Bernabéu Bites, 07.21.2013: Football Is Back

As we've known for a well now, Raúl Albiol is off to Napoli. The club has finally made it official on its site.

The rumors of Gonzalo Higuaín finally being offloaded to Napoli as well are gaining some real traction. Corriere dello Sport have reported the agreement between the clubs to sell Gonzalo for €35 million. Image rights and other personal terms are still being hammered out between Napoli and Higuaín. More on Higuaín here.

As I wrote last week, Fábio Coentrão's departure from the club is a likely possibility. Diario As is reporting that Real Madrid are preparing for such a move by looking at Granada C.F.'s Guilherme Siquiera, age 27. Honestly, I don't know much about this player. But he is Brazilian. So there's that.

The Daily Star is stirring up the Pepe to Manchester City rumors once again. According to them, Manuel Pellegrini's team is lining up a £22 million bid to pry the 30-year-old Portuguese defender out of the Bernabéu. Pepe is in all likelihood going to be playing second fiddle (or third you could say) at the center back position this coming season behind Sergio Ramos and Raphäel Varane.

Last but certainly not least, football is finally back! Yes, as in the team will actually step onto a pitch and play a competitive (or at least semi-competitive) match. The Whites are in Bournemouth ready to take on The Cherries at 20:45 CET at the Goldsands Stadium.

<h4>More from Managing Madrid:</h4>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/7/21/4542556/real-madrid-bournemouth-preseason">Real Madrid to Open Preseason Games At Bournemouth, Sunday 20:45 CET</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/7/21/4542588/raul-albiol-napoli-signing">Official: Raúl Albiol Signs With Napoli</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/7/21/4542520/higuain-napoli-signing">'Corriere Dello Sport': Real Madrid and Napoli Agree on €35M Transfer for Higuaín</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/7/20/4540550/carlo-ancelotti-press-conference-bournemouth">Carlo Ancelotti: "Kaka' Wants To Do Better"</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/7/20/4540774/real-madrid-news-bournemouth">Bernabéu Bites, 07.20.2013: Real Madrid Travels to England</a></li>

</ul>