Atlanta United seemingly won’t be moving for Leeds United’s Marcelo Bielsa.
Atlanta United president Darren Eales has told BeIN Sports that he thinks Marcelo Bielsa is incredible – but played down any potential move for the Argentinian.
Atlanta won the MLS Cup over the weekend, but the jubilation will soon change, as the club need to make moves in the coming weeks.
Star playmaker Miguel Almiron is expected to move on in January, whilst manager Tata Martino is also leaving the club to pursue other opportunities.
A host of coaches have been linked, with Clarin in Argentina claiming Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Jorge Sampaoli are two of the top contenders right now.
Intriguingly though, ABC News suggested that Leeds United boss Bielsa was also wanted, in a move which would have stunned many.
‘El Loco’ – Martino’s mentor back at Newell’s Old Boys – has been transforming Leeds into legitimate promotion contenders this season, and he could end up in the Premier League next season.
Leaving now would be crazy even by Bielsa’s standards, but it seems that any idea of him heading off to Georgia can already be put to bed.
Atlanta president Eales – formerly of Tottenham Hotspur – has played down talk of a move for Bielsa by acknowledging that he isn’t available due to his commitments to Leeds, but did praise him as ‘incredible’ and an inspiration to many coaches in the game.
“I may have missed something, but I thought [Bielsa] was at Leeds,” said Eales. “I would say that Marcelo Bielsa is incredible. I had Mauricio Pochettino when I was at Tottenham and that Newell’s Old Boys tree that’s come from Bielsa is pretty incredible. He’s got a lot of people and a lot of coaches who have been inspired by him,” he added.
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