REAL MADRID
Real Madrid round-up: Squad arrives in Norway, Jesé unveiled...
Real Madrid arrived in Trondheim shortly before 2pm on Monday where Sevilla have been waiting for them since yesterday.
Madrid arrive in the land of the Vikings
The Real Madrid squad touched down in Trondheim - Norway’s third largest city, at just after 13:45 hours CEST on Monday afternoon. Zidane has taken a 20-man squad for the trip – including his son, Castilla goalkeeper Luca. Karim Benzema will undergo a late fitness test this evening - the striker has only completed two sessions with the squad it remains to see whether Zidane will start him tomorrow. Club legend Roberto Carlos, who is back working at the club as an ambassador, also travelled with the squad and will be giving some of the younger players emotional support.
Sevilla meanwhile arrived yesterday. Jorge Sampaoli has taken 22 players including two recent arrivals who have yet to make their debuts – Ganso and Gabriel Mercado.
Full house at the Lerkendal
Queues were forming at the Lerkendal stadion booking offices which opened to the public yesterday. Ticket prices are set at 50, 90 and 150 euros and around a hundred or so were sold on Sunday. Officials estimate that a sell-out crowd of 19,000 will watch the game – the ground’s official capacity of 21,600 has been reduced for security reasons.
Jesé unveiled in Paris
Real Madrid officially confirmed Jesé Rodríguez’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, just minutes before the player was presented in the French capital. In the statement, the club thanked Jesé for giving “years of dedication and professionalism”.
Jesé was later presented at the Parc des Princes by PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, and posed holding the No.22 shirt. In his first press conference, the forward said that Real Madrid "will always remain in my heart".
Wenger gunning for James
According to reports in England. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger is keen to take James Rodríguez off Real Madrid's hands before the new season gets underway. The Colombian is Wenger's alternative, report The Telegraph, after Riyad Mahrez turned down an offer to move to north west London. James however recently told a television channel back home in South America that he will be staying where he is, although Zidane is aware that he must somehow trim back an overstaffed midfield before the new campaign kicks off.
James has only featured once since his return from his holidays - playing 45 minutes of the recent ICC friendly against Bayern Munich although he is expected to start against Sevilla tomorrow night.