Real Madrid Training Session Diary - 20/07/09
With players like Raul, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema there is no denying that Real Madrid are a team of absolute legends! So just imagine how the SoccerBible felt as we took up an invite from adidas to join the Real Madrid squad on their pre-season trip to Ireland!
The moment the invite arrived at SoccerBible HQ our man in the field was on the next plane to Dublin! Itching to get involved, the SoccerBible joined up with the Real Madrid squad, eager to bring our SoccerBible fans a piece of the action. So without further interruption, here's the best bits from a one of the training session that would have any Los Blancos fan in dreamland!
above: The Madrid squad are put through their paces during training
The SoccerBible arrived at the The Carton House Hotel in Maynooth, just outside of Dublin both expectant and excited about the day ahead. The venue is luscious, mammoth setting, surrounded by green fields and a expansive golf course, but there's plenty of commotion as the players are taking to the pitch to train.
After a quick briefing we're on to the training ground as the Real Madrid squad players are put through their places. It's two touch passing and these guys are good, they don't even need to look where they're passing.
Meanwhile, adidas are treating some lucky competition winners to a soccer school as they prepare to meet the stars. 
above: The players split into three teams to share their skills to the lucky winners
It's not long before the players have finished their coaching session and come through the advertising hoardings to mingle. Led by new signing Karim Benzema, the banter begins with the players just relaxing and practising their keepy-uppy. Obviously keen to try out some of the local sporting culture, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul have spied the traditional Irish hurling sticks and they're smacking the ball around. Raul being the ultimate sportsmen, takes to the sport instantly and according to the locals he is quite good - perhaps a career in hurling beckons if the football career was not enough!?
After getting amongst the players its photo time as we are embraced by the Real Madrid squad - leaving one of the SoccerBible's squad right in the heart of the action as the lens flashes and shutters go off around. 
above: The SoccerBible signs for Madrid! But only for the photos!
Eager to make the most of the occasion, we grab a few words with Real Madrid legend Raul. Normally we'd expect to see Raul in adidas Predator football boots, but today is different. We're very aware that Raul is wearing a blacked-out pair of yet-to-be-released football boots that the Madrid star tells the SoccerBible he is currently testing for adidas.
above: Up close with Mr Madrid, Raul
We've got a selected audience thanks to adidas, and next up it's defender Miguel Torres. Of course it wouldn't be the SoccerBible if we didn't indulge in a moment of boot-spotting, and Torres' ultra-cool adidas adiPure II boots are no exception. Asking Miguel about his boots, he tells us that he loves the boot personalisation, before dodging some low-flying balls - Raul has picked up the hurling stick again!
above: Rock solid defender and adiPure lover, Miguel Torres
Our next one-on-one is no other than speed player Arjen Robben...but where is he? He's gone back to the hotel! So it's a quick jog along with the squad the SoccerBible is ushered through the gathered security, VIP-style, and into the players hotel. We're hoping to see what Robben may have done to his boots, and we're more than eager to find out all about his F50is. 
above: Flying winger Arjen Robben is grilled infront of the SoccerBible cameras
All too soon Robben casually appears but is wearing his adidas flip-flops, much to our obvious disappointment. However this is immediately forgotten and the Dutch sensation is more than happy to answer questions for our SoccerBible fans. Once we have the answers, Robben heads back with the rest of the Madrid players behind closed doors - there are some places even we aren't allowed!
Next up it was on to see more of the players in action, attending the celebration match at the Tallaght Stadium, the new home of Shamrock Rovers. New coach Pellegrini had a near-full squad to select from for his first match as coach, and the SoccerBible had front row seats to witness the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema and the rest of the Madridstas making their eagerly anticipated debuts.
