there’s really not much news…

… but here are a couple of things for you all.

Mahou has come out with an iPhone app featuring Iker Casillas, who shows users how to correctly draw beer from a tap.  He then challenges them to do a better job than them, which they do so by tilting the iPhone to get the correct angle, varying the pressure on the tap, etc.  Iker will then give his opinion on the result.  I don’t drink beer, but I would get this app just to have Iker on my iPhone!

Perfection.

Guti, in an interview with Punto Pelota from Ibiza, said some very sensible things.  Regarding his departure from Madrid, he said “it’s true that it was a bit cold.  I expected more.  In this last year, they could have contacted me to set up a date so that I could be at the Bernabéu and say goodbye to the fans, as I believe I deserve to, no?  It didn’t happen and I’m still waiting for this call.  I have faith that things will turn out well and I’ll be able to do it.”  Make it happen FP!  And for Raúl too.  And while we’re at it, Vicente del Bosque deserves something too.

José María also said that “we haven’t taken care of the cantera.  We’ve spent more money signing new players than in creating players.  The biggest sadness I have is seeing Casillas alone on the team.”  Yes and yes.

Sergio Canales missed out on playing for the U-21 team in their recent Euro win, but he’s been called up for the U-20 team for this summer’s World Cup in Colombia, along with Juvenil A’s Fernando Pacheco.  Luis Milla, the U-21 coach, recently said that Sergio C. is “an important player” for the national team, but the fact that he didn’t play the entire year with Madrid was the reason why he wasn’t called up for the Euro.  Milla also said, “Real Madrid is always concerned about results, and getting them in the short-term.  They give a lot of affection to their canteranos and they have great canteranos.  But there is the sensation that it’s complicated, difficult to get to the first team.”

Anyway, this means that if Sergio C. stays with the team, he’ll miss out on the pre-season tour and the first month, as the U-20 team is due in Las Rozas on July 16, with the tournament to take place from July 29 to Aug. 20.

And speaking of the cantera, according to Marca, a lot of people at Valdebebas are upset that the current message coming out from the Bernabéu is that the team is not counting on the canteranos.  The signing of Raphaël Varane means that David Mateos will most likely be leaving, and it’s also a blow to Nacho Fernández.  And if Madrid ends up signing Neymar, then Jesé will be the one paying the consequences.  The newspaper has quoted someone from inside Valdebebas saying, “if Jesé were Brazilian, he would also be starting with Santos and be a star.  He can be the same or even better than Neymar, but since he’s from here, they have no confidence in him…”  The article concludes with saying that the players are in low spirits, and that no one – not them, not their coaches – understand why there’s no space for at least one or two canteranos on the firs team, and that’s why a lot of them are asking to be allowed to leave.  Juan Carlos has been linked with Zaragoza as of late.

But I need more of this in my life!

José Mourinho received his hometown of Setúbal’s medal of merit on Tuesday.  According to a press release from the government, Mou said, “It’s always good to Setúbal, having breakfast and coffee, getting my passport, which I did this morning, and strolling through the city like an ordinary person.”  Hmmm, so he doesn’t always want to be special?

A futsal team in Scotland, the current champions, is called Unreal Madrid.  Their official name is Perth Saltires, but they took on the nickname of Unreal Madrid as a tribute to the galácticos such as Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Raúl and Casillas this season (they had first adopted this name for their lower categories starting in 2005).  They called themselves “unreal” because that word is what they use to describe something fantastic or incredible.  UEFA, being the UEFA they are, have told them that they’re not allowed to use this nickname when they play in the UEFA Futsal Cup, and so they’ll revert to Perth Saltires.

Laugh of the day (or irony of the day): this cartoon comes from Marca, and talks about the signings, with everyone touted as “the next Ronaldo, Zidane, Roberto Carlos, Hierro, Redondo…” And the guy comments, “just as well, because usually during this time of the year, the normal thing would be for Madrid to be talking about the next coach.”  Sad but true.

Fernando Gago, in a press conference with Argentina, said his words to ESPN Argentina were twisted around: “my words were quite misinterpreted.  I wanted to say what I said.  You can hear what I said in the video.”

By the way, here’s Argentina team photo for the Copa América.   I love that Pipita and Eze managed to stand next to each other!

And though he’s no longer a Real Madrid player (nor are his companions), I have to share these holiday shots that Jordi Codina tweeted.  On the left, he’s with fellow canteranos and former teammates (Getafe and Real Madrid) Adrián and Roberto Soldado in Ibiza, and on the right, with newborn son Lucca, during the latter’s first-ever dip in the ocean.  The picture is really adorable, and I love Jordi’s choice in swimsuits.  He can pull it off, unlike some others.  Check out another picture here.  And I’ll say it again – Adrián is hot.