Real beat off Chelsea to sign Benfica’s Coentrao

REAL MADRID have beaten Chelsea in the race to sign Fabio Coentrao from Benfica.

Madrid have not disclosed the fee for the Portugal international, who has joined on a six-year contract, but a statement from Benfica to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMCM) yesterday put the transfer fee at €30 million.

Coentrao passed his medical with Madrid yesterday in “perfect condition” before travelling to the Bernabeu, signing his contract alongside club president Florentino Perez.

The versatile 23-year-old wing-back started his career at Rio Ave, where he made his top-flight debut at the age of 16, before moving to Benfica in 2007. He spent loan spells at Nacional, Real Zaragoza and also back at Rio Ave before helping Benfica win the Portuguese league in 2010 and cup in 2011.

He made his debut for Portugal against Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2009 and has won 15 caps for his country.

Coentrao is Madrid’s fifth signing of the summer as Jose Mourinho looks to build a squad capable of knocking arch rivals Barcelona off top spot in both Spain and Europe.

The other new faces are Turkey duo Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop, former Espanyol winger Jose Maria Callejon and Frenchman Raphael Varane.

Borussia Dortmund playmaker Sahin, 22, agreed a six-year deal with Madrid while 28-year-old Altintop joined on a four-year deal after leaving Bayern Munich.

Callejon, 24, rejoined Madrid, where he came up through the youth ranks before moving to Espanyol in 2008, on a five-year contract, and last week 18-year-old centre-back Varane was confirmed on a six-year deal after switching from Lens.

Madrid won the Copa del Rey last season in Mourinho’s first campaign in charge, while they finished second in La Liga and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League — losing out to Barca in both competitions.