Soccer:Real Madrid have agreed to sign Portugal left back Fabio Coentrao from Benfica for a fee of €30 million. The completion of the deal is subject to the player passing a medical and agreeing personal terms with the Spanish club.
Coentrao, 23, had a contract with Benfica until 2016 and is regarded as one of the most promising left backs in Europe. He impressed at last year's World Cup and has been one of Benfica's best players since returning to the club in 2009 after three loan spells.
Coentrao joined Benfica from Rio Ave in 2007 as a winger but failed to make an impact in his first season and went on three consecutive loan spells, including a short and unimpressive one at Spain's Zaragoza.
Benfica coach Jorge Jesus recalled Coentrao in 2009 and converted him into a speedy and tricky left back who became a key member of the team who won the Portuguese title in 2010 for the first time in five years.
If the transfer goes through, Coentrao will becoming Madrid‘s fifth signing of the summer following on from Turkey international duo Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop, Espanyol winger Jose Maria Callejon and Frenchman Raphael Varane.
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