AS Roma signed Diego Llorente on loan from Leeds United with an option for a permanent transfer on deadline day. But the centre-back was not initially looking to leave Elland Road.
Leeds only handed Llorente a new three-and-a-half-year contract at the club in December. The 29-year-old also admits that he did not plan on walking away from the Whites so soon after putting pen to paper. Yet the chance to go to Roma was not one he could turn down.
Llorente had struggled to hold down a role in Jesse Marsch’s defence this season with just eight Premier League appearances. He had further only played twice in the top-flight since September having spent 11 games on the bench. Marsch also started him just seven times.
Across all competitions, the 10-cap Spain international had further only played 13 matches for 977 minutes so far this season. So, Leeds agreed to let Llorente sign on loan with Roma on deadline day, in a transfer which the Daily Mail reports includes an £18m option to buy.
Leeds paid Real Sociedad more than £18m to sign Llorente back in September 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa. He moved to the Premier League from La Liga on a four-year contract and proved key following an injury-hit start. But Marsch lost faith in the centre-half this season.
Diego Llorente now admits why he ‘didn’t think twice’ to leave Leeds for Roma
Now, Llorente admits that while he was not aiming to leave Leeds, a transfer to Roma was impossible to snub. He has also shared after arriving in Serie A how the switch came about late in the window. An Italian top-flight debut could come on Saturday at home to Empoli.
“My agent told me about Roma’s interest in the last few days of the transfer market,” said Llorente to the Giallorossi’s in-house media team. “Initially, I didn’t think about moving.
“But when the possibility of coming to Roma came up, I didn’t think twice. I just had to come here and make the most of this opportunity.”
Llorente added: “The first thing is that it’s beautiful, a spectacular city, the best place to continue playing football. Both on a sporting level and on a personal level, I think it’s an important step forward for my career.”
Marsch permitted Llorente’s transfer with Roma after Leeds signed Diogo Monteiro from Servette. The 18-year-old will now provide the Whites boss with cover at centre-back for Liam Cooper and Robin Koch. He will also compete with fellow arrival Maximilian Wober.
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