Real Madrid Transfer News: Danilo Agreement Reportedly Ends United Rumours

Reigning Champions League holders Real Madrid have apparently beaten Premier League outfit Manchester United to the signing of Porto's highly-rated full-back Danilo.

Continue for updates.

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Danilo Deal Details Emerge in Portuguese Media

Tuesday, March 10

Danilo's switch to Real gathered even more credibility on Tuesday as Portuguese source A Bola provided details of his move from Porto, per Alejandro Cardenas of AS:

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As with all pre-contract arrangements, the terms of the deal are rudimentary but the Portuguese paper reports that Real Madrid will pay Porto 30 million euros for the defender in three instalments – the first, for 10 million euros will be paid when Danilo signs his contract; two further payments of the same sum will be made at a later date. The transfer will not be made official until first inscription period opens on 1 July. A Bola also say that the deal will be for five seasons and not six as originally believed.

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Danilo Negotiations Concluded with Madrid

Friday, March 6

Spanish television station La Sexta (h/t Marca) initially reported that Los Blancos had finalised a contract with Porto, requiring only Danilo's signature to make a summer switch official.

Significantly, the proposed transfer will not include Danilo's fellow countryman Casemiro. The Brazilian midfield terrier is currently on loan at Porto.

Casemiro hasn't yet made the grade on Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti's watch. That's despite the 23-year-old possessing useful qualities as a holding midfielder with an eye for a pass.

Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Porto president Pinto da Costa had recently expressed a desire to keep Casemiro in Portugal, at least for another season. He made his view known via Portuguese newspaper O Jogo (h/t Marca).

That report had suggested Casemiro would play the part of "makeweight" to smooth Real's path to Danilo. But it appears as though Da Costa will have to settle for selling one of his current stars outright.

His hand may have been forced by the debt reportedly currently surrounding Porto. Daily Express writer Ben Jefferson suggested the club must part ways with at least one star player this summer to ease its financial woes.

Jefferson cited Danilo and prolific striker Jackson Martinez as the two candidates most likely to fetch a hefty sum on the transfer market. In this context, the club is likely to welcome any early bids that can help set the books right.

Of course, it's also in Madrid's interest to move quickly to steal a march on the rest. Especially when there's quite a lengthy queue of suitors forming and ready to bid for Danilo.

Marca reporter Jose Felix Diaz recently stated Los Merengues were one of six European clubs vying for the South American defender. He also listed bitter La Liga rivals Barcelona, Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, Ligue 1 moneybags Paris Saint-Germain and Premier League duo United and Manchester City.

B/R Spanish football insider Guillem Balague recently made it clear just how keen Barca are on Danilo:

Even for a club of Madrid's stature and prestige, that's some serious competition for a player. Of course, Ancelotti's squad arguably has the greatest need for Danilo.

Alvaro Arbeloa, Fabio Coentrao, Dani Carvajal and Marcelo are the current full-backs plying their trade at the Santiago Bernabeu. None has the star potential Danilo offers, thanks to his combination of energy, physicality, recovery pace and the natural attacking instincts all Brazilian full-backs seem to possess.

For his part, Ancelotti is remaining coy about any proposed agreement. AS and ESPN FC journalist Nicholas Rigg Tweeted the Madrid manager's admiration for the player, but also offered a note of caution about a transfer:

But if that's just classic transfer speak and Ancelotti and Madrid have beaten the competition, the deal represents a major coup ahead of next season.