Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid are setting up in Ireland for a pre-season training camp.

The 10-day visit will include a sell-out friendly against Dublin's Shamrock Rovers.

The internet is agog with speculation that Cristiano Ronaldo may make his debut for Real in the game which takes place next Monday.

The Spanish squad apparently chose Ireland because of the facilities at Carton House in Co Kildare - and to escape the heat in the Spanish capital.

Carton House hosts several pitches which feature the same irrigation system used at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United.

The Mallaghans, the owners of the luxury hotel, invested in the facilities to attract teams like Real Madrid for ther peak pre-season training.

July and August are generally quiet months for high-end business hotels so the investment makes a lot of sense. Even more so when you factor in the free PR when a team like Real Madrid turns up.