Leeds United managing director Angus Kinnear responds to reported link up Cultural Leonesa.
Leeds United managing director Angus Kinnear has clarified the club’s intentions with regards to a link up with Spanish side Cultural Leonesa.
Leonesa are 99 per cent owned by Qatar’s Aspire Academy, where Leeds board member Ivan Bravo is a director.
The two clubs are set to work together, and Kinnear was quizzed about the partnership on BBC Radio Leeds’ West Yorkshire Sport Daily at 6pm (1/8).
Kinnear said: “The overall strategy is to sign players who have an impact next season, and develop players for the long term. The academy has a fantastic track record.
“As transfer market becomes more international, [we look at ways to] create pathways for people from other markets. Some of the relationships with international academies is to create pathways, secure talent and develop it.”
He was quizzed specifically about deals for former Barcelona striker Rodrigo Rios Lozano and ex-Juventus defender Ouasim Bouy, who have been linked with moves to Leonesa via Leeds.
Kinnear responded: “Anybody who can be signed for Leeds and create an impact would be part of the team. Some need more development time. That might be given in the under-23s, or might be better playing competitive football elsewhere in Europe.”
Cadena Ser reported how Leeds had acquired Rios’ rights before sending him out for the season.
Kinnear was careful not to comment on specific players but he did also not move to deny Leeds’ involvement in the deals.
With the Whites in need of a defender and a striker, they will have to hope the decision to loan out Rios and Bouy this season is not a decision they regret.
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