In a surprising turn of events, Roma’s head coach Ivan Juric announced the starting lineup for their recent match, leaving many players in disbelief. Corriere dello Sport report that he notable absence of Mats Hummels, a seasoned defender and recent signing, raised eyebrows among teammates who initially thought they had misheard the news. Instead of Hummels, Bryan Cristante was positioned in defense, prompting questions about the decision.
The situation quickly gained traction on social media, with fans expressing their shock that a player of Hummels’ caliber—who played a pivotal role in a Champions League final just five months ago—would be benched, especially with fellow defenders N’Dicka and Hermoso unavailable due to injury. The mystery surrounding Hummels’ exclusion deepened, leading to speculation about the reasons behind this tactical choice.
General manager Tiago Ghisolfi, who brought Hummels to Roma at the end of the transfer window to strengthen the defense, now finds himself in a difficult position. Since Juric took over as head coach, Hummels has seen limited playing time, appearing only briefly in a match against Fiorentina where he unfortunately scored an own goal. His lack of game time has been accompanied by social media posts that hint at his discomfort with the current situation.
Juric addressed the media regarding Hummels’ omission before the match, stating it was purely a “technical choice.” He emphasized his commitment to fielding the lineup that offers the best chance of victory against their opponents. “Cristante had a great game,” Juric noted, suggesting that this decision was based on recent performances rather than any long-term strategy regarding Hummels.
However, this explanation has not quelled the debate among fans and analysts alike. Just weeks earlier, Juric had indicated that he viewed Hummels as a potential backup for N’Dicka. With N’Dicka dealing with illness ahead of their next match against Bologna, many are left wondering why Hummels was not given another opportunity to prove himself.
As speculation mounts about Hummels’ future at Roma, reports indicate that a return to the Bundesliga may be on the horizon for him. Several German clubs are reportedly interested in signing the veteran defender during the upcoming January transfer window.
