Real Madrid will sign Danilo Luiz da Silva during the summer transfer window, having agreed to pay £23million for his signature.
The 23-year-old has been plying his trade in Europe since January 2012, when he left Santos for Porto in a deal worth around €18million. Although he initially played understudy to Cristian Sapunaru, the Brazilian soon established himself at the club’s first choice right fullback and has now gone on to appear 132 times in all competitions, scoring 10 goals.
Danilo has helped the Dragoes win the Portuguese league title in both of the last two seasons, although he faces a battle to claim a third successive crown as they currently trail leaders Benfica by three points. They also remain in contention for the UEFA Champions League, although they face Bayern Munich in a daunting quarter-final tie this month.
Success in either competition would be a fitting goodbye for the player, who has agreed to join Real during the summer window. Los Blancos, whose current options at right-back are Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Arbeloa, will pay Porto £23million for their number 2, who has agreed a six-year contract designed to keep him at the Bernabeu until the summer of 2021.
Danilo has emerged as a regular for the Brazil side since Dunga took over as head coach after the World Cup Finals last summer, and he now has 13 caps to his name. He also won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and also picked up medals in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and the South American Youth Championship, both in 2011.
Speaking about Real’s latest expensive addition, South American football expert Tim Vickery told BBC Sport recently: “From Carlos Alberto to Cafu, Brazil have had more spectacular players at right-back than most – but Porto man Danilo is proving a splendid all-rounder. He can join the attack as an element of surprise, but his defensive skills are also sound.”
