- Atletico Madrid signed David Hancko after collapsed move to Al-Nassr
- Slovak defender personally contacted the club to express interest
- He was one of two alternatives to Cristian Romero
Key Takeaways:
Atletico Madrid already have a new central defender – David Hancko. The Slovakian centre-back played the last three seasons at Feyenoord and now joins Los Colchoneros. The player was on the verge of a transfer to Al-Nassr, but the deal unexpectedly fell through after he was not allowed to enter the hotel or train with his new teammates. Atletico took advantage of the situation and swiftly brought him into their ranks.
💣🚨 BREAKING – Pending Confirmation: Atlético Madrid & Feyenoord have reached a broad agreement over Dávid Hancko!
One phone call was enough to submit a matching offer. Hancko is going to Atleti.@FeyenoordTM pic.twitter.com/L3sUq4jPB9
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) July 23, 2025
After the termination of the agreement, Hancko himself contacted Atletico to express his desire to play for the club. Following the departures of Azpilicueta, Reinildo and Witsel, Los Colchoneros were left with a limited number of central defenders. By signing the Slovakian player, the club has significantly strengthened this position.
Atletico had been tracking Hancko since last year, impressed by his performances at the European Championship and the direct clash in the Champions League. The Slovak stands out with his excellent defensive skills and is a versatile player, capable of playing both as a centre-back and as a left-back. He was one of the two main alternatives to Cristian Romero, who was a priority target earlier in the summer. The other option was Hincapie, but Bayer Leverkusen’s high financial demands made that transfer impossible.