Real Madrid midfielder Lucas Silva joins Marseille on loan

Real Madrid midfielder Lucas Silva has moved to Ligue 1 giants Marseille on a one-year loan deal.

The 22-year-old joined Los Merengues from Cruzeiro in January but made just eight appearances last season.

In addition he was not handed a shirt number at the Bernabeu for the current season as Danilo, Casemiro and James Rodriguez were allocated the club's three permitted places for non-European Union players.

A statement on the official Real website read: "Real Madrid and Marseille have agreed the transfer of the player Lucas Silva until June 30, 2016."

.@16LucasSilva est Olympien #MercatOM → http://t.co/kFs6tGAiq1 #EAGOM pic.twitter.com/R5BJOieMlg

— Olympique Marseille (@OM_Officiel) August 27, 2015

Silva is the third high-profile midfield acquisition that Les Phoceens have made this summer, following the arrivals of Lassana Diarra and Abou Diaby.