Leeds United recently secured the signing of the former Barcelona teenager and he has the attributes to one day excel at Elland Road.
While Bulgarian sensation Kun Temenuzhkov has generated the headlines following his summer switch to Leeds United the Whites have also brought in his former Barcelona teammate Oriol Rey, and the 19-year-old could be the long-term solution to the club’s defensive issues.
He will start life in England training and playing with the Whites’ under-23 side, but such is his talent and his footballing education that he could be turning out for the senior side sooner rather than later.
While Leeds have one of the best centre-backs in the second tier in the form of Pontus Jansson, there are ongoing concerns regarding their other defensive options.
Loanee Mathew Pennington has shown during pre-season that he has the talent and the drive to perform well alongside the Swedish international, but the 22-year-old is only at Leeds for a year.
After that, assuming Whites boss Thomas Christiansen does not sign another defender this summer, they will be back to square one.
Liam Cooper is an able deputy and Luke Ayling can move from right-back to centre-back when required – more easily now Vurnon Anita has arrived to cover both there and on the opposite flank – but Leeds need another permanent option.
Rey will turn 20 early next year and he will no doubt be targeting a first-team breakthrough.
Much will depend on how quickly he settles and how he performs for the second string, but if he forms an effective pairing with Paudie O’Connor he could be the player Leeds turn to when they are looking for their next big thing.
It is not all about Temenuzhkov, as good as he is. Rey has the ability to be just as important for Leeds and potentially a lot sooner than his 17-year-old teammate.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
