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Guest neesy111

...and ensure English domination in Europe.

 

Like this year, oh wait.

 

We are dominating the Europa League and everyone knows its the superior competition anyway  :whistle:

 

:yao:

 

2 English winner in 30 years in it.

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http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/exclusive-real-madrid-at-centre-of-illegal-state-aid-investigation-8557550.html

 

Real Madrid are the subject of a European Commission investigation following allegations they have received illegal state aid, the decision on which is overdue and will be of great interest to the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea, under pressure to conform to Uefa Financial Fair Play regulations.

 

The Independent has learn that the EC competition office, run by the Spaniard Joaquin Almunia, has delayed its decision on the case. It is alleged that Real and Madrid City Council agreed a favourable deal for land around the Bernabeu stadium which is to be redeveloped into a lucrative new shopping mall and hotel complex.

 

The club's pre-eminence in the transfer market and their ability to borrow money is partly dependent on the success of the development, as well as the construction of a roof over the stadium, which will then be subject to a naming rights auction. Florentino Perez is expected to be re-elected president in May, with the club targeting more high-profile players this summer, possibly including Gareth Bale.

 

The allegation against Real is that their transactions with Madrid city council, dating back to a 1996 agreement between the two parties, constitute illegal state aid under article 87 of the Treaty of the European Community. It is alleged that the council hugely overestimated its debt to the football club in order that the former could give Real the prime city-centre land they require for their new development.

 

As with all leading European clubs, Real are subject to Uefa FFP regulations which forbid any form of state aid. In a joint statement released by Uefa's president, Michel Platini, and Almunia last year, they declared that the "objectives [of FFP] are also consistent with the aims and objectives of European Union policy in the field of state aid".

 

The investigation into Real's deal with Madrid city council centres upon an area of land in the north of the city, Las Tablas. Having originally been valued at €421,000 when it was part of a payment by the council to the club in 1998; the same land was then valued at €22.7m in 2011, a 5,400 per cent rise, when the council decided they had to take it back. In lieu of a €22.7m payment, the club was given the land they needed to develop their stadium.

 

Under the competition commission's guideline 7.2 on state aid they have a year to investigate and rule on the complaint, made about the valuation of Las Tablas property, unless they are still awaiting information from respondents. The allegation was raised in December 2011. The investigation into Real has been mentioned publicly just once by Almunia, who has also focused on other clubs alleged to have received state aid.

 

The Spanish club Valencia were judged to have received illegal state aid by a Spanish regional court because a loan from the state-owned Spanish bank Bankia was underwritten by the regional government. Last month, Almunia issued a statement on an investigation into five Dutch clubs, including PSV Eindhoven, over allegations that they had received state aid from local councils in the Netherlands.

 

FFP has become an issue key to the future of Europe's elite clubs and those clubs who seek to challenge them. Manchester City, in particular, have come under scrutiny for their 10-year Etihad Airways sponsorship deal they signed in 2011, estimated to be worth between £350m-£400m. West Ham's original deal to take over the Olympic Stadium was scrapped after a complaint to the European Union that funding from Newham Council represented state aid.

 

In response to The Independent's questions about the process, Real said that they had not received "any special privileges in its real estate activities since it has always been subject to the then current legislation and has received the same treatment as any other entity."

 

The club claimed that the valuation of Las Tablas in 2011, which found its value to have increased 54-fold, was carried about by Madrid City Council, and was therefore "independent". "Acting like this, MCC, through the agreement with Real Madrid, has protected the municipal interests," Real said, "avoiding judicial proceedings that when executed would have foreseeably resulted in an obligation to provide Real Madrid with a higher amount of compensation."

 

Real said: "The valuation of all the properties have increased due to the time lapse between the different valuation that in some cases exceeds 10 years, the degree of evolution of the urban development process and the evolution of property prices."

 

The Independent has seen documentation confirming the existence of an investigation by the competition commission into Real receiving state aid. A spokesman for the EC competition office said that the investigation was at a "preliminary" stage.

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To be frank everybody knows they received an inflated valuation just because of who they were. It's stupid to deny it but at the same time not too sure it can be legally acted upon.

