Spanish defender Obrador joins Italy's Sassuolo on loan from Benfica

Spanish left-back Rafael Obrador is set to join Italian Serie A side Sassuolo for the current season, on loan from Portuguese club Benfica. The deal, announced by Benfica on Friday, includes an option for the Italian club to make the transfer permanent at the end of the loan spell.

Obrador, 22, arrived at Benfica last season from Real Madrid for a fee of five million euros, intended as a replacement for compatriot Álvaro Carreras. However, his time with the Lisbon club was limited, featuring in only one senior match and two appearances for the reserve team. He did not find a regular place in the squad under the then-coach José Mourinho.

Following his limited opportunities at Benfica, Obrador spent the remainder of the previous campaign on loan at another Italian top-flight club, Torino. His career began at Mallorca, where he debuted professionally at 16. He later moved to Real Madrid's youth academy before a loan spell at Deportivo La Coruña, where he impressed before his transfer to Portugal.