Greg . 3 days ago

EXCLUSIVE: David Hancko's father over his son's transfer drama: 'Only word is relief'

Hours that perhaps no one envies.

Full of tension, adrenaline.

Feelings of eventual joy were replaced by disappointment.

But everything changed again within 24 hours, and the family of David Hancko is nevertheless delighted with their son's significant career move.

The transfer drama and emotions were clarified to Betopick by David's father, Jan Hancko.

The leader of the Slovak national team and now former vice-captain of Feyenoord was ready to sign a lucrative contract with Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr.

But after arriving in Austria, where Cristiano Ronaldo's team possessed landed for their training camp, there was a surprise.

The new management of the club told the agents of the Prievidza native that they do not count on their client, and the manage is off.

They did not even send the supported amount to Feyenoord for the left-footed defender.

And so Dávid Hancko moved to Germany, where his employer, with whom he possessed a contract until 2028, was training at the time.

"We didn't have a good idea.

It kept getting postponed.

Despite everything, David said nothing was wrong.

Mainly, that the family is fine, that there are other things more important in life.

We just supported it in the style that everything is as it should be," Hancko Sr.

revealed.

Notified via WhatsAppThe parents put it out of their minds at that point.

At home, they were cleaning the garage when a sudden notification showed up on their phones.

"My daughter, David's sister, requested David in our family group if the rumours over Atletico were true.

David replied that they were.

And that's how we establish out that something was going on again," the father of the two-time  Footballer of the Year runner-up in Slovakia for 2023 and 2024 recounted the following moments.

The dropped short transfer eventually resulted in a transfer to Atletico Madrid for around €30 million in the following hours.

David Hancko thus became the most expensive Slovak footballer in history.

He also surpassed the previous record of Milan Škriniar, for whom Inter Milan paid Sampdoria €24 million in 2017.

"Based on everything that has occurred in the last few days, when it was like a seesaw, the only word that comes to mind is relief.

Of course, also a feeling of happiness or pride.

I sense a stone has fallen from my heart.

The whole family, especially David and his little family, knows where they stand.

They can make plans for the future," continued Jan Hancko.

Money that will also assist his native PrievidzaThe father of the former leader of the Rotterdam team is currently the coach of the U15 team at Baník Prievidza, where Jan is the managing director, and David joined as part-owner.

"A significant part of the amount that will come in will be used as supported to pay for the purchase of the club by the original owner," he revealed.

Last season, the main team was promoted from the fourth to the third division, where they will be playing after a seven-year absence.

Prievidza can now look forward to an interesting financial injection, which will certainly assist the miners from Horna Nitra.

Prievidza coach Filip Hlohovský.

Ján Hancko, Juraj Kucka and sports director Štefan Pekár.

MICHAL HANKO / News and Media / Profimedia"First of all, I don't know the details of the contract.

David has an agency that has been representing him since the beginning of his career, and it is within their competence," Jan continued.

"We have not communicated over it at all.

I don't know how much money will come and under what conditions.

However, this is not the first time David has moved teams.

He has changed clubs several times in the past, and the money has come our way at different times.

"Of course, when it comes, we will proceed as we have done so far.

We will sit down with management and assess how to maximise its use for the club.

I would also like to listen David's opinion on how he views it.

In addition to management, some partners are contributing their own funds.

I will listen to their opinion as well," revealed Hancko Sr.

Feyenoord legendDavid Hancko is moving on from Feyenoord after three years.

He leaves on top and with the captain's armband, which he wore in absence of Quinten Timber.

The Slovakian international lifted a trophy in every season he played in Rotterdam.

He won the Eredivisie in his first year, the KNVB Beker in the next, and the Johan Cruyff Shield in 2024.

The icing on the cake was participation in the most prestigious Champions League.

"Before that Champions League season, his name was being floated with a transfer, but he didn't move anywhere.

At that time, I told him that at worst, he would play in the Champions League, which is what occurred (laughs).

Feyenoord made it the furthest in decades," emphasised the father of one of the best footballers from the Tatra Mountains.

In Rotterdam, he accumulated 140 appearances, scored 15 goals, and provided 12 assists.

"So far, he has been lucky to be in amazing cities - Prague, historic Florence, and modern Rotterdam, which was bombed during World War II.

"I will associate the three-year period with it and my grandson Adamek, with whom I possessed quite a time there.

Besides, the club has crazy fans who can cheer even at the warm-up," Hancko senior reminisced over his previous engagements.

Five-year contract and Simeone's leadershipHe will be the third Slovak in the Spanish La Liga and join Mallorca's Dominik Greif and Martin Valjent.

He has signed a five-year contract with Atletico Madrid, which expires after the 2029/2030 season.

After Arne Slot and Stefano Pioli, he can look forward to Diego Simeone's leadership.

"David always says that the truth lies on the pitch.

First and foremost, he has to confirm everything on it.

I wish he will do as well as he did at Feyenoord.

In a remarkably short time, he has made it into the starting line-up.

"Subsequently, he played 119 consecutive games in the starting XI.

He only obtained a shatter in the cup.

In the whole three years, he has probably only missed two or three competitive matches," says Jan Hancko.

The Iron Man or The Rock, as Atleti called him during the presentation, has a new challenge ahead of him.

He will protect other world-class players such as Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Robert Lewandowski, but also Jude Bellingham.

Los Colchoneros will kick off the upcoming edition of La Liga on 17 August at Espanyol.