Real Madrid Transfer News and Rumors Tracker: Week of July 8

Welcome to your one-stop shop for all the news, however feasible or stretched it may well be, from the Santiago Bernabeu.

---LAST UPDATED: Saturday, 13 July 08:00 ET---

La Liga's fixtures are set to be released this week, while clubs across Spain are returning to training, so Real Madrid will be keen to tie up any outstanding business as soon as possible.

This slideshow will be constantly updated throughout the week with the most recent news, rumours and rubbish pushed to the first few slides.

With that in mind, make sure you're continuously heading back—you wouldn't want to miss anything.

Confirmed in: Casemiro (Sao Paulo), Isco (Malaga), Dani Carvajal (Bayer Leverkusen), Asier Illarramendi (Real Sociedad)

Confirmed out: Ricardo Carvalho (Monaco), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Jose Callejon (Napoli)  

Gonzalo Higuain

If you thought that the deal to take Gonzalo Higuain to Arsenal was close, then Florentino Perez would have you believe that you were wrong.

Sky Sports are reporting that the Real Madrid president has dismissed that the London club have even made a bid for the Argentinian striker:

"We don't want Higuain to leave. What's more no-one from Arsenal has come to us and made us any offers at all for him. There are no offers on the table."

How believable you find Perez's words is up to you but, for now at least, Higuain doesn't seem to be heading anywhere too soon.

UPDATE: Higuian, perhaps surprisingly, remains a Real Madrid player. The latest reports in Marca suggest he'll return to training with the club this coming week and will possibly play a part in the first three friendlies against Bournemouth, Lyon and PSG.

Your move Arsenal. 

---LAST UPDATED: Saturday, 13 July 08:00 ET---

 

Luka Modric

Having seemingly missed out on Thiago Alcantara to Bayern Munich, The Daily Star have reported that Manchester United have turned their attention to Luka Modric.

The 27-year-old played 33 times for Los Blancos last season, ending the campaign particularly well.

However with the arrivals of Isco and Asier Illarramendi, United may feel that Madrid could be susceptible to a bid for the Croatian.

Modric only arrived from Tottenham last summer and a return to England, as well as perhaps a more prominent role, may tempt him if United's interest is real.

---LAST UPDATED: Saturday, 13 July 08:00 ET---

Kaka

Madrid-based Marca are doing what they can to quietly usher Ricardo Kaka out of the Bernabeu door.

Already below Mesut Ozil and Luka Modric in the pecking order, the arrival of Isco is likely to push the 31-year-old even further out of the picture.

The Brazilian has expressed no want to leave yet, saying he's prepared to fight for his place under Carlo Ancelotti, who managed him at AC Milan.

Marca say there is no chance of a Kaka revival in the Spanish capital and list Brazilian clubs Sao Paulo and Corinthians as possible destinations, as well as mentioning interest from the USA.

He's been the subject of speculation for several transfer windows now. With the World Cup in his homeland next summer, it's probably best for Kaka to seek playing time elsewhere.

UPDATE: Florentino Perez, via Sky Sports, has stated the he wants Kaka to remain with Real Madrid for the coming season:

"He is charming and excites the fans. I'm optimistic that, under Ancelotti, who knows him very well, he can be the same magical Kaka again that we signed."

---LAST UPDATED: Saturday, 13 July 08:00 ET---

Asier Illarramendi

Real Madrid's fourth signing of the summer will be Real Sociedad's Asier Illarramendi.

The midfielder, who enjoyed rave reviews at this summer's Under 21 European Championships, helped steer la Real into La Liga's top four last season.

And on Friday, at 1300 CET, the Basque club's president Jokin Aperribay called a press conference to reveal that the 23-year-old will be be heading south to the Spanish capital, via football-espana.net:

“This morning the LFP has called to tell us that Real Madrid have activated Illarramendi’s buyout clause.”

Illarra becomes the third member of Spain's successful under 21 side to head to the Bernabeu in the last month, following Dani Carvajal and Isco.

---LAST UPDATED: Friday, 12 July 07:30 ET--- 

Cristiano Ronaldo

The Telegraph have stated that, in the wake of Manchester United's continued pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo, Florentino Perez is ready to make him the highest paid player in the world.

Real Madrid's president has said that he expects the Portuguese international to remain in the Spanish capital for a long time:

“Ronaldo wants to retire at Real Madrid, and we want him to retire here, just like Zidane and so many other great players did. You can be absolutely certain that Cristiano will retire at Real Madrid.”

Perez will supposedly meet with Madrid's No. 7 on the club's tour of America to thrash out a contract in excess of the £330,000 a week earned by Samuel Eto’o at Anzhi Makhachkala.

Until new terms are signed though, doubts, however small, will surround Ronaldo's future.

---LAST UPDATED: Wednesday, 10 July 08:00 ET---

Jose Callejon

AS reported on Monday that Jose Callejon would head to Naples on Tuesday to sign for Rafa Benitez's Napoli.

And with a fee of €10m believed to be agreed between the two clubs, the Italian club released a brief statement on Tuesday afternoon, via football-espana:

“Early this afternoon Jose Maria Callejon landed in Naples. Tomorrow morning he will undergo a medical.”

The Spaniard, 26, scored three goals in 30 league appearances for Los Blancos last season, and his departure is unlikely to send shock waves around the club.

---LAST UPDATED: Tuesday, 9 July 14:00 ET---

Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso, who has just one year remaining of his Real Madrid deal, continues to be linked with a return to England.

The Daily Mail say that Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is interested in bringing the midfielder back to Merseyside in a £10 million deal.

Rodgers is apparently running the move by owner John W. Henry, who has implemented a policy which doesn't allow the club to sign players over 30—Alonso is 31.

A few days ago, The Daily Star reported that Jose Mourinho was keen for the Spanish midfielder to follow him to Chelsea, too.

While Alonso remains reluctant to sign a new contract, the speculation seems set to continue.

UPDATE: You might be able to end any speculation of an Alonso return to England right there. The Daily Mail have quoted the midfielder with some very matter-of-fact comments regarding a return to England:

"'The Premier League? No. No way, no chance."

---LAST UPDATED: Tuesday, 9 July 14:00 ET---

Jese Rodriguez

Spain were dumped out of the Under-20 World Cup by Uruguay at the weekend, meaning speculation over the role of Jese Rodriguez is set to increase as he returns to Madrid.

According to Sky Sports, Tottenham are ready to dangle €11.5 million in front of Real Madrid to test their resolve to keep the 20-year-old forward.

Marca suggest the player is not interested in renewing his contract, which has one year remaining, if he's only going to be sent out on loan for a season.

Jese supposedly feels he has done enough to earn a chance in the first team, but Tottenham—the owners of Gareth Bale—could prove an interesting club for Los Blancos to do business with. 

UPDATE: Amid the interest from Tottenham on Monday, Marca have reported that both Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane want to see Jese sign a new contract and form part of their squad next season.

It looks like the youngster might just get the chance to prove himself in the Spanish capital after all.

---LAST UPDATED: Tuesday, 9 July 14:00 ET---