English in Madrid

Source: Vienna Reyes en Unsplash Cristiano Ronaldo transfer: World-record deal shows football is booming , says Sepp Blatter Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, has defended Real Madrid's £80 million move for Cristiano Ronaldo, despite widespread criticism  of the Spanish club's huge outlay in the transfer market this week. Real's world-record swoop for Manchester United's Ronaldo came just three days after the previous record £56 million move for AC Milan forward Kaka. Real's spending is at odds with the financial climate, but Blatter insists the Ronaldo deal merely emphasises the healthy state of football. "What does £80 million mean when 10 years ago another player with the same name (Ronaldo of Brazil) moved from one club to another for $50 million?" Blatter said. "It means that there is still a demand to have the stars. "We are in a very sensitive market, in an economic crisis, but football remains a fantastic product, not just ...

Source:  K B on Unsplash Weird weather for Scotland VISITORS to a tourist hotspot have gone from baking in a heatwave to getting caught in snow showers — in just SIX DAYS. Last Sunday Aviemore was the hottest place in Scotland with sizzling temperatures of 31°C as Mediterranean-style weather swept the country . But yesterday visitors to the Cairngorms resort were shivering   in blizzards on the slopes after the mercury plunged to zero. Chillier Twins Jeanette and Elizabeth McGregor, both 17, took advantage of   the unexpected two- inch snowfall to build a snowman. And Cairngorm Mountain employee Derek Pritchard had to sweep snow off a viewing gallery to prevent any tourists slipping . Spokesman Colin Kirkwood said: “It is surprising how many people head up the hills just to see the snow in summer. It can be quite an attraction. “It is not unprecedented at this time of year. A few years ago there was snow on Midsummer’s Day. “Our rangers say...

Source:  Kevin Hackert on Unsplash Queen Sofia of Spain has given the British royals a lesson in costcutting - by taking a £13 budget airline flight to London The 70-year-old monarch flew with low-cost airline Ryanair from Spain to Stansted on Sunday to visit her brother, ex-King Constantine of Greece, who is recovering from heart surgery in a London hospital. A Spanish royal source said it was 'common practice' for members of the House of Bourbon to fly on scheduled flights and added: 'King Juan Carlos is the only member of the royal family who always travels on military flights. 'Whenever possible the royals use Spanish airlines, but in this case Ryanair was the best option for getting from Santander to London. It may well be first time the royals have used Ryanair.' Last year, the British Royal Family spent £6.2million of taxpayers' money on travel for official duties . None, with the exception of one or two of the younger members, has ever tak...