Reported Leeds United target Rodrigo De Paul is an “extraordinary talent” capable of starring in the Champions League, former Udinese coach Julio Velazquez has told Tuttomercatoweb.
Considering Leeds only escaped their Championship purgatory a few months ago, no-one is getting ahead of themselves just yet.
But, with one of the most influential tacticians in world football pulling the strings from the sidelines as Andrea Radrizzani dreams big in the boardroom, there’s no reason to believe the Yorkshire giants can’t do what Leicester have done and gatecrash the top four in the future.
Especially when you consider the pulling power of Marcelo Bielsa has given Leeds access to players many similar-sized clubs could only dream of signing, with Germany and Spain internationals arriving at Elland Road last year.
De Paul, meanwhile, has been linked with the likes of Liverpool, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain during another fine season at Udinese.
But the 26-year-old Argentine has already admitted, in a now-infamous, one-word tweet, he would jump at the chance to work with Bielsa in England.
And, according to Velazquez, Leeds would be getting a Champions League-quality player if De Paul finally arrives during the summer transfer window.
“When I arrived at Udine, he was enduring a somewhat difficult period. I am happy because he is someone who deserves success, he has improved a lot on a tactical level,” says Velazquez, who worked with De Paul in Serie A three years ago.
“He can play attacking midfielder, winger, central midfielder and always does well. He is a player who makes teams and teammates play better. He can do it for any team in the world.
“He has extraordinary technique and knows the game of football. Of course, speaking on a football level, he can undoubtedly play for teams that play in the Champions League.”
The Sun recently claimed Leeds are weighing up a deal that would see De Paul become their record signing, for a roughly £40 million fee.
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