Mats Hummels took his time. San Sebastián, Mallorca, Bologna and Brighton – after leaving Borussia Dortmund, the central defender was traded to numerous more or less well-known clubs. Recently, there was also reportedly interest from the USA. There he could have ended his glorious career in a relaxed and well-paid manner.
But Hummels has bucked the trend – greetings to Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar or his long-time colleague Reus – decided against early retirement from football. On Wednesday, the 35-year-old signed a one-year contract with AS RomaIt is an attractive choice, with great opportunities but also with risks.
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The Eternal City has a special flair and for someone like Hummels, who also likes to look beyond the football world, Rome has a lot to offer. But the 2014 World Champion is primarily interested in the sport. Hummels is not finished yet; he is convinced that he can still play at the highest level even at an advanced age.
He demonstrated this impressively in the last Champions League season, for example, when he played a key role in Borussia Dortmund reaching the final. Of course, there were also weaker games, especially in the Bundesliga. But there is no doubt about Hummels’ fundamental qualities.
The move to Italy therefore makes a lot of sense. For those in charge in Serie A, experience is more important than probably anywhere else in the world of football. The art of defending has always been celebrated here. The pace of play is slower than in the Bundesliga or the Premier League. All of this could suit Hummels, who was never the fastest and has continued to lose sprint speed in recent years.
AS Roma has had a poor start to the season, with just two points from three games. Coach Daniele de Rossi experienced the great times with Francesco Totti on the field, but the team is currently far from such heights. Roma will have nothing to do with the championship, but the fans’ expectations are as high as ever. This also applies to those of Hummels.
He trained with the team on Wednesday, and after the international break the team will play an away game in Genoa. Then it will probably be with Mats Hummels in the back four.
