Today, we no longer really present Mats Hummels. On his business card you can read that he trained at Bayern Munich and played professionally there before moving back and forth to Borussia Dortmund. But after seventeen years at the highest level in Germany, the native of Bergisch Gladbach, West Germany, found himself free and on the market. This had never happened to him. So he discovered this at age 35. Wisely, he took the time to think and studied the different options available to him. West Ham, Bologna, Como, Bayer Leverkusen, Mallorca and Real Sociedad have knocked on his door.
And it went a little further with the Basques since they had reached an agreement before the player decided not to sign in the end. Aware of all this, AS Roma therefore advanced its pawns with caution. And she ended up succeeding since the German international (78 caps, 5 goals) officially signed with the Giallorossi for a single season on September 4. “Welcome to Roma, Mats Hummels”wrote the Italian club on its account X upon his arrival. Obviously, his arrival caused a lot of talk, especially as he was expected to bring his very high level experience. But for the moment, Roman supporters and Serie A fans alike have not seen his jersey adorned with the number 15 on the pitch.
0 minutes played this season
Indeed, after almost two months spent in the Italian capital, Hummels has not played a single minute, whether with Daniele De Rossi or his successor Ivan Juric. In the league, he was on the bench 4 times and therefore did not come into play against Genoa, Udinese, Venezia and against Inter. He was also withdrawn against Monza (fever). The results are the same in the Europa League, where he was left on the sidelines against Bilbao and Elfsborg. Same last night against Dynamo kyiv (1-0 victory). The German warmed up for a long time, but again did not come into play. In Italy, his case is an enigma. This is also the subject of an article byThe Corriere dello Sport this Friday.
“Why isn’t Hummels playing? Everyone is asking for it, inside and outside of Trigoria. A world champion, finalist in the Champions League (in May, not 10 years ago), a boy who is almost 36 years old but who played 40 matches last season, including 13 in the Champions League: that does he need to continue the field in Rome? Is this really just a state problem? Is he really so physically unfit that he can’t even play 10 minutes against Dynamo kyiv, who are certainly not the best team in Europe? The Olimpico applauded him at length yesterday. Because Hummels, as Juric himself repeated, despite some ironic posts about his lack of employment, is a true professional.”
A departure in January?
The Italian media continues: “with his track record, it couldn’t be different: he trains, always in top form, gives advice to the youngest, always arrives on the Trigoria field with a smile. This situation weighs on him, obviously, and if he were to continue like this, with only one year left on his contract, his farewell in January would be a real possibility. But the question is always the same: why isn’t Hummels playing? » THE CdSwho indicates that he has just moved his last belongings from Dortmund where he recently ended his marriage, specifies that he arrived in good shape in Rome, after spending the summer with a physical trainer. But he needed three weeks to fully get back into rhythm. But it’s been almost two months and he still isn’t playing. Especially since his last official match dates back five months.
It was June 1 during the Champions League final lost to Real Madrid. In Rome, Mats Hummels is therefore patient, he who is neither Juric’s first nor second choice according to the CdS. The Croatian coach spoke about his case yesterday. “ It’s my responsibility, I see him as a backup option after Evan Ndicka. He will have his chances”he admitted. Three weeks ago, after the defeat at Elfsborg, he had already confided about it: “We put pressure on him and he works hard, but he is not 100%.” For his part, Hummels is not making waves. Just yesterday, he sent a message to La Louve fans. “Crucial victory for us. Thank you very much supporters for the love at the stadium, when we meet in town and your kind messages here. » While waiting for better days, Mats Hummels keeps calm…
