Hello, my name is Corey, and I have taken up the role as the Real Madrid correspondent/blogger here at Soccernet. Many of you probably do not know of me, so let me start by giving everyone a bit of background. I have been a Real Madrid fan since 2000, when I saw my first European football match, the 2000/2001 European Cup final between Real Madrid and Valencia. It seems a surreal experience now, as I sit here in an airport in Charlotte, remembering the game fondly. Many people probably saw the highlights of Raul jinking his way around Santiago Canazares, or the awesome karate like volley Steve Mcmanaman scored, but what I remember is how enchanted I was with Spanish football. I had already taken a liking to Real Madrid, and Raul in particular during the past few months, but this game cemented in my mind my affiliation with the club and the league.

I have also been reading ESPN Soccernet for six or so years now, and am honored to be able to write for the site. Before blogs really took off, and I taught myself to read Spanish, it was very difficult to find information on the internet about Real Madrid, much less world football. Soccernet was the first place I initially looked, and have visited the site daily ever since. In fact, its my homepage. And Soccernet’s very own Phil Ball, La Liga writer and avid Real Sociedad fan, has been my inspiration for writing for all of these years. His writing on Soccernet has allowed me to further understand and appreciate Spanish football for all its intricacies and intrigue, which would have been far more difficult given I am not fluid in Spanish, but can merely make enough words out of a sentence to have a rudimentary understanding of what is being expressed.

As the heat in Madrid continues to rise so to do the rumours surrounding Real Madrid in the midst of the summer transfer window. Though Madrid have addressed certain concerns in the first couple weeks, the most interesting moves are still yet to come.

Hamit Altintop, the Turkish attacking midfielder who last played at the Bernabeu opposite Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in the 2010 Champions League final, highlights what, for the time being, is a short list of new, young talent. In a campaign filled with speculation over Mourinho’s future, even in his first season in the Spanish capital, it seems the Portuguese manager is putting the pieces in place to create a Madrid of the future.

Benzema hit the winner at the weekend and again on Wednesday evening, allowing Los Blancos to both maintain their pace behind Barcelona and take a first leg aggregate lead in their semi-final cup tie, respectively. Yet the under fire France international will now find himself competing for a place after Los Blancos’ latest big name transfer. The Frenchman has struggled since his big money move from Lyon in the summer of 2009, and, with the recent injury to Gonzalo Higuain, speculation has run rampant at the Bernabeu as to whether or not Jose Mourinho would make a move in the January window to add some depth to his squad’s attacking prowess. First they weren’t, and then they were; Madrid’s official stance was about as bi-polar as Benzema’s form. Tevez, Lukaku, Drogba were just a few of the names thrown around by everyone from Marca to your local taxista. Finally, Emmanual Adebayor has become the newest star to don the famed white jersey. But is this really the answer?

Despite a franchise record 96 league points, last season was one filled with disappointment and underachievement. An early exit in the Copa del Rey to 3rd division minnow Alcorcon set a foreboding tone for the season to follow. A round-of-16 Champions League exit at the hands of Lyon ended European hopes, while Barcelona’s double over Los Merengues allowed the Catalan club to outlast the capital side by three points in domestic competition. Manuel Pellegrini’s magic from Villarreal did not translate to the Bernabeu as Florentino Perez’s new Galacticos failed to raise any trophies. That was last year but, starting Sunday at Mallorca, a new prospect of glory now lies in front of Real Madrid.

Overshadowed by Manchester City’s lavish summer spending, Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid have not been, by any means, quiet throughout this transfer window.

Attempting to bring trophies to the Bernabeu for the first time since 2008 (suffice it to say that most other clubs would not be declaring a state of emergency after a two season drought; however, most club’s don’t spend the extravagant figures Madrid does), the Portuguese manager has bolstered his squad with old veterans and World Cup standouts.

With just under a fortnight remaining in the summer window, rumours are still being thrown around the Spanish capital as to who else will be wearing the famed white shirt this campaign; though, like always, it won’t matter how many new stars grace the Bernabeu if the “Special One” can’t transform them from individual stars into a team.

Los Blancos made another big summer splash in the transfer market again, however, this time it was not another play-maker making his way to the Bernabeu but a brash, successful coach. Moments after winning the UEFA Champions League on Real Madrid’s home soil, it became apparent that the Portuguese manager would take the reigns at the capital city club come the summer. Treble winning Inter Milan were suddenly without a coach and one can only wonder what Manuel Pellegrini, who lead Madrid to the second most points in La Liga history (unfortunately it was three points behind Barcelona), was thinking in the aftermath of the impetuous insinuation during the Champions League post-game press conference. Weeks later Pellegrini was sacked and “The Special One” hired for the Spanish giants. Ending Madrid’s recent European futility at the top of his list, Mourinho will take the helm of a talented Madrid squad looking up at an impressive, experienced Barcelona side.

Cristiano Ronaldo's double last Saturday against Malaga was marred by the Portugal star's 70th minute red card. Attempting to shake off a defender, Ronaldo sent a violent elbow backwards, breaking the nose of Malaga's Patrick Mtiliga. The card was immediately protested by the Portuguese international as he threw his hands into the air in disagreement with the decision, a move that would later draw comments from Malaga officials as disrespectful.

The Spanish footballing federation has since added another game onto the normal one game suspension that accompanies a send-off so just decision or not, Real Madrid will be missing their star player and second leading scorer for the next two matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo presence was missed in Madrid’s only defeat this season and, with the Portuguese international now sidelined for the next couple weeks, Real Madrid will have a chance to show their true grit. While neither coach nor players referenced Ronaldo’s absence as an excuse, it was certainly a topic of discussion from the front pages of Marca to the pubs throughout the city the day after a 2-1 loss at the hands of Sevilla.