Confirmed: Fábio Coentrão joins Sporting Lisbon on loan

Real Madrid have confirmed that the Portuguese has joined Sporting Lisbon on a season long loan that will expire in June 2018.

The left back who joined Real Madrid in 2011 from Sporting's arch rival Benfica made only three La Liga appearances for Madrid last season.

He spent the 2015-16 season on loan at Monaco.

The 29 year old returns to his home country in a bid to resurrect his career.

The statement on Real Madrid website read thus:

"Real Madrid C. F. and Sporting Clube de Portugal have agreed the loan of the player Fábio Coentrão until 30 June 2018."

Reports in Portuguese media claim Real Madrid will still pay a large part of the player's salary.