Coentrao keen to fight for Real place

Real Madrid full-back Fabio Coentrao is determined to prove he belongs at the club after a botched transfer move to Manchester United. 

Coentrao was set to join the Premier League champions on a season-long loan deal at Old Trafford on transfer deadline day, only for the deal to fall through at the last minute. 

The Portugal international will now remain in the Spanish capital and is set to fight Marcelo for a first-team place under new manager Carlo Ancelotti. And Coentrao's hopes of playing regular first-team football received a boost on Saturday when Marcelo suffered a hamstring injury in Brazil's 6-0 friendly thrashing of Australia. 

Bale talks open: Tottenham & Real Madrid start negotiations over €115m transfer

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has opened dialogue with the Liga giants in the last 24 hours and is expected to meet Florentino Perez on August 6 to discuss a world-record deal

Tottenham have finally opened talks with Real Madrid over the €115 million sale of Gareth Bale, with club officials increasingly convinced the Welshman will leave this summer.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been adamant all summer that the club's prized asset would not be sold under any circumstances.