Portuguese international left back Fabio Coentrao has been loaned to Sporting Lisbon for the 2017-2018 season although owners Real Madrid will continue to shoulder much of his salary, his new club said on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old with 51 Portugal caps said on Instagram he was “very happy with the opportunity to play at such a huge club” alongside a photo of himself at the stadium with his partner and children.

Sporting coach Jorge Jesus knows Coentrao from their time together at Benfica before the defender left for Madrid in 2011, where he won two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.

On loan at Monaco in 2015-2016 he picked up an injury late in the season and missed Portugal’s European Championship victory in France.