that as well as shooting, taking free kicks, orchestrating moves and making passes, Cristiano Ronaldo is also the one who folds the shirts, cleans the boots and cuts the grass,” he added.
“The only thing he doesn’t do is sell tickets at the gate.”

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Real veteran Guti (33) has been the talk of the Madrid media after his audacious back heel — which has been replayed constantly on Spanish television this week — set up Real’s standout goal against Depor and the club hope he can produce more moments of magic as they attempt to overtake Barca.
Barcelona have notched up four consecutive wins without conceding a goal and will entertain Getafe at Camp Nou on Saturday before Real take to the field against Espanyol.

“It was important for us to lift the Depor curse and the league is far from over,” said Guti. “Barcelona don’t seem to drop any points so we can’t afford to make any mistakes.”

Guti looked to be on his way out of the club following a rift with coach Manuel Pellegrini earlier in the season but that now seems to be water under the bridge and the playmaker is even dreaming of making Spain’s World Cup despite winning the last of his 15 caps back in 2005.

Real will again be without Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portuguese striker completes his two-match suspension but a perfect 30 points from 10 league games at home make Madrid strong favourites for the win despite his absence.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world but we are a team and can’t rely on one player,” said defender Raul Albiol.

Espanyol, down in 14th, have won just once away from home, largely due to their woeful three goals on the road, but have a habit of turning it on against the big sides.

Barcelona will be cheering on their city rivals while Real hope their neighbours Getafe can at least take a point at unbeaten Barcelona.

Getafe could be heavy-legged after playing the first leg of their Kings Cup semifinal on Wednesday — losing 2-0 at Sevilla — while Barcelona are rested after no midweek commitment.

The Madrid media insinuated that leaders Barcelona were the beneficiaries of kind refereeing decisions but Mali international Seydou Keita said such suggestions were wide of the mark.

“Barcelona are ahead of Real Madrid because we are better and not because of the referees,” emphasised Keita. “I don’t know if someone’s trying to unsettle the referees with these comments.”

In other matches, Villarreal stand-in coach Juan Carlos Garrido takes charge of the team for the first time in Sunday’s match at Real Mallorca following the dismissal of coach Ernesto Valverde.

“After 11 years here (as reserve team coach) I know the club well and the players,” said Garrido. “I think Villarreal have some of the best players in the world and you just have to look at the national teams for evidence of that.”

A trip to Mallorca is not the easiest start considering the islanders have won all nine games at their fortress Ono stadium and lie fifth.

Struggling Valladolid also got rid of their manager with Jose Luis Mendilibar with the club hovering one place above the relegation zone and reserve team coach Onesimo Sanchez has taken over and must fire up the team for a testing trip to Valencia on Saturday.

Valencia are in third, three points above Sevilla who beat them 2-1 last time out.

That win helped Sevilla move back into the top four and they aim to close in further on Valencia with victory against lowly Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

Sevilla put one step in the Kings Cup final with a 2-0 semifinal first leg win over Getafe on Wednesday so confidence is high.

Atletico Madrid gained a huge psychological boost ahead of their Sunday clash with Racing Santander after they thrashed the same opponents 4-0 in Thursday’s King’s Cup semifinal first leg meeting.

Atletico may be going strong in the cup but languish down in 13th in the league a full 13 points off the top four.

Fixtures

Saturday Valencia v Valladolid (5pm GMT)
Barcelona v Getafe (7pm GMT)
Real Madrid v Espanyol (9pm GMT)

Sunday – all 4pm GMT unless stated
Malaga v Deportivo La Coruna
Osasuna v Tenerife
Real Mallorca v Villarreal
Almeria v Sporting Gijon
Real Zaragoza v Sevilla (6pm GMT)
Racing Santander v Atletico Madrid (8pm GMT)

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It said the world’s most expensive player had been punished “for resorting to dangerous play that caused an injury” to an opponent.

It also fined Real 180 euros and Ronaldo 600 euros.

Ronaldo spoiled a stellar two-goal display on Sunday by getting sent off after a stray elbow caught Danish defender Patrick Mtiliga, who tugged the Portuguese winger’s shirt during the 2-0 win over Malaga.

Real’s sporting director, Jorge Valdano, described the referee’s decision as “unfair and “very hard.”

But, speaking prior to the disciplinary committee’s decision, he told Spain’s COPE radio that Real “will accept any decision” by the body.

The former Manchester United star said Monday he also felt his red card was unjust.

“I’ve spoken to Mtiliga and he said he doesn’t believe I should apologise because he doesn’t think I hurt him intentionally,” he was quoted as saying on the club’s website.

“I never try to trick referees. I never intended to injure the player. I believe they should be fair with what really happened.”

Mtiliga suffered a broken nose in the clash and has been ordered to “rest for a week,” Malaga said in a statement on Monday.

It was the second dismissal of the season for Ronaldo, who was sent off in a 4-2 win over Almeria on December 5 for kicking out at an opponent.

