25 January 2011
Real Madrid confirmed on their website on Tuesday they had signed Manchester City’s Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor on loan till the end of the season.
The 26-year-old has been brought in to add urgently needed firepower after Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain underwent surgery to fix a slipped disc earlier this month and is expected to be out of action for another four months.
French international Karim Benzema has filled in but while he scored the only goal in last Sunday’s win over Real Mallorca he has rarely convinced, leaving Real Madrid to look elsewhere to fill the gap.
“Real Madrid and Manchester City have reached agreement for the loan of the player (Adebayor) till the end of the season,” Real annnounced in a statement.
“We also have an exclusive option to buy him at the end of the loan period.”
Real made the move for Adebayor after its efforts to sign Dutch forward Ruud Van Nistelrooy — who left Real one year ago — were blocked by Hamburg’s resistance to his departure from the German club.
Adebayor joined Manchester City from Arsenal before the start of the 2009/10 season in a 25 million pounds move, having been at the Gunners from 2006 when he signed from French side Monaco.
Higuain, who was signed from River Plate in 2007, normally partners Cristiano Ronaldo in the front line and has been coach Jose Mourinho’s choice ahead of Benzema.
2010 AFP
