They’re breaking the bank for the World Cup winner
Bayern Munich have confirmed the signing of French international Lucas Hernandez from Atlético Madrid.
The Bundesliga champions will pay a club record fee, reported to be £68m, in the summer for the defender.
BREAKING ❗❗ #FCBayern are delighted to announce the signing of Lucas #Hernández on a five-year deal from 1st July 2019. 🇫🇷#FCBayern #MiaSanMia #ServusLucas pic.twitter.com/r3aaFQ5mum
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) March 27, 2019
Hernandez will join up with Bayern in the summer on a five year deal, starting on July 1 2019.
The 23-year-old has risen to stardom over the past couple of seasons, displacing Filipe Luis from the Atlético Madrid starting XI and taking Benjamin Mendy’s place in the France team that won the World Cup last summer.
Despite playing mostly at left-back thus far in his career, it’s likely that Bayern will use him in central defence, where he’s equally adept at playing.
David Alaba remains one of the best left-backs in world football, while Bayern’s centre-back options lack the dynamism needed to excel at the very top of modern football. Jerome Boateng is likely on his way out of the Allianz this summer, making way for Hernandez to step in alongside Niklas Süle or Mats Hummels.
For Atlético Madrid, this news comes as a blow, and could signal a mass exodus this summer. Star player Antoine Griezmann is reported to be reconsidering his future at the club and Hernandez’s departure could have a domino effect on other players in thw squad.
Diego Simeone will be hoping that’s not the case, but given the money the club will recoup, it should’t be too hard to find replacements, as he has repeatedly done over the years.
