By Chris Wright
No wonder he’s looking smug!
Bolton Wanderers have confirmed the capture of Real Madrid’s teenage left-back Marcos Alonso, who has finally moved to the Reebok Stadium on a three-year deal.
The 19-year-old defender, who first joined the Real youth set-up at the age of nine, has signed for an undisclosed fee which is believed to be somewhere in the region of £3.5 million.
Trotters manager Owen Coyle confirmed the news by issuing a brief statement on the club’s official website;
“He is an exciting young player who has undoubted quality and he will bring that into our mix. I think that we have a real talent on our hands.
I have said before that when we are investing money in transfers that I want to do it with young, talented players. He isn’t the finished article yet – he’s a young player making his way – but you don’t get through at Real Madrid without having a bit about you.”
Alonso has made one single appearance for Los Blancos first team (coming on as a late substitute in their win over Racing Santander in April) and becomes only the second player to transfer directly between the two clubs – following hirsuit midfielder Ivan Campo‘s switch in 2002.