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- It's an international break so what better time to examine the latest transfer rumors wafting around Europe. The Independent is reporting that Real Madrid have informed Arsenal that Karim Benzema will indeed be available in January. Madrid are reportedly willing to let the slumping striker leave for around 20 million Euros as part of a strategy to create the financial space necessary to secure the services of Liverpool's Luis Suarez.
- Cleaning up the slippery Gareth Bale slipped disc saga, the player's agent has dubbed Marca's handiwork as "complete rubbish, irresponsible and a disgrace," according to the Guardian. Interestingly, though, the club's medical staff is looking into the possible correlation between Bale's thigh injury and the protrusion in his back. Stay tuned.
- Rob Train has written an interesting look at Iker Casillas' options in light of Victor Valdes being preferred by Vicente Del Bosque for this past Friday's extremely important World Cup qualifier against Belarus.
- In a brutally honest but surprisingly tone deaf moment, Zinedine Zidane told RMC that he supports Franck Ribery for the Ballon d'Or over Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo seems to be very, very sensitive regarding institutional support for individual awards, particularly this one, and I can only wonder about the wisdom of Zidane's answer. If ever a moment where political speech that reveals nothing was called for on the part of an aspiring manager, it was here. Sadly, it seems that this club hasn't learned nearly as much as it should have from the fallout of the past year or so.