Diego Llorente‘s loan switch to AS Roma in January was initially seen as a short-term move, expected to lead to his return to Leeds United in the summer. However, Llorente has defied expectations and made a strong impression on Roma boss Jose Mourinho, with whom he had previously collaborated during their time at Real Madrid.
Roma had the option to sign Llorente permanently for €18 million, but like many Serie A clubs loaning players from the Premier League, they are not willing to pay that amount. Negotiations have been ongoing to find a suitable agreement, and according to reports, Roma director Tiago Pinto has flown to the UK for talks and has reached a deal with Leeds for him.
Leeds had hoped for a more definitive commitment to buy, but the initial reports suggest that there is no clause in the agreement. Instead, it appears to be a straightforward loan deal for Llorente. The details of the loan arrangement and the duration of the loan period have not been specified in the reports.
This development indicates that Llorente is set to continue his spell at AS Roma for the upcoming season, providing stability and defensive strength to the Italian club.
It remains to be seen whether the loan agreement includes an option for Roma to make the deal permanent at a later stage.
