Yeah, apparently Real Madrid has been doing it quite bit with their academy players as well. Unlike a loan, where you are pretty sure the player is going back so you might not want to invest too much effort if the first couple of months are ropey, this way incentives the buying team to work through any teething problems. Also encourages the player as no "easy" way back to the original club.Haha...thanks for looking it up
It's a very interesting way of doing business. Like a loan that is sure to benefit both clubs.
Not as financially lucrative as the way Chelsea farm out their players but probably better for the development of the players themselves.