Real Madrid signs Javier Hernandez on loan from Manchester United

With Manchester United reportedly swooping in under the nose of city rivals Manchester City and Spanish giants Real Madrid for the loan signing of striker Radamel Falcao, a corresponding move needed to be made.

This, then, was a foregone conclusion.

The 26-year-old, affectionately known as "Chicharito" (little pea), was reportedly a target of both Juventus and Valencia earlier in the summer, but is now destined to serve as Karim Benzema's backup with the reigning European champions. Over the past five seasons, no player in Europe's five major leagues has more goals as a substitute than Hernandez and his 14 tallies.

With Madrid having sold Alvaro Morata to Juventus this summer, manager Carlo Ancelotti was in the market for someone that could offer some depth should Benzema be hit with an injury - or simply need a break over the course of a lengthy season in which the club expects to compete for a title on multiple fronts.

Hernandez, who thrived in his opening season at Old Trafford, has struggled to find consistent playing time since 2010, and was on the pitch for just 855 minutes in the 2013-14 Premier League season. With Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney already on the roster, and Falcao on the way, that number looked very unlikely to increase this year.

Mexican manager Miguel Herrera seemed to confirm the move on Twitter Sunday evening, congratulating the striker on the deal.

"Going to Real Madrid is a big opportunity for [Hernandez], for whom I wish the best of success," he wrote.