Spanish connection proved vital in luring Llorente to Leeds
DIEGO LLORENTE has described playing for Marcelo Bielsa as “an honour” and the Spain centreback says he is ready to make his Leeds United debut at Sheffield United on Sunday if called upon.
Yesterday the 27- year- old signed a four- year contract at Elland Road after joining for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £ 17m.
Bielsa has a reputation as one of the world’s best coaches and that, plus the thrilling start the Whites have made to life back in the Premier League, makes attracting players easier.
“The coach has been an important factor in coming here,” admitted the Real Madrid product, capped five times by Spain. “I can learn much from him and improve my football. It’s an honour for me, training and playing for Marcelo.”
Llorente is the second Spanish international Leeds have signed this summer, after forward Rodrigo.
The pair were in the squad for this month’s Nations League games against Germany and Ukraine, although Llorente was an unused substitute in both matches.
More significant is the presence of Pablo Hernandez, who joined Leeds before Bielsa. Hernandez and Llorente were on loan at Rayo Vallecano in 2015- 16, and the 35- year- old helped sell the club to the defender.
“For my family and I it was a difficult decision to come to another country,” said Llorente, whose entire club career has been in Spain.
“I am hopeful. I am taking the best decision of my football career, it’s important.
“I talked with Pablo a few days ago. He told me about the city, the team. It was an important factor for me, this conversation.
“Rodrigo and I have played together in the national team. He’s a very good player. I think he can bring a lot to the team. I’m very happy he’s here with me.
“This step is very important. I am doing the right thing.
“I hope to help my team- mates and to improve my football. I want to learn from the coach.
“I think we can have a great season. I will do the best I can.”
Madrid- born Llorente, who can also play at right- back and in midfield, came up from Real Madrid’s C team to its first XI, but played the bulk of his senior football on loan at Vallecano and Malaga before moving to Sociedad in 2017.
Central defence was a key area for Leeds to improve this summer. Ben White was an everpresent and a vital figure in 201920, but his season- long loan only highlighted to Brighton and Hove Albion what a talent they have, and he has returned to the south coast and gone straight into the first team.
Gaetano Berardi was the regular deputy when Leeds had a gap at centre- back last season but with his contract about to expire, he injured his anterior cruciate ligaments. It left captain Liam Cooper as the only specialist until the signing of German international Robin Koch from Freiburg.
With Koch bedding in and Cooper injured for the season’s opening weekend, Leeds have conceded seven goals in their first two league matches.
Bielsa often makes signings bide their time before throwing them into the first team, as Rodrigo has discovered, although Koch came in from the start, with the coach arguing right- sided centre- back was not a position that required much adapting to.
Leeds often use three central defenders when the opposition play two centre- forwards, as Sheffield United almost certainly will. Llorente, who played 90 minutes for Sociedad as a left- sided centre- back against Valladolid the weekend before last, has no concerns about making his debut at the weekend.
“I am always ready to help the team and the coach if he wants me to play right now,” he said.
“I want to do the best for the team. I don’t like to talk about my abilities or myself. I want to start to help the team as soon as possible.”