‘I know there’s interest’: Reported Leeds target dreaming of Madrid move

Follow us on Google Discover

Udinese attacker Rodrigo de Paul has set his sights on a dream move to Atletico Madrid after a much-discussed switch to Leeds United failed to materialise during the transfer window, while speaking to Marca.

It is not everyday a player goes public with his desire to leave one club for another.

And the Yorkshire-based Fanzine The Square Ball probably couldn’t believe their luck when a £35 million-rated Argentina international confirmed in a Twitter exchange that, yes, he was in fact keen to join Marcelo Bielsa’s Premier League high-flyers.

The window slammed shut on Monday, however, and De Paul is somehow still carving open defences and nutmegging unsuspecting defenders at a Udinese side who finished 13th in Serie A last season.

With Leeds making it clear that they were only prepared to pay £22.5 million, according to the Mirror, the former Valencia youngster had little choice but to drop his Premier League dream.

Speaking to Marca on Thursday, De Paul appears to have his sights firmly fixed on La Liga rather than Leeds these days.

“I would like to return to Spain. La Liga is beautiful,” said De Paul, who made just 32 appearances for Valencia between 2014 and 2016.

“I know there was an interest (from Atletico). With a coach like (Diego) Simeone, it draws my attention. I believe they play the dynamic football that I like.

“Every training session seems like an official match for them. In Argentina we grew up with this attitude.

“It’s an extremely big club, a club who fight for important things and, if it happens one day, I would be happy to go there.”

Has Leeds’ one and only chance to sign one of Europe’s most exciting young attackers passed them by already?