Diego Llorente moved to AS Roma on loan in the January and it’s not too unfair to say things didn’t start very well for him. The unforgiving press around the Serie A side largely dismissed him and thought he’d be returning to Leeds United in the summer.
However, the defender managed to turn things around and Roma manager Jose Mourinho, who had worked with Llorente at Real Madrid, appreciated what the Spaniard offered both on and off the pitch.
Roma had a clause which enabled them to sign Llorente on a permanent basis for €18m, but in the great tradition of Serie A clubs loaning players from the Premier League, they had no intention of paying that.
Negotiations have been ongoing to to try and find a deal. Il Tempo report that as Roma director Tiago Pinto flies into London for talks, he’s agreed a deal with Leeds United for Llorente.
The Championship club had wanted a firmer buying commitment, yet according to the initial reports they haven’t got any clause whatsoever.
Il Tempo say it will be a ‘straight loan’.
