Morten Hjulmand led Sporting to the convincing turnaround in the Champions League quarter-finals after a 3-0 loss at Aspmyra against Bodø/Glimt. The Danish captain pumped faith and energy into the squad, a mentality that sunk Bodø/Glimt 5-0 in Lisbon. After three seasons at Sporting Lisbon, the time has come for the exit of Morten Hjulmand. Now the Dane is “following” Jose Mourinho.
The club’s captain was close to a transfer last year, with Manchester United and Juventus being the hottest suitors. The midfielder chose to stay with Sporting for another season, but there will be a change of scene for the 27-year-old. It continues with Champions League games and title fights, but in one of the world’s best leagues.
READ: Vinicius Jr. apologizes to all of Brazil after loss to Norway in the World Cup
Kasper Hjulmand signs for Atletico Madrid
The Dane is not a midfielder with blistering skills, but a tactically useful player. He organizes, corrects teammates, steals balls, presses and supports the team when games go into chaos. He is one of those players who lifts the collective performance without needing the limelight.
As a Sporting player, Morten Hjulmand really got under the skin of Benfica coach Jose Mourinho, where the Portuguese both expressed great respect for the Dane, while at the same time accusing the referees of letting Hjulmand “do whatever he wanted” on the pitch and showing his strong annoyance with the Sporting captain in his matches. Last month, Hjulmand was also linked to Real Madrid.
His personality is one of the aspects that appeals to Mourinho the most. Real Madrid has talent, physicality and quality in midfield, Mourinho wanted to add a more specific profile: a player with authority, discipline and the ability to compete in pressure situations.
On Saturday, there was confirmation of Hjulmand’s signing, but at Real Madrid’s city rival, Atletico Madrid. Here, the Dane has signed a contract until 2031, Sporting receives a whopping 40 million euros for their captain.
Read on Radiosporten: Mikel Merino! Spain’s unlikely World Cup hero who survived e-scooter injury
We are already looking forward to the first Madrid derby, with Hjulmand on one side and Mourinho on the sidelines on the other.
All about the World Cup matches on live sports
