Real Madrid sign Argentine tyro

Boca Juniors' Fernando Gago(L) fights for the ball with Lanus' Agustin Pelletieri during their Apertura tournament match at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, 10 December 2006. Spanish giants Real Madrid signed highly-rated Argentinian midfielder Gago from Boca Juniors for 20.5million euros.

Spanish giants Real Madrid signed highly-rated Argentinian midfielder Fernando Gago from Boca Juniors for 20.5million euros.

The 20-year-old had been a target of Real for a while but recently had been offered to Barcelona and AC Milan as Madrid were not keen to pay the 23million euros asking price.

"We received a fax with the amount offered by the club (Real) which we approved," read a statement from Boca on its website.

Gago, who is expected to sign a contract taking him up till 2013, will be unveiled by Real on Friday.

Real will pay a first downpayment of 6.8 million euros and a similar amount in 2007 and 2008.

Gago, one of the stars of Argentina's team that won the Under 20 World Cup last year, has drawn comparisons with the Argentine and Real Madrid icon Fernando Redondo for his abundant talent as a playmaker and also his long, lank hairstyle.

He went out of his way to facilitate the transfer by renouncing the 15percent due to him for any deal according to his agent.