Real Madrid have signed Boca Juniors midfielder Fernando Gago
for £14m.
The 20-year-old's arrival will heighten speculation over David
Beckham's future in the Spanish capital.
Beckham, 31, has struggled to hold down a place in the Real team
this season as coach Fabio Capello has attempted to overhaul the La
Liga's aging squad.
Gago has signed on a six-and-a-half year deal and follows River
Plate striker Gonzalo Higuain, 19, in moving from South America to
Spain.
Higuain, who was born in France and raised in Argentina and is yet
to commit his international career to either country, moved in a
£9m deal.
Their arrival follows the signing of Brazilian full-back Marcelo
earlier in the season as a potential long-term replacement for
Roberto Carlos.
Gago, who has been dubbed his country's heir to former Real star
Fernando Redondo, has been tipped to play in either central
midfield or on the right flank.
It heightens pressure on Beckham who has spent much of the first
part of the Spanish season on the bench.
While the former England captain did start Real's last match, a 3-0
defeat to Recreativo Huelva left them five points off top spot in
third place.
And Beckham has suffered further ignominy by being asked to play in
a meaningless pre-Christmas friendly against Atletico Madrid while
other big-name players have been excused early for the festive
season.
