After Leeds were demoted from the Premier League, a number of players were always going to leave the club this summer, but Diego Llorente was expected to leave in any direction.
He was on loan with Jose Mourinho’s Roma for the second part of the 22/23 season before signing a second consecutive loan agreement in the Italian city.
What is Llorente’s status at Roma?
Contrary to Rasmus Kristensen, who joined him at the Stadio Olimpico, Llorente appears to be a crucial cog in Mourinho’s defense.
This season, he has started all three league games for Roma, who have had a sluggish start with only one point and two losses.
Will Roma invest in him long-term?
When Llorente’s second loan period is over, it appears that a permanent transfer to Roma is already in the works.
According to Phil Hay of The Athletic, who discussed the issue on the podcast The Square Ball:
“Roma expressly failed to exercise their option on him, which was meant to be the price Leeds paid for him. I believe the possibility that he stays there permanently is strong.
Do you want any of the loan players to return?
Llorente moving there permanently makes sense since Mourinho is getting more out of him and he has no future here.
Given how much he battled, the Serie A is perhaps a better fit for Llorente than either the Premier League or the Championship.
So that we can receive a respectable amount of money back for him, we simply need to hope he stays healthy and in excellent form for Mourinho.