Marseille have signed Lucas Silva from Real Madrid on a season-long loan deal.
Silva moved to the Bernabeu from Cruzeiro in his native Brazil in January but the midfielder was surplus to requirements for new Madrid coach Rafa Benitez for the coming campaign.
.@16LucasSilva est Olympien #MercatOM → http://t.co/kFs6tGAiq1 #EAGOM pic.twitter.com/R5BJOieMlg
- Olympique Marseille (@OM_Officiel) August 27, 2015
The 22-year-old will play under former Madrid midfielder Michel at the Stade Velodrome as he looks to secure more regular first-team football.
Real Madrid C. F. have reached an agreement to loan Lucas Silva to Olympique de Marseille until 30 June 2016 pic.twitter.com/i7eel3TbjZ
- Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) August 27, 2015
Silva wrote on Twitter: "Ready for a new and exciting challenge with Marseille!"
Silva was not handed a shirt number at Madrid for the current season as Danilo, Casemiro and James Rodriguez were allocated the club's three permitted places for non-European Union players.
However, Marca has reported that there is no purchase option in the deal and Madrid are hoping the player can develop by playing in Ligue 1 and the Europa League this season.