Reported Leeds United target Erick Pulgar was so certain he was leaving Fiorentina he cancelled the rental agreement on his Florence apartment, as reported by Labaro Viola.
In the space of just a few months the Chile international has gone from Fiorentina’s all-action talisman to a frustrated bench-warmer.
After producing seven goals and six assists in 2019/20, the expectation was a tenacious, technically gifted central midfielder would take his game to a new level this season.
Instead, Pulgar is out of favour and out of the starting XI.
According to Gianluca di Marzio, the former Bologna ace was growing increasingly concerned over his lack of opportunities under Fiorentina’s veteran coach Cesare Prandelli.
Valencia made a bid of £10 million before Monday’s deadline and, for a while at least, Pulgar was certain he was on his way out of the Stadio Artemio Franchi. So much so he cancelled his apartment contract.
You’d imagine the 27-year-old would have been forced to make a rather awkward phone call to his letting agent on Tuesday morning.
La Nazione reported Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is a big admirer of Pulgar, an impressive all-rounder in the Mateusz Klich mould.
Spartak Moscow are interested too and, with another two weeks left before the Russian window closes, there’s still a chance the South American could swap Italy for northern Europe.
Then again, after Fiorentina failed to bring in Rolando Mandragora or Lucas Torreira as a potential replacement, it looks as though Pulgar will have to get used to life on the sidelines.
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