Granada’s sporting director has confirmed that full-back Guilherme Siqueira was at one stage on Monday officially signed to Real Madrid.
The Brazilian saw his move out to Benfica delayed on the final day of the transfer deadline, amid Madrid’s late interest to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu if Fabio Coentrao had completed an exit to Manchester United.
However, with the Portuguese seeing that move to England fall through, Siqueira went on to complete a loan deal with Benfica.
On from reports, though, that the player had signed a deal with Madrid in an airport in Portugal, Granada’s sporting director has given his version of events on the late chaos.
“We do not like operations that run until the last minute and then have to be rushed, but sometimes it happens,” Juan Carlos Cordero told reporters this week.
“His dream was to play in Madrid and we waited until the end of the market even as he had reached a deal with Benfica.
“The player was for half an hour or an hour, a Madrid footballer, but there were many interwoven operations and so eventually he went on loan to Benfica.”
Siqueira’s move to Benfica is an initial one-year loan, with the Portuguese having a purchase option of €7m and Granada maintaining 50 per cent of his registration.
“This is a profitable transaction for us, as the player is happy and the club take the money. The player remains our property and we are left with half of his rights when he is next transferred.
“Now he will be in the Champions League after two years with Granada. If he plays to the same level in Portugual, then he will be worth double his value here.”
