Cruzeiro midfielder, Lucas Silva looks set to move to Real Madrid this transfer window after the Brazilian club's Vice President, Márcio Rodrigues told ESPN Brazil that an official announcement would be made later on Thursday.
Rodrigues said "Lucas Silva's transfer deal is official and a statement will be made on Thursday. The player has decided it's time for him to leave". He continued "there was nothing else we could do. There comes a time when the player wants to leave because their agent is putting on pressure with the high salaries they're paid Europe.”
The fee has not been confirmed yet but it is expected to be in the region of €15m. The clubs came close to a deal last month but Real fell short of Cruzeiro's asking price but it looks as though the clubs have now found some common ground.
Silva's arrival looks to be the final nail in the coffin for Asier Illarramendi's Real Madrid career with the Basque midfielder being linked with a move to Athletic Bilbao. Illarramendi played for Bilbao's rivals Real Sociedad previously but it seems he has no concerns about crossing the divide.
If confirmed today, Lucas Silva could become the second midfielder to join Real Madrid in twenty-four hours with Norwegian wonderkid, Martin Ødegaard completing his move earlier. At twenty-one and sixteen years old both players look to have bright futures ahead of them and it is a change from Real's recent transfer policy of signing established stars like Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos.
It remains to be seen what Carlo Ancelotti's plans are for Lucas Silva with so many top class midfielders at the club. He will certainly provide the team with a more natural defensive midfielder and if he can settle quickly he could help Real in their bid to retain the Champions League.