‘Exceptional’ ace won’t replace Raphinha at Leeds, club confirm £11m deal

Follow us on Google Discover

Gonzalo Plata will not be replacing Raphinha at Leeds United with Real Valladolid confirming that they have signed the Premier League-linked winger from Sporting Lisbon in an £11 million deal, via the club’s official website. 

If Luis Sinisterra arrives from Feyenoord in an attempt to add some skill and guile to a Leeds side that will soon be mourning the loss of their most influential forward, Plata always felt like a more natural Raphinha replacement. 

Unlike Sinisterra, the Ecuador international is a left-footed right winger. A silky, skilful wideman who loves to cut inside and take pot shots from distance. Much in the same way Raphinha did during two excellent seasons at Elland Road. 

According to Diario de Valladolid, Leeds were ready to offer Plata a £35,000-a-week deal. 

Leeds miss out as Gonzalo Plata heads to La Liga

But after helping the White and Violets secure a return to La Liga at the first time of asking – producing six goals and five assists en route to promotion – Plata never hid his desire to stick around at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla. 

“It is a great joy to have achieved promotion. Since I arrived, I felt a lot of love from the team and the fans,” the 21-year-old said recently. 

“I hope the president (Brazil legend Ronaldo) does something. I’ve asked Ronaldo to do everything possible so that I can stay at Real Valladolid. I want to stay here where I feel the love of my teammates, the coaching staff and the fans. 

“That’s the most important thing.”

After weeks of speculation, Ronaldo has, in fact, ‘done something’. More specifically, he has splashed out a fee that will see Plata become the most expensive acquisition in Real Valladolid’s history. According to Record, the deal could eventually rise to £11 million. 

“He’s a huge footballer,” Valladolid coach Pacheta says of a man who turned down Barcelona before joining Sporting in 2019. “He still has to improve but he has everything. He’s an exceptional boy. We all love him. Plata is very good.”