The transfer window has actually been closed at 31 August at six pm. However, Spurs was finally able to get Van der Vaart’s signatures.

The Lilywhites convinced that their computer servers had a problem that caused the transfer process to be delayed. Coach Harry Redknapp and chairman Daniel Levy finally started negotiations with the Dutch retainer at 4 pm.

Premier League finally allowed Spurs to completed the transfer of Van der Vaart from Real Madrid. This transfer was announced at the club’s website.

“We are delighted to announce that we have reached an agreement with Real Madrid concerning Rafael van der Vaart’s transfer.”

Van der Vaart, who signed a contract with Spurs until the next four seasons, admitted he was surprised that the negotiations was quick.

Ronaldo’s right ankle suffered severe bruising and and is expected to be out of action for up to three weeks. He will miss the match against Osasuna on September 12, and also the Champions League match against Ajax.

Diarra’s hamstring strain on his right leg could also be a bad sign for the France national team.

Real came flying out of the blocks but it was not one of the new signings that enthralled the watching public, but last summers galactico signing Cristiano Ronaldo who was the man to watch. He produced a number of long range efforts that went close and was also combining well with Gonzalo Higuain.

Higuain was proving difficult for Ruben to deal with and he nearly gave away a penalty after losing a foot race with the Argentine, but Higuain stayed on his feet and the decision was not given.

Mallorca were looking a threat on the counter attack but the Madrid backline held firm and did not give them a sight at goal in the opening period of the first half.

Los Bermellones did however settle into a rhythm as Madrid eased off with Gonzalo Castro going close from just inside the 18 yard box. The home team then went close again, but the offside flag went up as Castro had just strayed, but it was marginal.

Despite chances for both teams neither could break the deadlock before half-time.

After the restart Madrid were finding it difficult to break down a stubborn and well organised Mallorca defence, given that, the home team were also having more affect as an attacking force against the Madrid full-backs and carved out an excellent opportunity but Victor Casadesus headed just wide.

On the hour mark Mourinho brought on the big guns as Canales and Di Maria were replaced by Oezil and Karim Benzema. The changes had the desired effect as Real Madrid turned the screw, putting more pressure on Mallorca and were creating much better chances, but they were still unable to find the back of the net.

This initial impact waned as the away team grew frustrated at their inability to convert their superior possession, even so the home team were not deterred and continued to break well with excellent opportunities falling to Nsue and Tomas Pina.

Towards the end of the game Ronaldo, Oezil and Benzema missed gilt-edged chances that would have earned three points for Real, but it was not to be.

Los Merengues will look to Osasuna in two weeks’ time to kick start their season, while Mallorca will look to built upon their performance away to Sporting Gijon when their players regroup after the international break. [David Schiavone/Goal]

Mallorca 0-0 Real Madrid Highlights [2010-08-29]

The Gelsenkirchen side have previously been closely linked with Guillaume Hoarau, but rumours of a transfer have cooled due to Paris Saint-Germain’s transfer fee demands, which are allegedly on the steep side. Still searching for a strike partner for new signing Raul, and a direct replacement for departed striker Kevin Kuranyi, Schalke have allegedly set their sights on Huntelaar.

Since leaving the Eredivisie in 2009, Huntelaar has featured for both Real Madrid and Milan, but had limited success at both clubs. Nonetheless, the 26-year old remains a highly rated forward, having scored 105 goals in 136 appearances for Ajax.

“Real Madrid’s Kepler Laveran Lima Ferreira, ‘Pepe’ has been diagnosed with a grade II pulled left soleus muscle and is expected to be sidelined for three weeks,” a statement on the club’s official website reads.

Pepe suffered the injury during the Blancos’ 3-2 comeback victory over LA Galaxy in their final pre-season game in the US on Saturday evening. The Portuguese international came on for fellow centre-back Raul Albiol at the start of the second half and played for the remainder of the match.

However, he complained about hamstring problems after the match and underwent a scan at the weekend to clarify the extent of the injury.

The centre-back missed much of the 2009-10 season for Madrid with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The former Villarreal man had been strongly linked with the sack since the capital city side’s Champions League round-of-16 exit at the hands of Lyon in March and the decision was finally confirmed this evening.

“We have decided that Jose Mourinho will be the coach,” Real Madrid president Florentino Perez told a press conference.

Despite leading the Blancos to the best points total in the club’s history, Real were eclipsed by La Liga champions Barcelona who finished the campaign with a remarkable 99 points.

Perez added that he wished “to acknowledge the impeccable professionalism and dedication” of the Chilean before insisting that “it is time to give a boost to our project.”

Jose Mourinho is set to be officially unveiled as the club’s new coach in the coming days once Los Blancos finalise the details of his contract and reach a settlement with his current club Inter.

