Arab owner happy to pay any amount for 32-year-old striker

According to Spanish rag Marca, one of the gazillion forwards on Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim’s wishlist was Ruud van Nistelrooy. Before closing the Brazilian man-o’-sex deal, City representatives asked how much the Dutchman would cost, but were told by Los Blancos that he was definitely not for sale. The Manchester club, evidently drunk on their newfound wealth, responded by offering a cheque on which Ramon Calderon and co could put an amount they considered appropriate. Madrid still said no, but the temptation to charge £100bn must have been mighty tempting…

At least one of Los Blancos has boffed C-Ron’s missus

According to the British press, Nereida Gallardo is keen for Cristiano Ronaldo to stay in England, as she is flattered by all the attention she has received here, and she doesn’t want to fade back into obscurity in her native Spain. Sunday’s News of the World, however, suggested another reason why the failed model would not want her man to play at the Bernabéu next season:

“Cristiano doesn’t know Nereida’s already slept with one of Real Madrid’s top players.

“He’s a jealous guy and she’s kept it a secret from him because it’s something in her past. Sergio [Ramos is] a bit of a joker and the last thing she wants is him welcoming Cristiano to Madrid by announcing he’s already tackled his girlfriend.”

Nereida, 24, started seeing £120,000-a-week Ronaldo, 23, in January, but scored with £80,000-a-week Sergio, 22, earlier in November, after they met in Madrid nightclub Joy Eslava. The pal said: “Sergio was there with two friends and they and Nereida’s mates all ended up back at his house. Sergio was all over Nereida and ended up leading her by the hand into his bedroom.

It sounds like it would be really awkward if Ramos and Ronaldo became teammates, but they’re both so vain and crass that they’d probably start swapping stories and techniques. The rumour vine suggests that Nereida has slept with approximately 94 per cent of the Spanish male population anyway, so this is undoubtedly a situation for which C-Ron is fully prepared.

[NOTW via Machochip]

Our brainy chums at chickendinner are backing Los Blancos

Once the sangria induced hangovers have cleared and the memory of Luis Aragones’ bumps torment is hazy, Spain’s footballing fraternity will have to stop basking in their Euro 2008 glory and look forward to kicking lumps out of each other in the new La Liga season. Because they care so much, here’s chickendinner’s guide to just about everything that’s going to happen in the sun-drenched nation…

» Real Madrid have secured successive La Liga titles but not since 1990-1994 (Barcelona) have any Primera Liga side managed to retain the championship three years in a row. However, the last time Real Madrid won consecutive league titles, they went on to win five in succession - 1985-1990.

» Celta Vigo finished sixth in 2005/06 and were relegated the very next season. Real Zaragoza ended the 2006/07 season in sixth position and also found themselves relegated a year later. That spells bad news for Racing Santander who were this year’s sixth placed side.

» In four of the past five seasons, the side that finished fourth in La Liga went on to struggle in the next campaign, finishing tenth or lower and on one occasion being relegated. Atletico Madrid may be in for a long season.

» Only two of the last ten runners up in La Liga have gone on to secure the title the following season - Villarreal were last year’s unlucky losers.

» In the last ten seasons, only one side has ever finished third and secured the league title in their next campaign. On six occasions