The Spanish giants want to rejuvenate their forward line after failing to replace Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu.

Three-time Olympic medal winner Louis Smith has announced that he will be returning to full-time training in an attempt to compete at the Commonwealth Games.

Louis pushed his rigorous gymnastics training regimen to one side on Monday afternoon for a visit to ITV studios and the pressing issue that was his appearance on game show Celebrity Tipping Point: Lucky Stars.

2014 has seen another 12 months of tantalising sporting action. Sportsmail have captured these historic moments step-by-step through our own brilliant photography team.

Christmas came early for Lucy Mecklenburgh when she boyfriend Louis Smith surprised her with a trip to the Big Apple as a belated birthday gift.

MARTHA KELNER IN RIO: It is a sign of how far gymnastics in Britain has advanced that an Olympic medal was expected when the men's team took to the competition floor in Rio on Monday night.

Millions of fans were stressed out not just by the dramatic sporting clashes that went on around the UK yesterday, but also by finding ways to watch them all at the same time.

Nadal's withdrawal could prove decisive in the battle to end the year as world number one, with Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals in Tokyo this week and due to defend his title in Shanghai.

Iggy Azalea made a long-overdue return to the charts last year with her hit single Kream.

She released her latest album 'In My Defense' last week. 

Liz Cambage, 27, met Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, 29, at the WNBA All-Star Game and Concert in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, 29, famously claimed in 2016 that she had 'no connection' to her native country since moving to the US when she was 16. 

The Spanish giants were defeated 2-0 away at Granada on Saturday night in La Liga through goals from Ramon Azeez and a penalty from Alvaro Vadillo and boss Ernesto Valverde feels responsible.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: Luis Suarez had scored 25 of the side's 61 goals this season - and Quique Setien admitted the club were considering making a move in the transfer market.

Barcelona are progressing in talks with Valencia over striker Rodrigo as they attempt to find a replacement for the injured Luis Suarez.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: Renewing attempts to bring Neymar to the club or signing Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan will be the priority this June. That has left the club in a difficult position.

Aubameyang was heavily linked with a move to the Nou Camp and although a move didn't materialise, Abidal said the club will look for a striker this summer and spoke highly of the Gabon international.

Luis Suarez says he has a clause in his contract that will trigger a contract extension if he plays in 60% of Barcelona's games next season.

Orange Is the New Black's Jackie Cruz, 32, has said that she always knew Ruby Rose would be a Hollywood heavyweight.

The event was one of many ahead of Tuesday's MLB All-Star game at Progressive Field, the home of baseball's Indians.

Laverne Cox looked incredible as she joined Gigi Gorgeous and Nats Getty at the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors basketball game on Wednesday.

LAURA WILLIAMSON: Katarina Johnson-Thompson has been left 'devastated' after she was forced to pull out of the Commonwealth Games with a left foot injury.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson explains the pain of missing out on the European Championships and Commonwealth Games, but says best is yet to come.

European Indoor pentathlon gold medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson will compete in the 200metres hurdles and long jump at the Great CityGames Manchester in May.

Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill has confirmed she will return to competition in London this July following her break from athletics to become a mother.

If athletics wants Jessica Ennis-Hill and Katarina Johnson-Thompson to become the Coe and Ovett of their day, one can only hope that a bit of good old competition spices things up.

The Muller Anniversary Games takes place at London's Olympic Stadium this weekend as some of the world's best athletes prepare for the start of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next month.

The Scottish runner has been in fine form and she leads a team packed with medal prospects. Performance director Neil Black said he is 'pleased with the blend of the team' for the championships.

Here, Sportsmail's Riath Al-Samarrai athletics correspondent brings you eight athletes to watch throughout the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia's Gold Coast.

Before Jodie Comer played the ruthless assassin Villanelle in the hit show, she honed her skills in drama classes at the same Liverpool school attended as the indoor pentathlon champion.

Legal documents reveal the 51-year-old was also named executor of his will, meaning she is in charge of distributing his personal effects as per his instruction.

The rapper, 36, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj, is said to want to be known as Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, according to TMZ.

The rapper, 36, sparked a fan frenzy when she changed her Twitter bio to Mrs Petty on Friday, two weeks after obtaining a marriage licence from Beverly Hills courthouse.

Next Monday the BBC are broadcasting a special anniversary episode that will see several of the characters attend a boat party on the Thames.

James, 34, commented on a picture of Jacqueline, 27, writing: 'You look like you are waiting for the sunshine bus and if anyone touches your football you will go mad.'

Viewers took to Twitter in droves to demand that someone rescue the famous soap mainstay, after they saw the bust sinking into the River during the 35th Anniversary week.

The EastEnders star, 42, was roasted by his friend for only being interested in women that 'were the same age as his daughter,' and suggested he should try and find a partner through personality.

The Barry Evans star, 54, performs in the new track called Braindead (Heroin Kills) by Italian DJ Piero Pirupa, which laments and shows the downfall of drug use.

EastEnders fans were baffled when they believed a crew member accidentally appeared in the scene where Stuart Highway proposed to his girlfriend. 

Ewen MacIntosh, 46, best known for his role as the monosyllabic accountant in the hit Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant comedy, played a delivery man in the soap.

ESPN's 'College GameDay' host Chris Fowler asked the swimmer who he thought would win today's game between the LSU and Texas A&M. And Lochte chose Auburn, who weren't even playing.

He always put his rival Ryan Lochte in the shade during their swimming careers. And the former will be hoping Michael Phelps does not do it again after he was spotted showing off his swimming skills for a camera crew in Miami on Wednesday.

Here, we chart how Ryan Lochte turned Saturday night and Sunday morning into hours and hours of shame for his nation - and  threaten to overshadow the brilliance of Michael Phelps' glory.

Bentz and Conger had drunk so much alcohol on the night of their gas station fracas they couldn't remember much about the now-infamous incident, police documents reveal.

Ryan Lochte apologized to the people of Brazil and his fellow teammates, explained why he made 'over-exaggerated claims' about an armed robbery and shared his hope that he can still compete.

Sam Sododeh, 59, and Barzeen Soroudi, 25, were arrested and charged with trespassing after they stormed the stage in protest against Lochte during the show's season premiere on Monday.

Ryan Lochte is opening up about the depths of his despair in the days and weeks after he found himself at the center of an international scandal during the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Donald McAvoy, 28, who shares a father with the X-Men actor, allegedly stole the car in April from outside a house in Scotland and is behind bars another three weeks until he appears in court.

Taken by Bill Doherty at a loch in Aviemore, Scotland, the mighty bird can be seen staring at the camera as it swoops to the water's surface and scoops up its lunch.

Josh Duhamel didn't just kick off the Kids Choice Awards with a bang, but also with a lovely baby bump. Imitating his pregnant wife Fergie, the host of Saturday's Nickelodeon awards show revealed his sweet dancing skills for a comedic opening skit.