 

We tried to pull off the same trick with the Miniestadi land, mind, but we had honest politicians in the council :angry:

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VI or anyone else, having just recently started watching Spanish football again regularly I'd like to know what players have been the biggest surprise this season and what teams have the biggest potential. I was watching Sociedad play and by the looks of what I saw and the table they seem a good footballing side but how are they economically? Will they be able to keep players like Griezemann and Vela?

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The entire Real Sociedad forward line (Vela/Griezmann/Agirretxe) have been immense this season. Amazing interplay between them, one of my favorite sides to watch right now, although they are choking a bit lately and might miss on the top prize. I'd say that they are the team with highest potential right now, since their squad is young and talented, and so far their stars haven't been linked with moves away. They should be able to keep most of all of them if they secure CL football.

 

It will be interesting to see how Atlético cope without Falcao next season. To be frank they have some decent footballers all around but their peaks and valleys of form have coincided so much with Falcao's goalscoring that it's scary. Koke, Diego Costa (think Brazil could use him, to be frank, even though you have an absolute shit ton of talented strikers) , Filipe Luis... have been great. And that Óliver kid has a lot of hype around him.

 

Isco has been a star for Málaga, but he's hardly a discovery. Joaquín is enjoying a second youth too. He's probably at the best he's been to be frank.

 

From Valladolid, Ebert has been an amazing signing, but also woefully injury-prone. Rumor that Atlético have already agreed to sign him. Manucho has look weirdly useful, an absolute shit footballer, but unbeatable in the air.

 

Baptistao from Rayo might interest you since he's Brazilian; had a great start to the season although he's waned a bit. But he's just 19. Riki has been their best performer overall. I thought they would sink without a trace after selling Michu, but they have done magnificently.

 

Betis has been on a great run with Beñat and Rubén Castro having great seasons. Castro in particular has been amazing the past two years, seems to have peaked at 30.

 

Sevilla have been weird. A lot of their players have had great seasons individually, like Rakitic or Kondogbia in particular. Negredo might have his most prolific season too, yet they are struggling to secure an EL spot. Definitely a case where the whole has been less than the sum of its parts.

 

Valencia are on fire since Valverde took over, I'm really looking forward a full season for them under him, although if they failed to secure CL they would be in huge trouble.

 

Laugh or not, Levante have regressed massively after they lost Martins. They are so dependant on a pacy striker. Still, another season where they'll finish comfortably, but with such an aging squad and the need to unheart a gem of a striker every season will get them at some point.

 

Off the top of my head those would be my standout teams/players. By no means an extensive list.

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Valverde is doing an amazing job at Valencia like.  Benega actually looks like a world beater as apposed to someone who can't be arsed and runs over his own foot.

 

As you say VI, if they miss out on CL footy, they are financially knackered mind. Another summer where they sell a star?

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VI is there anybody from the Barcelona B team that's expected to make the jump to the first team this season? I've saw that Deulofeu has just signed a new contract so for example is he one of them?

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Next year's also massive for Thiago. He needs to feature a lot more as he is the future of that club and if he barely features again then his he'd be better of leaving as his development is already stalling because of lack of opportunities.

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VI is there anybody from the Barcelona B team that's expected to make the jump to the first team this season? I've saw that Deulofeu has just signed a new contract so for example is he one of them?

 

Sergi Roberto, although it looks like he'll go out on loan because of our midfielder glut. Deulofeu will, apparently, be part of the senior squad but it's still up in the air.

 

I agree about Thiago, although he's featured quite a bit more than people think. 30+ games despite spending 3 months on the injury table. But he's been quite anonymous in most of his games. Next season he'll need to make a step up.

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Guest Craig-NUFC

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/772287372.gif?1368999517

 

Song :lol:. Awkward.

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News conference at the Bernabeu with president Perez at 19.00 (your time) today.

 

'Real Madrid confirm Jose Mourinho to leave club by mutual consent at end of season. More on #SSN.'

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Completely forgot about asking that earlier VI, thanks for the information. Really interesting. Have found it a weird one to see Levante up there the last two seasons..

 

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/772287372.gif?1368999517

 

Song :lol:. Awkward.

 

:lol: :lol: :lol:

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