Hercules secure Drenthe deal

Versatile Dutchman joins on loan from Real Madrid

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 1st September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hercules secure Drenthe deal

Drenthe: Not needed by Mourinho

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Real Madrid have let Royston Drenthe join Hercules Alicante on a season-long loan deal.

The left-sided Dutch player was free to leave Real after being told he did not feature in Jose Mourinho's first-team plans.

The 23-year-old is thought to have rejected a move to Monaco while Fulham were also linked with the former Feyenoord man, who joined Real after being named player of the Under-21 European Championship in 2007.

But newly-promoted Primera Liga side Hercules have secured Drenthe's services until the end of the season.

Drenthe has been a bit-part player since his arrival at the Bernabeu in 2007 and made only 10 appearances last season, including just three league starts.

The Drenthe deal comes hot on the heels of the permanent signings of French star David Trezeguet and Paraguay striker Nelson Valdez this summer.

The ambitious Alicante outfit are eager to secure their Primera Liga status as they prepare for just their second top-flight campaign in 24 years and their first since being relegated in 1996/97.