Thursday notes & quotes: Real Madrid will hold elections this summer

Real Madrid have called for elections, which of course is no surprise. The election, which will take place this month, will be for the presidency, as well as the board of directors.

Those who are eligible to run for presidency (.......*crickets) must apply between June 9th - 18th, at which point, if there is any soul in the universe that applies at all, elections will be held shortly after.

In other news...

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Martin Odegaard says Real Madrid ‘still have faith in him’

"I had the opportunity to train with the best players in the world and the club still has faith in me," Odegaard told Norwegian television channel TV 2.

"They said that they would be monitoring how I am getting along and say that they still want to invest in me. I'm not speaking to [Zinedine] Zidane as often these days, but I chat regularly with the chief scout. They come to watch my games and follow me closely.

"It was my decision, but Real Madrid made all the arrangements for it to happen. It was my choice, because I wanted to play more.

"It was important for me to be playing at the top level. If I hadn't done it, I would have stayed in Madrid, where the daily training sessions were the best part for me. At the end of the season, it was agreed that I should stay another year here.

"I feel like I've made the right decision; I've joined a club which suits me, has a great history and promotes the development of young players."

"Of course I'm happy that Real Madrid won the Champions League," Odegaard added. "It shows that they are the best club. They were crowned champions of Europe by beating Juventus, who eliminated Barcelona.

"I would have loved to have had more chances at Real Madrid but I knew how difficult it would be when I first arrived. It was special being able to train alongside players I had only seen on television and YouTube. It was a bit surreal being next to them."

Keylor feels ‘backed’ at Real Madrid

"I started the season injured and it took a lot out of me to recover. I had every intention of making it easier but it wasn't like that," he told a news conference ahead of Costa Rica's World Cup qualifier with Panama.

"Now, I feel really strong on a sporting and spiritual level and I'm happy with the titles we won because they're not easy.

"Confidence is always important. I always have to thank the people who supported me. I must say thank you to Zidane and one way of showing gratitude is to play the best possible so that his decisions are backed up.

"Everyone likes to have people who support you in tough moments."

Morata’s agent says the Spanish striker wants to play a bigger role...

"Alvaro is a player who wants to play a more important role," Morata's agent told Foot Mercato. "It makes sense for an attacker who has scored 19 goals. It's not enough.

"I do not know. It was a brilliant season for Real Madrid, they won so many titles. The player will make a clear and definitive decision in the next few days. I have not yet met the leaders of Real Madrid.

"[Milan's interest] existed and still exists, as for other major teams interested in a player of his calibre. He does not want to do a season like this again. It was a great season, but he wants to play more. We have not received any offers from France."

Benzema, on the understanding he has with Cristiano Ronaldo...

"I have no words. When I hear his name, I just have a gesture of admiration," Benzema told AS.

"He's an extraordinary person. We understand each other well on the pitch. He wants to have the ball but it's very difficult to get it when he runs with it.

"He's not selfish on the pitch but if he has the ball he always wants to go for goal. And suddenly, he'll set me up to score."

On Zidane...

"He's a very complete, professional coach," he said. "Everyone admires him for his decisions in key moments. Zidane is more excited than a lot of the players in training. We understand each other well."

Asensio says he wants to stay at Real Madrid...

"My intention is to stay at Real Madrid and to earn a lot of minutes," Asensio said. "My goal is to be a starter at Real Madrid.

"There were moments when I didn't play, but I wanted to make the most of any chances the coach afforded me and I finished up in good form.

"I wasn't used to not playing. Yet I worked hard to make the most of the opportunities I got and I was able to finish the season well."

On the challenge of fitting both him and James into the team...

"This is something for them and the club," Asensio added. "I hope that they both remain as they're great players and have helped me a lot throughout the season.

"With the national team I want to nail down my place in the squad and with Real Madrid I will try to get more minutes, more important minutes, and continue winning titles."

Harry Kane says ‘Ronaldo wins’ the Balon D’or...

"I'd do whatever I can to win that big gold trophy [the Ballon d'Or]. It is definitely something I aspire to do," said Kane.

"Ronaldo won LaLiga and the Champions League and that is why he wins it. Messi is in a similar situation. To do that it isn't just individual, it is about a team winning trophies and, hopefully, that is what I can do at Tottenham."

And finally, Lionel Messi shows some praise for Cristiano Ronaldo, much to the annoyance of many a media narrative...

"That thing about our rivalry is something more invented by the press than by us," Messi said to Tencent Sports.

"What we want is to do our best every year, to do the best for our teams and what is spoken from outside is not something I give importance to.

"He is a phenomenal player who has many qualities that year after year he improves and that is why he is one of the best in the world."