Bernabéu Bites, 09.01.2013: Maximum Points

• Managing Madrid's own J A Marsano (or Ireland for the old-timers here) got up at 3 AM to watch and recap today's 3-1 victory over Bilbao. Give that a look if you haven't already and vote for your man of the match; Modric, Isco and Benzema being your options.
• ESPN's Nicholas Rigg also weighed in on today's win. His recap is written with a special focus on Luka Modric's brilliant performance. It's becoming pretty clear now that Modric is a truly top-notch, well-rounded center midfield player. Long gone are the days when he was considered a bust signing.
• Despite being left out of the squad today, Fábio Coentrão will stay at Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti saved that bit of news for when he closed out his post-match press conference. Having two world class players at left back is quite a luxury to have. We'll have to wait and see how Fábio gets on with the team after this change of heart.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/MrAncelotti">@MrAncelotti</a>: &quot;Coentrao is staying at Real Madrid. I never wanted him to leave. Everyone is happy he is staying&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23halamadrid&amp;src=hash">#halamadrid</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) <a href="https://twitter.com/realmadriden/statuses/374146829069602816">September 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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• Reports of a meeting between AC Milan's Adriano Galliani and Florentino Pérez have popped up on Twitter today.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Adriano Galliani está almorzando con Florentino Pérez en el restaurante Puerta 57 del Santiago Bernabeu. Vía <a href="https://twitter.com/MilanNewsit">@MilanNewsit</a></p>&mdash; Lucho  (@_Lucho10) <a href="https://twitter.com/_Lucho10/statuses/374149790197485568">September 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Real Madrid y Milan han empezado ahora mismo la reunion para la venta de Kakà</p>&mdash; Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) <a href="https://twitter.com/tancredipalmeri/statuses/374154087723319297">September 1, 2013</a></blockquote>

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• Diario As's understanding of the Kaká situation is that it's all but confirmed that the Brazilian is set to return to Milan for free and will have his wages sliced in half, putting him in the €5 million range. That would be a bit surprising to me, if true.
• Sky Sports took another crack at the "when-Bale's-transfer-will-be-confirmed" sweepstakes.Today is the day, Madridistas!*

*maybe

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

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/9/1/4682112/real-madrid-athletic-bilbao-score?utm_source=managingmadrid&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Recap Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao: Best League Start In 3 Years For Real Madrid!</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/8/30/4675306/kaka-milan-signing?utm_source=managingmadrid&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">AC Milan Ahead In Race for Kaka', Bernabéu Bites 08.30.2013</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/8/29/4672932/kaka-real-madrid-departure?utm_source=managingmadrid&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Kaka': 'I Want to Leave Before Monday'</a></li>

</ul>