Fabio Coentrão returns to Portugal - but not to Sporting or Benfica
Rio Ave have completed the signing of Fabio Coentrão from Real Madrid, it has been confirmed.
The leftback, who has been capped for Portugal 52 times, is returning to the club where he had his professional debut, having spent last season on loan at fellow Primeira Liga side Sporting.
The 30-year old was expected to leave Madrid this summer having found game time hard to come by, and after a strong showing for Sporting last season - where he played 25 league games - a return to the Lisbon club seemed like a possibility.
However, the ex-Benfica striker has now joined Rio Ave, where he will play for the upcoming season.
