Star says ‘Leeds wanted to buy me’ and explains why Bielsa blocked £35m deal

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PSV Eindhoven’s Dutch international Noa Lang admits that Leeds United ‘wanted to buy me’ before Marcelo Bielsa got cold feet over a potential £35 million.

Back in 2021, The Athletic’s Phil Hay reported that the iconic Leeds boss had serious reservations about Noa Lang’s defensive work-rate, Marcelo Bielsa opting instead to bring in his long-time target Daniel James from Manchester United.

And there is a reason why Hay’s word, in West Yorkshire, is gospel.

Because, speaking to the Pingelaars podcast two years on, Lang has shed a light on exactly why that potential £35 million switch to Elland Road collapsed. And Hay, as he so often is when it comes to all things Leeds United, was right on the money.

Leeds United could have had Noa Lang

“The media wrote that I had agreed with AC Milan,” Lang explains. “But I was previously close to a switch to Leeds.

“Leeds wanted to buy me for 40 million euros from Club Brugges. In the end, the deal fell through and then I was really mentally exhausted. Marcelo Bielsa doubted how much work I could do without the ball…”

You can understand Bielsa’s reservations.

Lang, the most mercurial of talents, does have a habit of rubbing people up the wrong way. Former Inter Milan, Roma and Belgium midfielder Radja Nainggolan pulled no punches in his criticism, while Erik ten Hag gave Lang the Sancho treatment when bombing the winger out of Ajax.

Lang, now 24, is starting to let his football do the talking these days. His dazzling performances at Club Brugge earned comparisons with the one and only Neymar, while Lang’s impressive if injury-hit start to life at PSV Eindhoven has cemented his place in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands plans ahead of Euro 2024.

‘Really exceptional’

“Noa Lang had to step into (Xavi Simons’) shoes and take PSV by the arm,” former Philips Stadium favourite Marcinao Vink tells Voetbalpraat, Lang returning to Holland for some £24 million less than Leeds were willing to pay in 2021.

“I think what he shows is really exceptional. A real bargain. He beats opponents very easily. When you see how many dribbles he makes, even at high intensity, he seeks out his opponents without any hesitation or fear.”