Who is Danilo? We profile Real Madrid's £23million signing
Wednesday 1 April 2015 12:06, UK
Real Madrid have already started their summer spending by dropping £23million on Porto defender Danilo.
The Brazilian will join the La Liga giants in the summer, but what do we need to know about the 23-year-old?
What is Danilo's background?
Born in Bicas in 1991, Danilo started at Belo Horizonte-based side America Mineiro, winning the Campeonato Brasileno de Serie C (third tier) title before joining Santos in 2010.
Full name Danilo Luiz da Silva, he was reportedly "inseperabale" from Neymar at Santos, and scored the decisive goal from central midfield in the 2-1 win against Penarol in the 2011 Copa Libertadores final.
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Porto decided to splash out 13m euros for Danilo in January 2012, and at the time was the club's second most expensive signing ever.
He won the Under-20 World Cup with Brazil in 2011, and was part of the Brazil team that won the silver medal at London 2012.
Danilo was given his full Brazil debut in 2011, and has 13 caps since, playing in the 1-0 win over Chile on Sunday.
Why have Real decided to splash the cash?
This season at Porto Danilo has played 34 times, registering four goals and four assists. In total he has played 134 times, scoring 10 goals.
The energetic right-back loves to get forward, and can also play in the middle if required. He has previously said: “I am most happy playing in the middle of the park. I like to play close to the goal.”
After Porto sold Fernando to Manchester City last summer, he said: “It could be an opportunity to play in midfield.”
Likened to Barcelona right-back and fellow Brazilian Dani Alves in the past, Real Madrid describe Danilo as "a right-back who covers a lot of ground, quick, technical and hits the ball well. These qualities are enhanced by a spectacular physique, making him a danger in attack.”
High praise indeed... what have others said about him?
His current Porto coach, Julen Lopetegui, told AS: “This year he has wanted to learn how to improve in all of the aspects of play, in the tactics, in the physical [side of things], in concentration. This individual improvement has helped the team grow collectively.”
And Brazil coach Dunga compared the full-back to another Brazilian: “His way of playing infects the others. He has physical strength that impresses, a bit like Maicon. He does not stop running and always seems fresh.”
How will this effect the current right-backs?
The underperforming Alvaro Arbeloa was replaced by Dani Carvajal in Real's starting XI for the 2012/13 season, and has since been linked with a move back to the Premier League after leaving Liverpool in 2009.
Carvajal, also 23, may not automatically lose his place to the Brazilian next season. The Spaniard has put in a string of decent performances for Real and the move is seen as competition rather than a straight replacement.
You can watch Danilo for his current side Porto as they take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter final on Wednesday, April 15 and Tuesday, April 21 live on Sky Sports.