“Di Maria has not been sold to Real Madrid, we will not talk about exits. Only when we make official announcements will you take exits as guaranteed. Until then, there will be no intent from Benfica in communicating possible signings or exits. As you know, every offer we have in our hands has to be reported to the market [Portuguese Securities Market Commission]. We do not have offers right now, but it is natural they may appear.” Soares Oliveira said.

Di Maria, who joined Benfica from Rosario Central in the summer of 2008, is currently away on international duty with Argentina’s World Cup squad.

On a wet night and a soggy surface in the south of Madrid, it was El Geta who threatened first after just 50 seconds when Mario had a free header from a corner but he failed to connect cleanly.

Los Blancos quickly came out of their shells and Rafael van der Vaart sent an off-balance flying header well over despite being left with just Oscar Ustari to beat. Moments later, the Geta goalkeeper was forced into a sprawling save to push out Xabi Alonso’s low drive.

Madrid started to pile on the pressure from then on and los Azulones almost gave away a penalty on 12 minutes when Rafa handled the ball right on the edge of the box. But it mattered little for Cristiano Ronaldo when he nestled a gorgeous curling free kick into the top corner, leaving Ustari with no chance.

Ronaldo came close to his second when Gonzalo Higuain charged forward on a counter-attack, before spraying the ball to the left for the Portuguese, who checked to his right and unleashed a dipping shot which Ustari reacted to brilliantly to tip over the bar.

But on 20 minutes, Madrid would make it 2-0. Van der Vaart picked up a pass from Fernando Gago and laid it off to Higuain, who finished clinically with a left-footed shot across goal.

Two minutes later, it was 3-0. Fernando Gago carved open the shell-shocked Geta defence with a lovely through ball to Higuain, and the Argentine breezed past his marker Mario, before rounding Ustari to tap the ball into the empty net. Granero almost made it four moments later when he latched onto Xabi Alonso’s pass and rifled in a left-foot drive which Ustari did just enough to flap away.

The Argentine shot-stopper had to make another stunning reflex save just past the half hour mark to deny Sergio Ramos’ bullet header. However, there would be no stopping Madrid’s fourth goal on 36 minutes. Ronaldo danced down the right flank, shimmied and bamboozled his way past a hapless Mario before rifling in an unstoppable shot from an impossible angle.

But moments later, Getafe pulled one back in bizarre circumstances. Iker Casillas fumbled a cross but he decided to chase it down outside the box. Dani Parejo went in for a sliding challenge to rob the goalkeeper, as Pedro Leon collected the loose ball before feeding it back to Parejo to smash into the open goal past a static Madrid defence. San Iker had to hobble away for treatment on his ankle after the tackle, but he managed to continue in the second half.

Michel made a brave double switch during the break, withdrawing Jaime Gavilan and goalscorer Parejo and sending in Manu del Moral and Fabio Celestini. It did the trick as Geta looked sharper at the restart as the ‘Men In White’ predictably took their foot off the gas.

Miku nearly pulled another goal back for los Azulones on the hour mark when Manu’s low cross found Miku, but the striker blasted his shot well over from three yards out. Pedro Leon and Rafa were the presented with scoring opportunities, but neither managed to trouble Casillas.

Madrid could only create half decent openings on the counter and Getafe’s persistent and fighting spirit was rewarded with a second goal ten minutes from time. Celestini’s initial shot from outside the box took a wicked deflection off a crowd of defenders and the ball fell kindly for Pedro Leon, who slotted past an on-rushing Casillas.

The home support lifted after the goal, as did Madrid, and Ronaldo went searching for his hat-trick. The Portuguese ran on to a piercing through pass from Guti but his left foot drive was parried away by Ustari. Straight to the other end, a free kick from Pedro Leon was palmed over by Casillas, before Guti launched a counter-attack for Ronaldo, whose final shot just flashed wide.

The second half never did live up to the excitement of the first after the flurry of goals as Madrid held on comfortably for a 4-2 victory to leapfrog Barcelona back to the top of La Liga before welcoming Atletico Madrid to the Santiago Bernabeu this Sunday.

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Olympique Lyon left  Madrid with a quarter-final ticket, after drawing 1-1 with the Spanish giants. At the first leg, Lyon managed to beat Madrid 1-0

“This is blow for Real Madrid. One thing we can do is apologize to the supporters. We all wanted to reach the finals and we had failed to achieve it, ” Kaka said to Marca.

“I have been through tough times throughout my career. Yes, we have to deal with this pain together. In fact, we created many scoring opportunities, but did not succeed, ” he added.

Kaka was disappointed not being able to help his club win. Moreover, he was pulled out by coach Manuel Pellegrini, shortly after Lyon equalized in the 75th minute, and was replaced by veteran striker Raul Gonzalez.

“I’m not angry about the substitution, but just could not accept the final result. I was replaced by Raul, who is further more experienced in scoring”

A number of Spanish papers reports that Perez wants to bring Mourinho to replace Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the season, while at the other hand Inter Milan will appoint Laurent Blanc as their coach.
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Mourinho has always denied he has had contact with the Spanish club.