Atletico Madrid’s Lucas Hernandez addresses Bayern Munich rumors

Ahead of his match tomorrow against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez sat down with AS and talked through the rumors and speculation that have been surrounding him over the past two months.

The French World Cup winner was also asked directly about Bayern Munich’s interest in him. The 22-year-old was a bit evasive about providing specific details in his answer:

To be totally honest, my personal situation changed and I had to make a decision that wasn’t all about me. It’s true that in the transfer window there was a bid from another major European side and the first thing I did was relay that to Atletico. They made it clear that it was not an option they wanted to contemplate and we all agreed to review my situation before the end of the current season.

Hernandez then went on to state that the decision to leave will be up to him, before talking over a time when Real Madrid was serious about bidding on him:

I’m aware that the club are keen for me to stay but they’ve also stated that they would respect any decision I make. It’s true that approximately two years ago Real Madrid made a significant offer via my agent but at the time I felt I owed much to Atlético.

If one reads between the lines, Hernandez is either setting himself up for an imminent move to a suitor that will bolster his bank account or is simply putting pressure on Atlético Madrid ever-so-slightly to enhance his current salary. Either way, Hernandez is playing this situation exactly how he should.

Last week it was revealed that the cost to acquire Hernandez during the winter transfer window was significantly higher than originally reported, but if Bayern truly is ready to break its own spending records, Hernandez could be a key piece in making that happen.