Madrid, July 5: Real Madrid bought Benfica fullback Fabio Coentrao for ¤30 million ($43 million), making the Portugal international the fifth offseason signing for the Spanish giant.
Madrid confirmed it had signed Coentrao to a six-year deal on Tuesday, when Benfica reported the price of the transfer to the Lisbon Stock Exchange in a statement.
Coentrao was in the Spanish capital on Tuesday for a medical exam, with the club stating the 23-year-old was "in perfect shape."
The former Rio Ave player scored two goals in 23 appearances in his one full season with Benfica. He previously played in Spain for Zaragoza, and has made 15 appearances for Portugal, including at the World Cup in South Africa last year.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is putting together a squad capable of beating three-time defending Spanish champion Barcelona, which also won the Champions League in May.
Madrid has already signed Turkey internationals Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop, winger Jose Callejon from Espanyol and French teenager Rafael Varane in defense. AP
