Mario Hermoso was an important player for Diego Pablo Simeone until the day of his departure from Atlético de Madrid. The Madrid-born center-back decided not to renew with the red-and-white club due to economic disagreements with the management. Therefore, he decided to seek new challenges and joined Roma as a free agent.
There, the Spanish player has never managed to find regularity in terms of minutes. This has led the Italian club to decide to find him an exit, and it seems that a decision has already been made. The famous Italian journalist, Fabrizio Romano, has revealed that Mario Hermoso will be a new player for Bayer Leverkusen.
From Atlético de Madrid to Roma, and now to the Bundesliga
Mario Hermoso left Atlético in the summer of 2024 heading to Roma, seeking more prominence in the team led by Claudio Ranieri. However, his time with the Roman team hasn't been as he expected. With few minutes, the 29-year-old defender has opted to seek an exit that allows him to regain his best level.
Bayer Leverkusen, led by Xabi Alonso, has been the club that has bet on the Spaniard. According to Fabrizio, the agreement between both clubs includes that the German team will cover Hermoso's salary until the end of the season.
Xabi Alonso seeks to strengthen his defense
The arrival of Mario Hermoso at Leverkusen responds to Xabi Alonso's need to strengthen his defensive line after the injury of the young center-back Jeanuel Belocian. Hermoso, with his experience in LaLiga and European competitions, provides an immediate solution to the problems in the German team's defense. Xabi Alonso's team is currently competing for the top spots in the Bundesliga and remains alive in the Champions League.
The player, who is said to have already missed training sessions prior to the match Roma will play on Thursday, is awaiting a medical examination. Additionally, the administrative details need to be finalized to officially confirm his temporary transfer to the aspirin team.
An opportunity to rise again
Mario Hermoso faces this new challenge with the intention of regaining the prominence he had during his time at Atlético de Madrid. Although his stint at Roma hasn't been as expected, the Spaniard trusts that under Xabi Alonso's direction, he can prove his worth.