After various circumstances impeded the signing of Theo Hernandez, Real Madrid have finally sealed the deal. Here’s what you need to know:
It has been almost two months since the first reports that a verbal agreement had been reached to sign Theo Hernandez. The controversial deal has been one of the main talking points of the La Liga summer transfer window for some time now and looked to be the De Gea transfer saga of this year.
🌪 @theo3_theo is a @realmadriden player! 🌪
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) July 5, 2017
Here's a glimpse of what the Bernabeu can expect from Theo Hernandez next season! 👇 pic.twitter.com/s2Z4I02enL
Atletico Madrid have, passive-aggressively, confirmed that the deal has been finalized. Theo Hernandez has signed a 6-year deal that will keep him at the Bernabeu until the summer of 2023. The deal is speculated to have cost Real Madrid upwards of €30 million.
The French left back had previously piqued (no pun intended?) the interest of FC Barcelona, as well as that of Diego Simeone after a very successful loan spell at Deportivo Alaves. Hernandez put out great performances consistently, even managing to reach the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona where he scored this beautiful free kick:
This has certainly been a controversial summer for the up and coming leftback. After going AWOL on the French U-20 team in an attempt to force his way into the Spanish national team, Theo joined his team’s crosstown rivals without even making an official debut with his original team!
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Atletico Madrid did everything in their power to keep their future left back. Last season, following serious interest from Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, Atletico offered Theo Hernandez an extension which was meant to keep him with the Rojiblancos until 2021. It also raised his release clause from €6m to €24m.
Everything seemed to point to Theo staying with Atletico until transfer rumors started circling that he was pushing for a move to the Bernabeu. He completed a medical for Los Blancos before the season was even over, much to the dismay of Atleti fans.
That didn’t stop Atletico from trying to dissuade him from moving. Simeone tried offering him a starting role next season, and they even went as far as to postpone the transfer by claiming the funds Real Madrid has transferred the club hadn’t gone through.
Thankfully, all the drama should be over now that the deal has been finalized. Real Madrid have now fortified yet another defensive position with a promising young player. Hopefully, this signing will put an end to the defensive blunders of the last couple of seasons.