Diego Llorente has become the latest player to leave Leeds United this summer, re-joining AS Roma on a season-long loan deal. Llorente, who was absent from day one of the Whites’ pre-season on Monday, spent the second half of last season with the Serie A outfit and caught the eye with his performances.
As such, Roma were keen to secure his services for another campaign and the Spanish defender will head back to the Italian capital for a second loan. Leeds had hoped to pick up a fee for Llorente this summer with the initial January loan including an option to buy the centre-back for around £18m, but the two clubs have instead settled for a loan.
Llorente will now travel to Italy to begin pre-season training under Jose Mourinho and he’ll be keen to pick up where he left off by playing a key role for the Europa League outfit. The 29-year-old has stiff competition for a place in the side, with Chris Smalling, Evan Ndicka and Gianluca Mancini all at the club, too.
