LONDON // Queens Park Rangers have agreed a deal to sign Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar on a free transfer.
QPR will pay only a percentage of the player's wages, the rest being subsidised by Inter by way of a golden handshake as the London club takes advantage of Internazionale's desire to offload one of the Serie A club's highest earners,
Julio Cesar is to receive a pay off of €5million (Dh23m) net from Inter, with whom he won the Champions League, the Club World Cup and five Scudetti during his seven seasons there.
Now surplus to Inter's requirement following the purchase of Samir Handanovic, he has negotiated a four-year contract at QPR worth an annual €2.5m after tax.
The Brazilian's arrival is in part a response to QPR's opening day 5-0 home loss to Swansea City, with the club's billionaire owners sanctioning the recruitment of a second international goalkeeper this summer.
They also paid a significant agent's fee to take Robert Green on a lucrative two-year contract.
"I said I wanted to have two quality keepers this window if at all possible," said QPR manager Mark Hughes last night.
"When you get an opportunity to bring a player of the quality Julio Cesar then I think you have to pursue it to its conclusion.
"I think when we started the process we probably never thought there was a chance he would be able to come here. If we are able to conclude it, we'll be delighted.
"I will sit down with Rob and go through it. It is a challenge for everybody. What we're trying to do here is improve the quality of the group and that includes the goalkeeping position as well."