Tony Dorigo has told the Yorkshire Evening Post that Junior Firpo has all the attributes needed to be Leeds United’s new first-choice at left-back after joining from Barcelona.
The Dominican sealed a £13m move to Elland Road on Tuesday, signing a four-year deal with Marcelo Bielsa’s side. He spent two years in Catalunya, but failed to establish himself.
Firpo is now expected to be Bielsa’s first-choice after Ezgjan Alioski left Leeds at the end of his contract. A big change for a defender who never played five successive La Liga games for Barcelona. And putting hope in the 24-year-old rediscovering his Real Betis form.
Dorigo admits he did not know a lot about Firpo before Leeds signed the left-back. But the former Whites defender expects Alioski’s replacement will have no trouble settling in.
“This one is really interesting,” Dorigo said. “I didn’t know huge amounts about him but, when I started looking and watching and seeing where he has come from and his age and everything else, he kind of fits it [being Leeds’ new first-choice left-back] perfectly.
“Because he has been at Barcelona as well for the last couple of years, he hasn’t been the No 1 choice and that’s why this is interesting for him, in that he is coming here knowing that he is the No 1 choice.”
Dorigo added: “Fortunately, I haven’t been through that same situation but, when you come to a big club, you want to nail down that position and be ‘the man’. And, when you are not, it must knock your confidence a little bit. But there’s no doubt he has got all the attributes.”
Firpo must rise to the occasion at Leeds after Barcelona transfer
Firpo played just 41 games, starting 22, in all competitions during his time at Barcelona. His minutes on the field last term also totalled 864, as the second-choice behind Jordi Alba.
Bielsa will need Firpo to now rise to Dorigo’s expectations at Leeds, having signed the Dominican to be his new first-choice. But Dorigo’s comments offer hope that the move will be looked back on in years to come as a success.
Firpo should fare well at Elland Road if he can rediscover the form from his Real Betis days. He moved the ball nicely at the Benito Villamarin Stadium and played with the freedom to push up the channel.
His movement naturally created support in wide positions, that would pair nicely with Jack Harrison next season. But it will be a tall order for Firpo going from the bench to being the first-choice at Leeds, despite Dorigo’s praise.
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