Manchester United have reportedly secured the services of Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao on loan for the rest of the season.
According to Sky Sports, Reds’ boss David Moyes snapped up the Portuguese international left-back with just seconds to go before the close of the summer transfer window, after earlier losing out on Athletic Bilbao’s Ander Herrera.
Coentrao, 25, has made no secret of the fact he would like a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, yet it appeared his hopes had been dashed when United made their interest in Everton left-back Leighton Baines known.
However, England international Baines has remained at Goodison Park, at least until the next transfer window in January, forcing Moyes to turn to Coentrao in a bid to strengthen his squad after a relatively ordinary start to the new season by the Old Trafford club’s standards.
Coentrao joined Los Blancos from Benfica in summer 2011 for a reported €30m, yet has failed to win over the fans in Spain, making just 36 La Liga appearances in two years.