Atletico Madrid interested in Mario Hermoso, Real Madrid will have the final decision

Atletico de Madrid are paying close attention to Mario Hermoso and would be interested in his signing, according to reports from MARCA and AS. The Spanish defender has completed a brilliant season for Espanyol, who was even rumored to be in Real Madrid’s shortlist to upgrade the center-back spot last winter.

Los Blancos have a €7.5 million option to sign the defender given his past in Castilla, so they will have the final decision about Hermoso’s future if they don’t want him to sign for Atletico. Even if they don’t trigger that clause, 50% of Hermoso’s transfer fee would go to Real Madrid’s budget, so the board is now considering every option.

Hermoso is a quality defender but he just wouldn’t have playing time under Zinedine Zidane, especially now that Los Blancos have signed Eder Militao. That’s why it would make sense to wait and see what kind of market value Hermoso has before making a final decision about his future.