Alfonso Pedraza played just 14 games on loan at Leeds United in the Championship – but could be heading to La Liga giants Barcelona.
It’s hard to believe that the Alfonso Pedraza who has emerged as one of the finest attacking full-backs in La Liga this season is the same player that struggled to make an impression during the second half of the 2016/17 Championship season.
Leeds landed the Spaniard on a short-term loan spell from Villarreal but, after just one goal in 14 games for The Whites, returned to La Liga amid a feeling that he did not quite show what he was capable of.
Per the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds could have signed the sprightly winger for £8.5 million if they had sealed promotion to the Premier League – before falling short and missing out on the play-offs altogether.
But just a few months later, Pedraza could be closing in on a far more high-profile and expensive transfer. According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are big fans of the 21-year-old – and are considering trigging the £17.5 million release clause to take him from Villarreal.
Pedraza is currently spending the season on loan at Alaves, where has been converted into a bonafide left-back – reminiscent somewhat of Gareth Bale in his younger days. Despite Alaves struggling at the wrong end of the table, he has been by far their brightest spark.
But Leeds fans simply can’t believe that the player who competed with Stuart Dallas for a place on the left last season could one day be wearing the blue and red of Barca.
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