Twice a year David Villa has to come out infront of the cameras and state he has nothing to prove. Strangely enough it always seems to happen on the eve of a Valencia - Real Madrid match. Of course it's no coincidence. Real Madrid have been after Valencias hottest property for some time, and after a failed attempt to sign the hitman last summer, all eyes will be on Señor Villa as he plots to down his possible future employers, and 'prove' his future €50 million price tag. As if he hasn't done that already!One thing from his biannual interview did get me thinking though. He stated he was disappointed that Kaká and Ronaldo will miss the game, as playing against the best players always motivates you to perform on the day. Now I never know what to believe. Are they telling the truth? Or do they just feel obliged to say that, but deep down are delighted that they'll miss the match as it gives their team a huge advantage?
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It won't just be Kaká and Cristiano who will be missing this weekends matches. As well as tens of others who I am not aware of, Lionel Messi will also be absent from matchday 14 having suffered a slight sprain in his ankle shortly after delivering that sumptuous free kick against Dynamo Kiev. It's not surprising really, those Kiev midfielders were hungry for blood that night, and poor Leo took the brunt of their aggression. Luckily for Guardiola its only the derby this weekend. After a quick flick through the formbook, they could rest Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Ibrahimovic and still run out easy winners. But derbies don't work like that, as Espanyols win in the Camp Nou last year proved.
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Not content with producing one highly promising teenager this season, Athletic Bilbao are set to release yet another kid into the unforgiving world of Spanish football. Jonás Ramalho is his name, and the young defender has been placed on Bilbaos list for the next stage in the Europa League and there are even whispers that he could be given his La Liga debut soon. The 16 year old is of Angolan descent but 'qualifies' to play as his mother is Basque. It should also be made clear that Athletic have relaxed their rule a little to allow 'foreign' players to play for the club, provided they were developed in the area. Ramalho made his debut in a friendly aged just 14 years (funnily enough in the same match in which Iker Muniain made his debut), and made the headlines for being the first black player to represent the club. Another Basque kiddo to look out for.