Diego Llorente has returned to Roma for another loan deal after spending the second half of last season at the Stadio Olimpico as a borrowed player from Leeds United. According to the club’s website, the Spaniard has renewed his loan in the capital until the summer of 2024.
Llorente first teamed up with Roma in January after failing to secure regular first-team football at Elland Road. He made nine Serie A appearances last season and was part of Jose Mourinho’s team to reach the Europa League final.
Even though he wasn’t a regular starter, the 29-year-old defender has earned high acclaim from the Special One. Roma couldn’t extend his stay at the first bite of the cherry as Llorente returned to Elland Road at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. But their efforts to bring him back have never stopped.
With Leeds dropping to the Championship, they have agreed to let the former Real Madrid man return to Roma. And Llorente couldn’t hide his enthusiasm about reuniting with Mourinho’s troops.
“I’m proud to be able to remain part of the Giallorossi family. When I had the chance to come to Rome in January, I didn’t hesitate for even a second and even less so during this period of waiting,” he said during a press conference.
He also admitted his desperate desire to stay at Roma.
“I’ve always known I’d do everything possible to stay, not just to remain part of such a historic club, but also to be back alongside my team-mates to fight together, with our fans getting behind us, to achieve the targets that we deserve. I’m sure we can accomplish something fantastic together.“
Llorente has formally become the club’s third signing this summer after the arrivals of Houssem Aouar and Evan Ndicka. But he might not be the only player to swap England for Roma this summer. Manchester United misfit Scott McTominay has emerged as a potential midfield target for Mourinho.
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