What’s the story?
Alaves midfielder Marcos Llorente – who is on loan from Real Madrid – has confirmed that his teammate Theo Hernandez – who is on loan from Atletico Madrid – will be joining the Santiago Bernabeu outfit in the summer.
Speaking in an interview, as reported by ManagingMadrid, Llorente said: "I am sure that he [Theo] will be very happy in Real Madrid and that he will succeed there,"
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Theo Hernandez is an Atletico Madrid left-back, currently on loan with Alaves, and it had been reported that the 19-year-old was set to join Real Madrid after undergoing a medical with the club. Los Blancos are expected to be parting with a fee in the region of €24 million for the transfer of the Spanish teenager, however, an official confirmation from Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid is due.
Hernandez impressed during his loan spell with Alaves having made 37 appearances for the Basque outfit, while also contributing with 4 assists and a goal. The 19-year-old has established himself as one of the best young left-backs in the country and will be a welcome addition to the Real Madrid squad, who currently rely only on first choice full-back Marcelo.
Zinedine Zidane does have another left-back at his disposal in Fabio Coentrao but the Portuguese is not fancied at the Santiago Bernabeu and is set for a summer exit.
The heart of the matter
Llorente joined Alaves on loan from Real earlier in the season and has done well with the Basque outfit, scoring 3 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions. The 22-year-old is expected to return to the Spanish capital once his loan spell is over, where he will possibly be reuniting with Hernandez.
The 19-year-old is expected to put pen to paper on a five-year-long contract with the current UEFA Champions League holders. It has also been reported previously that Atleti are furious with Real Madrid as Los Blancos broke a verbal pact between the two club by activating the defender’s buyout clause.
What’s next?
It is almost certain that Theo Hernandez will sign for Real Madrid in the coming days or weeks. Once the deal is officially confirmed, the 19-year-old will be looking forward to joining his new team for pre-season training where he will get the opportunity to impress manager Zinedine Zidane.
Author's Take
The signing of Theo Hernandez by Real Madrid is a very shrewd one, especially considering that the Santiago Bernabeu outfit didn’t have a reliable left-back to fill in during the absence of Marcelo.
The Brazilian is undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best left-back in the world and his position is under no threat. However, with Hernandez they now have a reliable and young full-back who can provide cover and also develop into a first-team regular for years to come.
