AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez’s proposed move to Atletico Madrid reportedly fell through due to the Spanish side’s management.
The 27-year-old is in the final 12 months of his current contract with the Rossoneri, and with no suggestion that a renewal is close to being agreed, he has been heavily linked with an exit this summer.
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That would ultimately be the best-case scenario from a Milan perspective, as although we’d be losing a key player, it’s better to try and get a significant fee for him now rather than run the risk of losing him for nothing in a year’s time.
Hernandez has been an integral presence in the squad since he arrived to help us achieve success and compete at the top level, but after a disappointing season all-round last year, it’s felt that the time is right for both parties to go their separate ways.
That appeared to be on course to happen, as reported by MilanNews, as an agreement on a transfer fee of around €20m was reached, while personal terms were agreed too.
However, it’s added that Atleti’s management team then tried to reconsider and renegotiate the figures involved and so the deal is now very much on the verge of collapsing.
It’s added that Hernandez’s agent is still hopeful a deal can be done, but time will tell if the two clubs are both willing to sit down again and try to reach a compromise after the late setback in negotiations.
As noted above, it seems to be in the best interests of all concerned to get a deal done this summer, but it’s understandable that the numbers also have to work for everyone. Having seemingly made such important progress leading up to Thursday evening, it’s hoped that the two clubs can recover the deal and get an agreement in place.
Nevertheless, it does raise the question over what happens if they can’t, as that would then perhaps see Hernandez run his contract down and leave as a free agent next summer, with question marks over what his application and form would be like next season.
Milan have evidently been open to selling him as we move on and rebuild under Massimilano Allegri, and so it will certainly be intriguing to see how this situation plays out and what conclusion is reached.
