Madrid confirm Drenthe arrival
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Article summary
Real Madrid CF have agreed to sign flying Netherlands Under-21 wing-back Royston Drenthe from Feyenoord on a five-year contract and for a reported fee of €14m.
Article body
Real Madrid CF announced tonight that they have agreed to sign Dutch wing-back Royston Drenthe from Feyenoord on a five-year contract and for a reported fee of €14m.
Outstanding
If Drenthe's outstanding displays in the Netherlands' recent UEFA European Under-21 Championship triumph are anything to go by, the Spanish champions have found a like-for-like replacement for Roberto Carlos following the Brazilian's move to Fenerbahçe SK. The 20-year-old established himself at Feyenoord last season, adding 26 Eredivisie appearances to the three he had made as a substitute in his debut campaign of 2005/06.
Robben in?
Madrid said Drenthe would undergo a medical in the coming days before being unveiled as the fifth summer signing under new coach Bernd Schuster. The capital club have also brought in FC Porto central defender Pepe for €30m and three players on free transfers - Poland goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, Germany defender Christoph Metzelder and Argentina forward Javier Saviola. Schuster, whose side enter the UEFA Champions League in the group stage, also hopes to finalise a deal for another Dutch player, Chelsea FC winger Arjen Robben.