Man Utd to lose Militao transfer battle as Real Madrid make opening move to secure £45m deal
Brazilian defender has been likened to Portugal’s Pepe for his physicality and pace and will join a new era of Galacticos
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REAL MADRID will beat off competition from Manchester United to sign Brazil defender Eder Militao in a £45m deal.
Zinedine Zidane’s transfer plans are already taking shape after his return to the Bernabeu and Real will meet Porto’s release clause to sign the young defender in the summer.
Manchester United were also in the market for the 21-year-old, but Real have made the opening move to sign the coveted young defender.
Militao only arrived from Brazilian club São Paulo last summer, but his assured performances have convinced the Spanish giants to sign him.
Although he debuted as a mobile right-back in Brazil, Militao has since starred for Porto in the centre during 20 league appearances this season, scoring two goals.
He is a product of the celebrated São Paulo academy that produced the likes of Kaka, Cafu, and Oscar before he was signed by Porto for a measly £3million.
Militao Factfile
Name: Eder Gabriel Militao
Born: January 18, 1998 - Sertaozinho, Brazil
Position: Right-back/Centre-back
Career Highlight: International debut for Brazil in September 2018
United had the option to sign him last summer, but then boss Jose Mourinho opted for Diogo Dalot instead.
Porto wanted the Brazilian to pen a new deal to hike up his release fee, despite having given him a contract until 2023.
Militao is set to become the first in a new era of Galacticos at Madrid after Zidane made the shock decision to return to the club just ten months after quitting.
The French manager, who is also plotting a move for Chelsea forward Eden Hazard, will push the deal through at the end of the season.
