Young Brazilian Fabinho will act as cover for Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho’s problematic right-back position next season, reports AS.
Fabinho joined Madrid’s B team on loan from Portuguese side Rio Aves last Wednesday after Mourinho had received glowing reports about the 18-year-old, which were enough to convince him that his search for back-up to regular No 2 Alvaro Arbeloa could well be over.
Mourinho also has Lassana Diarra and Raul Albiol available for a position over which he had serious misgivings last term, but would have no qualms about introducing Fabinho into the team in case of an injury crisis.
Rio Aves President Antonio Silva Campos, in an interview with A Bola, said he is convinced Fabinho will break into the Real Madrid first team.
“It was a good deal because Fabinho is a player with great potential,” he said.
“I’m sure Mourinho will bring him into the side because he has immediately had him training with the first-team squad alongside all the stars.”
Fabinho is on a season-long loan and Los Blancos have the option to purchase the player next summer, yet Silva Campos did not want to elaborate too much on the matter.
“All I can say is that if Real Madrid exercise the option to buy that has been stipulated then the economic benefits in question will be very important for Rio Ave.”