The Spanish centre-half scored a spectacular leveller to make it 2-2 and keep fifth-placed Roma a point ahead of Atalanta, who also drew 2-2 with AC Milan on Sunday. The goal’s other consequence was to narrow the gap to fourth-placed Bologna to three points after their 1-0 Saturday defeat by runaway Serie A leaders Inter Milan. Llorente was delighted to hit the net but still had mixed feelings at the final whistle. He told DAZN: “I’m happy with the goal but I think we didn’t have a good performance today. We have to work better as a team and individually. Yellow cards were a problem for us tonight. Mancini, Paredes, Huijsen, it became difficult to play. In the end we got a good point out of this match, an important point for the team. Svilar? He gave a great performance, with a goalkeeper like that we can do great things. I think with the kind of personality that we have we can reach Champions League football. We have to prepare every match as if it were the last match of the season.”
Llorente is one of two Leeds United loanees at Roma, after joining Rasmus Kristensen in the Italian capital for the entire 2023/24 season, and one of a huge number of Whites currently plying their trade with temporary or permanent new employers across England and further afield in Europe. Here’s the latest on their progress as the season nears its final stages and a summer that could and should bring some permanent exits.
13. Sam Greenwood
Four goals and two assists came in Greenwood's purple patch for loan club Middlesbrough in October and November, but he has just one goal and one assist since then. Boro's play-off ambitions have taken a hit thanks to recent form. The youngster could move permanently in the summer for around £1.5m, although promotion for Leeds and a subsequent uplift in Greenwood's wages could complicate matters. Pic: George Wood/Getty Images Photo: George Wood
14. Cody Drameh
Out of contract this summer, Drameh has played 25 league games for struggling Birmingham City at right-back, 21 of which have been starts. Described as one of very few positives for the Blues this season, Drameh's loan deal included an option for Birmingham to make it a permanent signing. Leeds got full salary recovery, along with a loan fee and if Drameh should opt to leave Birmingham and explore his free agent options then due to his age the Whites will be entitled to compensation. Pic: Cameron Smith/Getty Images Photo: Cameron Smith
15. Luis Sinisterra
Another who pushed to get out of Leeds and back into the Premier League, Sinisterra initially joined Bournemouth on loan and then made it permanent after the January window closed. He's started five top flight games, making 13 further sub appearances, and has two goals and two assists to his name in the league. Pic: Warren Little/Getty Images Photo: Warren Little
16. Ian Poveda
A January transfer window departure, Poveda looked set to leave permanently ahead of his summer contract expiry, but ended up joining relegation battling Sheffield Wednesday on loan. He's impressed Owls fans with his performances since, giving them a different attacking dynamic. He wasn't eligible to feature against Leeds in Friday night's 2-0 win for the Whites. Pic: David Rogers/Getty Images Photo: David Rogers
17. Luke Ayling
The right-back wanted to go out and get game time with Middlesbrough, on loan, for the second half of the season and has done just that, starting all 10 of their Championship games since. Ayling is out of contract in the summer so his time at Leeds is up. He recently told BBC Tees: “It was quite clear I was quite frustrated with the lack of game time. I totally understand why that was the case – I was at a club that’s got a young right-back who has been playing quite unbelievably – but I wasn’t getting the minutes that I wanted. Pic: George Wood/Getty Images Photo: George Wood
18. Darko Gyabi
The midfielder went out on loan in January to join Plymouth Argyle and has played 774 minutes of Championship football for them. The move appears to be working out as planned, with nine starts from 11 opportunities so far for the 20-year-old. Pic: David Rogers/Getty Images Photo: David Rogers