Theo Hernández is on the verge of leaving European soccer. In just the last few hours, talks between the French left-back and Al Hilal have picked up serious pace, with everything pointing in one direction. A deal could be wrapped up within the next 24 to 48 hours. The info comes from trusted sources like Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Theo was caught off guard by how quiet the European market was. With no big clubs stepping in, the boosted Saudi offer started looking more and more appealing.
Atlético Madrid showed interest too, but that didn’t last long
Al Hilal upped their salary offer from €18 million to €20 million a year. That changed the game. Theo had every intention of staying at a major European club, but the offers just didn’t come. He liked the idea of going back to Atlético, but between the fan backlash, the lack of real movement from the club, and Milan’s cold shoulder, things took a turn. Milan made it crystal clear they weren’t planning to renew. If he didn’t leave now, he’d be pushed out of the coach’s plans. Either they sell him for €25 million, or he gets sidelined. The decision came fast.
If this deal goes through, it’ll mark the end of a key chapter for Milan and the start of something very different for Theo. He’s 27 now, coming off a tough season, and looking at a league with way less exposure but a whole lot more money. That says a lot about where the global soccer scene is headed.
Milan’s already working on what comes next
There’s no time to wait around. Milan’s already hunting for a replacement. The top name is Oleksandr Zinchenko from Arsenal. The Ukrainian seems open to playing in Italy and would cost around €20 million. It’s a realistic figure that Milan’s management sees as fair.
Another option on the table is Destiny Udogie from Tottenham. He’s younger, just 22, and already knows Serie A well. He’s a solid fit, but the price is a big jump — over €40 million. That could be a problem for a club whose owners aren’t known for opening the checkbook without hesitation.