FC Barcelona News: 23 August 2013: Barca Sign Denis Suarez, Lionel Messi Doubtful For Malaga Match

Tests have revealed that the Argentinian has bruised the femoral biceps tendon in his left thigh. The FCB Medical Services have announced that they will be monitoring the player’s progress this week before deciding whether he will be fit to play on Sunday.

FC Barcelona and Manchester City have agreed to terms for Denis Suárez. The player, born in Salceda de Caselas, Pontevedra, arrives from Manchester City and has signed through 2017, his buyout clause has been set at 12 million euros. His buyout clause will jump to 35 million euros if he’s promoted to the senior side.

Barcelona are devising a way to bring Real Madrid shot stopper Iker Casillas to the Camp Nou. According to Spanish TV programme Tiki-Taka, there is set to be a meeting with Barca's president Sandro Rossell and sporting director Andoni Zubizaretta to discuss the possibility of buying Casillas.

Bale’s future appears increasingly likely to be resolved after the Spanish club intensified negotiations to sign the Wales international after almost two months of talks. Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has been locked in advanced discussions with Real Madrid for two days and a deal to take Bale to the Bernabéu is reaching a conclusion in what will be a straight cash agreement with no other players involved.

Andre Villas-Boas refused to comment on speculation regarding Gareth Bale's future - but Real Madrid already appear to think they have got their man. On the ‘Official Real Madrid Store’ webpage, Tottenham winger Gareth Bale is clearly listed as No 11 on the La Liga giants' squad list between Mesut Ozil and Marcelo and his new replica shirt is available for purchase.

Three years on from an emotional exit, Raúl returned to Real Madrid with Al Sadd for a goodbye love-in and one final goal at the annual Trofeo Bernabéu. Raúl, Real's all-time leader in appearances and goals scored, spent two seasons at Schalke before he joined the Qatari outfit in 2012, but was back to don the famous No.7 shirt in front of adoring Madridistas.

Ibrahim Afellay underwent surgery this Thursday to correct the chronic tendino-muscular injury in his right thigh. Doctors Antoni Dalmau and Ricard Pruna conducted the surgery at Barcelona Hospital. The player will be out of action for approximately four months.

After a gap of five years, the paths of FC Barcelona and Bernd Schuster have crossed again.  The last time was on 7th May 2008, when Real Madrid celebrated the league title with a comfortable victory against the eternal rival in the Santiago Bernabéu (4-1).  With the benefit of hindsight, the painful defeat of Rijkaard’s team was a turning point in the recent history of Barça.  Since then Barça has won four league titles, two Champions Leagues, two Spanish Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, two European Super Cups and two World Club Cups.

Brendan Rodgers has said Liverpool are prepared for a Real Madrid bid for Luis Suárez but has reiterated John W Henry's claim that the striker will not be sold. Real have always been Suárez's preferred destination and relations with Rodgers were strained when he accused the Liverpool manager of breaking promises over his future in a Guardian interview. But having missed out on a major summer signing for the third time this week, and confirming that Liverpool's pursuit of Willian collapsed for financial reasons, Rodgers says the club cannot accept any late moves for Suárez.

Wenger has tracked Benzema for many years, to little avail, but there is a feeling that a £40 million offer could now succeed as Madrid seek to balance their finances in the expectation of a likely world-record fee to recruit Gareth Bale. Arsenal have already failed with bids this summer for Gonzalo Higuaín, who eventually joined Napoli, and Liverpool's Luis Suárez, but Wenger remains determined to add an established striker from the elite bracket of world football.