Benfica have completed the signing of Real Madrid striker Raul de Tomas in a €20m deal, the club have confirmed.
It is claimed that the Portuguese champions have paid €20m for the striker, after Madrid dropped their initial asking price from €35m, while he has penned a five-year contract.
Benfica club president Luis Filipe Vieira reportedly was in the Spanish capital last month to finalise negotiations
The 24-year-old netted 14 La Liga goals in 32 starts on loan at Rayo Vallecano this season but it was not enough to save the side from relegation back to the second tier.
There had previously been reports in Portuguese outlet O Jogo that Benfica’s main title rivals Porto had also been keen on the Spanish striker, who is said to be in high demand.
A previous report in Marca stated there had previously been reported interest in him from Real Betis and Valencia, while the Madrid native is reported to be keen to stay in the Spanish capital, but he has now moved to Benfica.
De Tomas leaves the club after playing only one official game. It was in the Copa del Rey in the 2014/15 season under Carlo Ancelotti.
