Marcelo Bielsa reportedly wants to bring La Liga midfielder Ruben Pardo to Championship play-off semi finals Leeds United this summer.
The 2018/19 campaign has not exactly been a stellar one for Ruben Pardo.
The Real Sociedad midfielder has started just 15 La Liga games, falling somewhat out of favour at a club where he has spent the entirety of his professional career. But form is temporary, as the old adage goes. And Pardo proves beyond all doubt on Sunday that his class is very much permanent.
Sociedad produced arguably the outstanding result of their season at Anoeta this weekend as Real Madrid made the trip to San Sebastian.
Goals from Joseba Zaldua, Ander Barrenetxea and former Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino sealed a famous win against Zinedine Zidane’s struggling stars. But Pardo was perhaps the star of the show.
The 26-year-old play-maker produced a performance of class and combativeness in the centre of the park. He set up Zaldua’s strike while outshining Toni Kroos and Luka Modric with three tackles, two key passes and an 88 per cent pass completion rate.
According to El Gol Digital, Pardo’s lifelong association with Real Sociedad could come to an end this summer. Marcelo Bielsa, who coached Sociedad’s rivals Athletic Bilbao between 2011 and 2013, would apparently be ‘delighted’ to bring the former Spain U21 international to Leeds United.
And if he can shine against Real Madrid, just imagine the impact he could make at Elland Road – whichever division Leeds find themselves in.
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