Danilo to Real Madrid: Latest Transfer Details, Reaction and More

Real Madrid officially announced the signing of full-back Danilo on Tuesday night, bringing a premature end to a transfer saga that had the potential to dominate headlines all summer.      

The news was confirmed via the club's official Twitter account:

The Brazilian will join Los Blancos at the end of the current campaign and has signed a deal until the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, according to Real's official website. Per Marca's Jose Felix Diaz, the deal is worth €25 million, but the fee could rise to €30 million based on incentives.

Danilo established himself as one of the top young right-backs emerging in the game with a fantastic 2014-15 season, leading to plenty of speculation regarding his future. Manchester United were reportedly interested, but per the Daily Mail's Mike Keegan, Real were always the favourites to bring him in.

Barcelona were also rumoured to be in the mix, with many a pundit citing the close friendship between the 23-year-old and Blaugrana star Neymar, via Marca's Hugo Cerezo. The Catalans are still subject to a transfer embargo, however, and per Spanish football expert Rafael Hernández, this signing serves as a stark reminder of that:

Danilo's arrival in the Spanish capital will undoubtedly raise some eyebrows. While plenty of fans and pundits were ecstatic with his capture, some wanted to know exactly why Los Blancos would move for the player when they already have a homegrown full-back of their own in Dani Carvajal.

Football365's Daniel Storey made no attempt to hide his disappointment, although he believes Carvajal's state will probably be worse:

Carvajal regressed slightly in 2014-15 and was exposed in a handful of matches against top opposition, but overall, the 23-year-old has been very reliable for the Champions League holders.

Danilo is a fantastic talent, and €25 million will hardly put a dent in Real's finances, but fans of the club's youth system may be disappointed his arrival likely means yet another hometown favourite will lose his spot in the starting XI.

That said, the former Santos man is a special player who will undoubtedly add a new dynamic to Real's attack. The rich just keep getting richer, and Real have already positioned themselves to be among the top contenders for silverware next season with this latest addition.  

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