Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini has approved the signing of Marc Roca with the Spaniard set to leave Leeds United after one highly disappointing Premier League campaign.
You’d have never believed, as Leeds United lurched from defeat to defeat, head coach to head coach, that Michael Skubala, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce had at their disposal two central midfielders who could point to a history at Juventus and Bayern Munich.
Weston McKennie is surely a candidate for ‘most unpopular Leeds’ player in the Andrea Radrizzani. Marc Roca, meanwhile, stumbled through is debut season like he had arrived at Elland Road from Boreham Wood rather than Bayern Munich.
If anyone managed to figure out exactly what the former Espanyol man brought to the table, answers on a postcard please.
Marc Roca closing in on Leeds United exit
McKennie has already gone, jumping on the first train back to Turin. Roca won’t be far behind, it seems. After Mundo Deportivo reported that the 26-year-old’s move to Real Betis was ‘imminent’, local publication Diario de Sevilla add that Los Verdiblancos are set to bring in Roca on loan with an option to buy clause in his contract.
Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini – formerly of West Ham United, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Villarreal – has also given the deal the green light. Roca is currently the player ‘closest’ to joining Betis; a side who will be playing Europa League football again next term following a sixth place finish.
“There was some possibility (of returning to Spain before moving to Elland Road). But a series of movements had to be made. In that case, I had the option of Leeds. It fit me perfectly,” Roca said in the spring.
“I don’t rule out returning to La Liga in the future.”
Roca and McKennie are unlikely to be the only players heading out of Elland Road following May’s relegation. There are doubts surrounding Tyler Adams, Wilfried Gnonto and Junior Firpo.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Junior Firpo wants out too. He won’t be missed too greatly.
It’s perhaps a different story regarding Crysencio Summerville, however. The Dutch U21 international is one of those who could have taken the Championship by storm. Instead, he could pick up where he left off at hometown club Feyenoord.
Summerville is reportedly in contact with Feyenoord coach Arne Slot.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
