Reports in Italy suggest that Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernández will sign for Roma in the next few hours.
The player’s representatives – according to Sky – will meet with the Bernabéu board on Tuesday to hammer out the fine print of the deal to take the 26-year-old to the Stadio Olimpico, with the Roma hierarchy anticipating a definitive answer by Wednesday.
Nacho will sign on a one-year loan agreement, with Roma having the option to buy at the end of the season for 11 million euros. Madrid will apparently retain a buy-back option of 15 million.
It is yet to be decided whether Roma will be asked to stump up a loan fee for the defender and, if that is the case, it could be paid in instalments. Nacho travelled to Montreal with the Real squad on Sunday, but it is increasingly likely that he will have to make a swift return to Europe to finalise the deal.
Roma president James Palotta has already practically rubber-stamped the deal in comments made to Italian daily Il Tempo, by saying: “Nacho and Juan Jesús are both experienced defenders who will help us a lot.”
Sky Sports Italia also reported that Nacho’s agent, José Seguí, will be busy putting the final touches to the deal on Monday to make his client a Roma player.
Breaking down Nacho’s 6.9 defensive actions per 90 minutes last season, he averaged 1.4 tackles per match, 2.3 interceptions per match, 2.2 clearances per match and 0.6 blocks per match. The Spaniard has since gone on to make 53 first-team appearances for the club in La Liga, 16 of which came last season.
He made his senior international debut for La Roja in 2013 and has gone on to make four appearances for the Spanish national squad.
It’s unclear how Amadou Diawara – another potential transfer – will fit into Roma’s immediate plans should Nacho’s move come to fruition, but he’s certainly one for the future.
