Sports Burst – Real Fake News At Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidane calls conspiracy as Barcelona say hello to Yerry Mina.
By Tim Stannard
1) Zidane blames click-bait media in Madrid defense
Pack up the bags, eat the hard drives, shred everything, get lawyered up and run for the hills.
Coach Zizou of Real Madrid has stumbled upon one of the secrets of the sports media world. A crisis sells. Especially if it is a bit made up. Busted.
Zinedine Zidane was on the attack against his probers, who were lined up to jiggle and jostle the Real Madrid coach on Friday ahead of the following day’s home clash against Villarreal and quite rightly questioned the motivations of most of the media present. “You know that everything is not negative here. It is great to speak in a negative way about Real Madrid as it sells better.”
The French manager – and back to back Champions League winner – claimed that Real Madrid were alive in all three competitions and life was not all bad. While that is stretching the point a little in regards to La Liga – 16 points behind Barcelona at the top – it is definitely the case in the Copa del Rey with the team having drawn against city rivals, but relative small fry in the form of Leganes on Friday.
Tune into the Locker Room from 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT to find out if our panel think that the Villarreal clash can give a much-needed boost to Real Madrid or throw the team further into crisis.
2) Ronaldo says Neymar took step back to PSG
Ronaldo the First is very much a revered player for anyone Brazilian with a talent for kicking a ball.
That’s why the words from the former Barcelona and Real Madrid man make waves, especially when opining that Neymar took a step backwards in his career by swapping Barca for PSG, but admitted that "there are challenges that everyone seeks.” Of course, that perspective might change should PSG win the Champions League with an Neymar-inspired season.
Meanwhile over in Spain, and Marca are still running with the idea that Neymar could move to the Santiago Bernabeu next summer, which really isn’t going to happen. So perhaps Zidane has a point about the made-up stuff? PSG are taking on Nantes in Ligue Un on beIN CONNECT 3 on Sunday from 2:45PM ET / 11:45AM PT.
3) Gold Mina shown off, while Big Sam wants Walcott
Barcelona showed Yerry Mina off to the fans and media on Friday, fresh from their 5-0 hammering of Celta Vigo, so the talk has very much turned to the departures from the Camp Nou. Arda Turan still looks most likely with a move to the Turkish SuperLig, although there is now late interest from China.
Big Sam Allardyce has admitted that Everton are very keen on putting Theo Walcott out of his Arsenal misery with a move to Goodison Park. Arsene Wenger says that there are no plans to sign Bordeaux forward, Malcom.
Oh, Eden Hazard has confirmed that he is planning to sign a new deal with Chelsea, to crush any rumors that the Belgian would head to Real Madrid this summer.
Tune into the XTRA from 7PM ET / 4PM PT to get the latest transfer news from our daily Top 5 tracker.
4) Billie Jean-King criticizes name of Aussie Open arena
The Australian Open is almost upon us but is being hit with a controversy with US tennis legend Billie Jean King recommending that the name of the Margaret Court Arena – the second who court - should be changed. The Australian won 24 Grand Slam titles in the 1960s and 1970s but is vocal opponent of gay marriage. "I'm a gay woman. If I were playing today, I would not play on it," said King to the media on Friday.
Meanwhile, two big warm up tournaments continue with the WTA finals taking place in Sydney and Hobart and coverage of both on beIN SPORTS USA. In Sydney, Aussie home favorite Ashleigh Barty is taking on Angelique Kerber from 1AM PET / 10PM PT, while Hobart has Elise Mertens of Belgium facing Mihaela Buzarnescu from 10PM ET / 7PM PT on beIN SPORTS CONNECT 9.
WHAT IS SPORTS BURST?
The life philosophy of Sports Burst is that if you are not upsetting someone, then you are not trying hard enough. Sports Burst is a daily trawl and troll through the morning's sports news to bring you fact-nuggets to make you both smile and swear. Hopefully at the same time.