EGX ends week mostly higher on Oct. 16    Egypt, Qatar sign MoU to boost cooperation in healthcare, food safety    Egypt, UK, Palestine explore financing options for Gaza reconstruction ahead of Cairo conference    Egyptian Amateur Open golf tournament relaunches after 15-year hiatus    Egypt's Kouchouk: IMF's combined reviews will give clearer picture of fiscal performance    Egypt will never relinquish historical Nile water rights, PM says    Oil prices rise on Thursday    Fragile Gaza ceasefire tested as humanitarian crisis deepens    Egypt explores cooperation with Chinese firms to advance robotic surgery    CBE, China's National Financial Regulatory sign MoU to strengthen joint cooperation    Avrio Gold to launch new jewellery, bullion factory in early 2026    AUC makes history as 1st global host of IMMAA 2025    Al Ismaelia launches award-winning 'TamaraHaus' in Downtown Cairo revival    Al-Sisi, Burhan discuss efforts to end Sudan war, address Nile Dam dispute in Cairo talks    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Al-Burhan renew opposition to Ethiopia's unilateral Blue Nile moves    Egypt's Cabinet hails Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit as turning point for Middle East peace    Gaza's fragile ceasefire tested as aid, reconstruction struggle to gain ground    Egypt's human rights committee reviews national strategy, UNHRC membership bid    Al-Sisi, world leaders meet in Sharm El-Sheikh to coordinate Gaza ceasefire implementation    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile actions, calls for global water cooperation    Egypt unearths one of largest New Kingdom Fortresses in North Sinai    Egypt unearths New Kingdom military fortress on Horus's Way in Sinai    Egypt Writes Calm Anew: How Cairo Engineered the Ceasefire in Gaza    Egypt's acting environment minister heads to Abu Dhabi for IUCN Global Nature Summit    Egyptian Open Amateur Golf Championship 2025 to see record participation    Cairo's Al-Fustat Hills Park nears completion as Middle East's largest green hub – PM    El-Sisi boosts teachers' pay, pushes for AI, digital learning overhaul in Egypt's schools    Egypt's Sisi congratulates Khaled El-Enany on landslide UNESCO director-general election win    Syria releases preliminary results of first post-Assad parliament vote    Karnak's hidden origins: Study reveals Egypt's great temple rose from ancient Nile island    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Egypt reviews Nile water inflows as minister warns of impact of encroachments on Rosetta Branch    Egypt aims to reclaim global golf standing with new major tournaments: Omar Hisham    Egypt to host men's, juniors' and ladies' open golf championships in October    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







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Real Madrid face season without new 'Galactico' signings
Published in Ahram Online on 18 - 08 - 2016

Real Madrid begin their bid for a first La Liga title in five years with a trip to Real Sociedad on Sunday after a break conspicuous by the absence of major signings.
The European champions have made just one new addition so far, exercising their buy-back clause to bring striker Alvaro Morata home from a two-year spell at Juventus for a reported 30 million euros ($33.5 million).
If Real do not make any more signings between now and the close of the transfer window on Aug. 31, this will be the lowest figure the club has spent on transfers in a close season for 15 years.
Their inactivity is a departure from the high profile they usually keep in the main transfer window, having signed big names such as Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez in recent years for eye-catching fees.
Coach Zinedine Zidane, however, said fans need not be alarmed by the club's discreet movements.
"Sometimes that is the way it is and it isn't always necessary to spend money," Zidane told a news conference on Wednesday.
"We won the Champions League with these players and all I ask of them now is to work hard, because we'll get nowhere with just the name Real Madrid."
Zidane will be without injured forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema for the trip to Real Sociedad, although the Portugal captain is expected to return for the team's home bow against Celta Vigo the following Saturday.
La Liga holders Barcelona begin their title defence at home to Real Betis on Saturday without goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen, captain Andres Iniesta and defenders Javier Mascherano and Jeremy Mathieu through injury.
The Catalans have had a busier transfer window than Real, strengthening their squad by bringing in defenders Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Digne plus midfielders Denis Suarez and Andre Gomes.
Luis Enrique underlined the importance of having a larger squad following Wednesday's 3-0 win over Sevilla in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup, sealing the tie 5-0 on aggregate.
"To cope with such a long campaign I will need all my players at their best, not just 11," he said.
Neymar will also miss the game with Betis as he will be playing for Brazil in the Olympics final against Germany.
Fellow title contenders Atletico Madrid begin their campaign against newly-promoted Alaves on Sunday, while the league gets underway on Friday, with Malaga hosting Osasuna and Deportivo La Coruna entertaining Eibar.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)


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