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It was all going swimmingly for Ronaldo who had ended a run of three games without a goal with a quick-fire brace (35th and 39th minutes) to take his season’s tally to nine but his volatile temperament surfaced again on 70 minutes.

Ronaldo elbowed defender Patrick Mtiliga as he tugged the former Manchester United man’s shirt and the referee had no hesitation in reaching for the red card.

It was a second dismissal of the season for Ronaldo who was sent off in a 4-2 win over Almeria on December 5 for kicking out at an opponent.

While Ronaldo’s sending off put a dampener on the win, Real will be relieved to bounce back from their Athletic Bilbao defeat with a 10th successive home win to close to within five points of Barcelona.

Barcelona beat Valladolid 3-0 on Saturday to go unbeaten for the first half of the season although no Spanish team has gone a whole 38-game season undefeated.

Guti, 33, made his first league start for Real since September after healing his rift with coach Manuel Pellegrini and even had the captain’s armband with Raul on the bench.

With eight minutes gone Malaga rattled the crossbar when Sergio Duda’s cross came off Xabi Alonso’s head and looped onto the bar.

Iker Casillas had a hairy moment near the half hour mark with the goalkeeper bizarrely using his head to block a chipped shot as he was outside of the area.

Ronaldo then took centre stage with two goals in four destructive minutes.

Guti, Karim Benzema and Kaka all combined quickly to put the ball on a plate for Ronaldo to roll home the 35th minute opener.

Malaga then witnessed Ronaldo in full flow as he collected Guti’s pass before firing a fierce shot into the corner.

Malaga had previously gone 10 games unbeaten in league, although eight of them were draws, but they knew there was no comeback this time around.

In the second half Ronaldo was gunning for his first ever Real hat-trick but instead the red mist descended again and his night ended on 70 minutes when he elbowed Mtiliga in the face.

Getafe came out on top in the local derby with Atletico Madrid defeating their 10-man neighbours 1-0 on Sunday to move four points off the Champions League spots.

Since winning promotion in 2004, Getafe had never beaten local rivals Atletico in the league at their Coliseum Alfonso Perez home but Manu del Moral’s 38th minute goal ended that sequence.

For Atletico, who had midfielder Paulo Assuncao sent off, it brought an end to a run of three successive league victories and they are now ten points off the top six.

Both Atletico and Getafe are in Kings Cup action on Thursday as they bid to reach the semi-finals of the competition.

Earlier Valencia missed the chance to keep pace with the top two following a frustrating 0-0 draw at promoted Tenerife on Sunday.

“We weren’t at our best today,” said Valencia coach Unai Emery.

“However, we are in a great position in the league and have to keep on going.”

Valencia sit five points ahead of Real Mallorca, who reclaimed fourth spot with a 1-1 draw at Espanyol on Sunday.

In other matches, Villarreal got back to winning ways with a 4-2 victory over struggling Real Zaragoza at El Madrigal.

Despite the win Villarreal are still down in ninth, seven points off the desired European places.

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Real are usually the European club that spends highest in the January transfer window, but this year they will not get out the chequebook.

This is what Valdano said to the players on Thursday, after they had finished training.

Defender Ezequiel Garay said that “he (Valdano) told us that there will be no new signings this winter.”

The Argentine defender added that “he insisted that we should start the year by winning in Pamplona (against Osasuna).”

Real are away to midtable Osasuna on Sunday. They are two points behind Liga leaders Barcelona, who are at home to Villarreal on Saturday.

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Messi, who twisted his right ankle during Barca’s Champions League match away to Dynamo Kiev last week, missed their first training session in Abu Dhabi on Monday, staying in the hotel for treatment, the team said.

“He’s fed up, but keen to recover and see if he can make it to the match,” the European champions’ captain Carles Puyol told reporters after the session.

Puyol said Barcelona were keen to round off a brilliant year with the world title that escaped them three years ago when they lost 1-0 to Internacional of Brazil in the final in Japan.

“The team have already made history but we want more, that’s why we’re here,” said Puyol.

“We’re keen and have a dream. We had the chance to win it and we let it slip. We hope that won’t happen again.”

Barcelona had a light session given that they had a long flight from home on Sunday, having won the city derby 1-0 against Espanyol on Saturday.

“We’re used to playing lots of matches in a row with little time to rest,” Puyol said as Barcelona prepared for a third match in eight days in three different competitions.

He said Mexican side Atlante were an attractive footballing side in a vein similar to Barcelona.

“They’re a daring side who like to play the ball and they have quality players like Santiago Solari, who I know well having faced him before, and fast, skilful players up front,” he said.

Solari played several times in the big Spanish “clasico” against Barcelona while he was at Real Madrid between 2000 and 2005.

South American champions Estudiantes of Argentina meet Asia’s Pohang Steelers of South Korea in the first semi-final on Tuesday.