REAL CLASS
Llorente says he owes it all to the Madrid giants
LEEDS V MAN UNITED 2PM TOMORROW, SKY SPORTS
DIEGO LLORENTE is proving to be the ‘Real’ deal for Leeds.
After injury blighted the beginning of his Elland Road career, he is now playing a starring role and says he owes everything to Real Madrid.
Llorente joined Real’s academy in his native Madrid at the age of seven and spent nearly 17 years at Los Blancos.
His idol was club legend and Spain team-mate Sergio Ramos and he believes he received the best possible football education.
“I was so excited to be there,” said Llorente. “It wasn’t just about my development in sport, it was about developing as a person as well.
“They taught you life values, especially for the very young players.
“Real Madrid has one of the best academies in the world, maybe the best.
“I’m very grateful to them because it was there I learnt most of what I know now.
“They taught me to always respect your opponents, work hard and make sacrifices. These values now form part of my personality.”
Llorente, 27, failed to establish himself at Real after making his La Liga debut in Jose Mourinho’s final match at the Bernabeu in 2013.
He joined Real Sociedad in 2017 after loan spells with RayoVallecano and Malaga.
Llorente blossomed at the Basque team and he became a fixture in the Spain squad before earning an £18million move to Leeds last September.
He lived with compatriot Pablo Hernandez initially and a series of injuries hampered him in his first months.
But he has been an everpresent since returning against Southampton at the end of February.
And he has been key to Leeds’ best run of the season – three victories and two draws from their past five games, which includes winning at Manchester City and drawing with Chelsea and Liverpool.
Llorente has helped shore up a once sieve-like defence and his best moment came with a late headed equaliser against Liverpool on Monday.
Tomorrow he faces another challenge when Manchester United come to Elland Road and he is just happy to be playing regularly. “The beginning of the season was very hard for me but I think I can stay fit now,” he said.
“A few weeks ago, when I played my first home game against Southampton, I felt so happy and liberated.
“I have confidence in myself and know what I can give to this team.” Llorente’s English is improving every day and he says adapting to the Premier League has been made easier because Marcelo Bielsa’s style is similar to the one that was employed at Sociedad.
He said: “One of the things that attracted me to Leeds is that they have a very specific way of playing football and it is very similar to the way Sociedad play.
“I can play this kind of football and I enjoy it.
“Bielsa demands maximum intensity – he doesn’t let you relax.
“He’s a manager who analyses everything.
“He tells you everything he wants from you – that it is very important for players to always be at 100 per cent, whether we’re training or playing a match.”