Real Madrid Ready to Add Atletico Left-Back Theo Hernandez
By Ben Sundock
Real Madrid have clearly voiced interest in young Atletico Madrid left-back Theo Hernandez, Marca says. The 19 year-old left back currently on loan at Deportivo Alavés from Atleti, has had a fantastic in-form season, drawing Real Madrid to want to match the €24 million release clause in his contract.
The French international is brother to current Atletico Madrid center back Lucas Hernandez and may out do his brother in terms of talent and hype.
The young left back making the move from the smaller Madrid club to the bigger will cause a lot of tension in the Spanish capital with very few players ever making the move from Atleti to Real.
This rumor comes just days before Real Madrid host Atletico at the Santiago Bernabéu in the Madrid Derby this Saturday, the second meeting between the two cross town rivals this season in La Liga, with Los Blancos winning the reverse fixture 3-0 in the Vicente Calderon thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick.
Theo recently signed a contract extension with Atletico in August at the beginning of this season, increasing the release clause in his contract from €6 million to the now €24 million that Real Madrid are set to pay.
And it is clear why Real are interested in signing the very young left back as he has made 29 league and cup appearances for Alavés this year, averaging a match rating of 7.01 and adding 3 assists, while having 2 Man of the Match performances.
"“I belong to Atletico.” – Theo"
In an interview with AS, Theo reaffirmed his happiness with Atletico Madrid despite being aware of the reports that Real Madrid were interested, “But I am very relaxed, it is not the first time I have been linked with a big club. I belong to Atletico.”
Theo is a great attacking full back, resembling several of Real Madrid’s current full backs (Dani Carvajal, Marcelo, and Danilo) enjoying a run forward down the wing, not afraid to dribble with the ball and push into the final third.
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One minor set back to Theo’s game would have to be his lack of discipline and temporary lapses in memory, accumulating 10 yellow cards throughout this season, including one in the home loss to Los Blancos back in October.
ESPNFC’s Dermot Corrigan compares Theo to one of Real Madrid’s current stars, Gareth Bale, saying, “In many ways he [Theo Hernandez] resembles a young Gareth Bale with his ability to charge up the sideline, outpacing and outmuscling rival players, and also cause danger close to the opposition goal.”
And he does look like Bale in the many tapes and games I’ve seen him in, shrugging off defenders, making long graceful dribbles, out running opponents with sheer pace. But, Corrigan isn’t done there, adding, “defensively he is strong and aggressive in the tackle – and could be a back-up at centre-back should veteran Pepe as expected leave the Bernabeu in June.”
Atletico will be in for a tough fight trying to stave off Real Madrid’s clear advances to sign one of their young budding stars, and drama has already begun to crop up around the Spanish capital, with Atleti president Enrique Cerezo shrugging off suggestions that he might boycott the pregame meal with Real executives at the Bernabéu prior to kickoff of the derby Saturday.
It will be interesting to see where these rumors go from here, with the game coming up this weekend and all sports media outlets in Spain believing that this is already a done deal.