Bernabeu Bites: The El Clasico week edition

Welcome to Bernabeu Bites where every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday we take you around the world of Real Madrid, La Liga and European Football, in bite size form. So sit back, grab your favorite beverage of choice and enjoy.

I don't know about you, but I have a feeling this week might crawl along at a snail's pace in anticipation of the start of the season coming up this weekend, which would also include the Supercopa. I'm sure there will be a lot of bandwidth devoted to the subject in the coming days.

Speaking of the team los blancos will kick off the La Liga season against, over at SBN's own Barca Blaugranes they've already started to take a look at the upcoming two legged Supercopa and the tactics involved. While I don't think Pepe is going to be man marking Messi, I do believe he'll most likely start as a CDM. [Gabe's Completely Blatant Plug, 3:35 P.M: We chatted about this in yesterday's Managing Madrid Chat! I think the consensus was that everyone wanted and expected Pepe to play CDM.]

It's no secret and no surprise that this pre-season was one of the best Real Madrid has had in quite some time. According to the teams website, it is in fact the best preseason the team has had in 24 years. What can we take away from this? Not much really. I equate it to baseball in a way: spring training stats and all the wins and losses really don't mean jack until you actually get into the regular season.

Like they Neymar saga, there has been another one going on--one which I thought might have died down by now. If you're wondering what I'm talking about, it's the Segrio Aguero to Real Madrid rumor-a-thon. Now we all know that he signed with Manchester City, yet now it's coming out that he might be in for a short stay. Again with most (read: all) transfer rumors take this with a grain of salt. But it seems the owners of both clubs have agreed on a deal, that would have Aguero play for City for two years, and then be sold to los blancos.

Sergio Aguero plays at Man City for two seasons and Real Madrid would buy the player for €45 M , the amount paid by City to Atletico and City enjoys the player "free" and Aguero would see his desire fulfilled by playing at Real Madrid and living again in the city of his "heart".

Check back with me in two years, and we'll see if this one has any legs to it.

It looks as though Tottenham are about to seal the deal with former Real Madrid Midfielder Lassana Diarra. The deal is expected to be done this week, just ahead of the start of the Premier League, though Spurs start the season at home and with the riots going on this might have to be postponed. Also with the signing of Diarra it signals the end to Wilson Palacios at White Hart Lane as he's headed to Stoke.

Turkish International Nuri Sahin comes in at #2 on Goal.com's Top 20 transfers this summer. Of course topping the list is Alex Sanchez and his move from Udinese to Barcelona. 

Fernando Gago's agent has dismissed rumors of his client returning to Boca Juniors.

"It is impossible that he will go to Boca Juniors. They have not made an offer to Real Madrid and are not about to make an official approach either," Lombilla was quoted as saying by AS.

"Argentine clubs can pre-register players without actually consulting the player or his current club. The AFA has given the club the option to do this. Boca could also have registered Cristiano Ronaldo. It doesn't mean anything."

He's under contract for another two years, though there are rumors that he could be leaving the Bernabeu. If not this summer, I bet come winter transfer he'll be gone. Of course that's just wild ass guess on my part.

Twitter is a tool that could get you intro trouble, just ask Joey Barton. Anyways, it seems that most in the football world have no clue how to handle the instant access. 

Check out this quote from Sam Allardyce:

"Ban it. It is uncontrollable. It just gives an opening for too much abuse. It’s a great piece of technology, but in most cases it gets people into far too much trouble.

What we’ve said is you can’t use it as regards information about the football club and anything that’s confidential."