Loan deals can often be risky for players and for Leeds United defender Diego Llorente, his move to AS Roma has not been worth it thus far.
The centre-back joined Jose Mourinho’s side on loan until the end of the season at the end of the January transfer window, having sought a departure from Elland Road after falling down the pecking order.
The hope was that he could get things back on track in Rome and perhaps secure a permanent move there in the summer.
That’s not been the case, though, with him managing just one appearance in Serie A and another in the Europa League.
The latter came last night in the clash with Real Sociedad and was supposed to be his full debut, with it explained in Italy the game was his big chance to impress Mourinho and prove his worth.
That did not prove to be the case, though, with El Desmarque explaining that he was unable to finish the game and was substituted off at half time due to ‘muscular problems’.
They say it was the latest blow in a disappointing year so far for Llorente, who has ‘not fitted very well’ at Roma since arriving in January and seems set to continue the disappointing run that ‘dragged’ him down at Leeds.
A spell on the sidelines will only push him further down the pecking order at Roma, where he has already been afforded ‘time to adapt’ as it is.
They’ll be highly disappointed by what they’ve had from him so far, with the initial loan deal described as ‘expensive’ at the time it was agreed. It also seems unlikely they’ll be taking up the €10m option to make it permanent.
At this point, his decision to leave Leeds temporarily appears to have been a disastrous one, with disappointment abound in Rome and his failed debut only adding to that.
