- Title: SOCCER-SPAIN/DANILO Real present new signing Danilo
- Date: 9th July 2015
- Summary: ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CROWD CHEERING DANILO KICKING BALLS INTO CROWD CROWD CHEERING DANILO KICKING BALL INTO CROWD DANILO POSING WITH BALL, WEARING KIT DANILO ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM AT THE SANTIAGO BERNABEU STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) REAL MADRID RIGHT BACK DANILO LUIZ DA SILVA SAYING: "During my stay in Brazil, I spent my holidays recovering
- Embargoed: 24th July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA8L33K71AR9Q5FDI61DC4U3CB3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Real Madrid presented Brazilian full back Danilo to over 600 supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Thursday (July 9).
Real Madrid reached an agreement with Porto to buy the 23-year-old Brazilian international in February, and he joins the club on a six-year contract.
The fee for Danilo, who mainly plays at right back, is 31.5 million euros (about 34.7 million U.S. dollars), Porto said in a statement to the Portuguese stock exchange. This makes him the most expensive defender ever signed by Real Madrid.
Danilo started his career at the Brazilian club America before joining Santos and then moving to Porto in January 2012 where he has won two Portuguese league titles.
Danilo, who won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, has become a regular for Brazil since Dunga took over as manager after last year's World Cup.
Although he couldn't play in the 2015 Americas Cup due to a right ankle injury, the Brazilian said he is completely recovered and ready to join the rest of the squad.
"During my stay in Brazil, I spent my holidays recovering from my ankle injury and now it is completely recovered," he told reporters. "My inclusion in the team is now completely up to the doctors and coaches. I'm match-fit."
He will compete for a starting place in Madrid with Daniel Carvajal and former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa. Despite the obvious competition in the squad, Danilo is delighted to become a player for the Spanish giants.
"My objective at Real Madrid is to adapt as quickly as possible to the club's style of playing. This club demands a lot. I need to adapt to the city quickly and my daily routine. All that will help me play well," he explained.
Despite Real Madrid's failure to win any new silverware last season, Danilo hopes that he can help the club win more trophies during his time as a player in the team.
"I'm really happy because I feel like I've made the right decision and I am with the best club in the world. I'm very excited because it's a unique club with all the trophies that it has. I'm very excited and very motivated to increase the number of trophies," he said.
Real Madrid begin their pre-season tour matches on July 18 with a clash against Roma at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None