Bale could return for Madrid's clash with Malaga before appearing in the Champions League against Juventus

Bale could return for Saturday’s match against Juventus

Real Madrid ace Gareth Bale will most likely be included in the squad that faces Malaga on Saturday before lining up in the Champions League game against Juventus which will be played next week. The Daily Mail reports.

The 24-year-old has been battling a nagging back injury which has restricted his appearances for Madrid to just one since his transfer from Tottenham for £86 million. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez denied reports that Bale’s injury could limit his appearances this season.

According to the Sportsmail Madrid have chosen to play it safe with Bale, which is why they took out a £3.8 million-a-year insurance policy on the player.

In an interview with a Spanish radio station Perez said: ‘Gareth is calm and ready, waiting to play on Saturday.

“Everyone knows that because he didn’t have a good pre-season he suffered from muscle fatigue in the thigh. He is training well and wants to play and show that all this is just something over nothing.”

“Bale is fit to play and wants to show that he is fine. All of the doctors have made it clear that a small disc bulge is relatively common in elite footballers.”

“Not all athletes have scans, so not all of those who have these disc bulges know they have them. Elite athletes suffer more with the back and can handle it, but this is something normal.”

“A big deal has been made out of something normal. The player himself and those around him are concerned because they have contracts and campaigns that this could affect.”

The insurance policy on Bale was taken as a precaution in case his career is littered with injuries.

The Spanish giants can get back ever part of the £86 million they paid for him if Bale is forced to prematurely retire from the game. The club would receive a hefty compensation if Bale is injured for more than a month.

In the mean time Perez confessed that Los Blancos are eager to add Radamel Falcao to their ranks in order to wrest the La Liga title away from Barcelona.

The Columbia international departed Atletico Madrid for french club Monaco for a sum of around £49 million this year.

Perez said: “He won’t come in January but in June, who knows? He is a great player and I imagine he would like to play for Madrid.”