Rey is currently one of the many players out on loan from Leeds at Spanish side UB Conquense.
Leeds United have 23 players out on loan this season and whether promotion comes forth, or the disappointment of another Championship campaign dawns, a summer cull of Victor Orta’s failures is impending.
The likes of Pawel Cibicki, Jay-Roy Grot and Vurnon Anita were all signed by director of football Orta last summer, but the trio – among others – failed to make an impact last season.
Others such as Oriol Rey are looking to make an impression. A number of younger players are looking to show what they’re capable of at senior level, and break into Marcelo Bielsa’s youthful and exuberant squad.
The 21-year-old midfielder has starred for Leeds Under-23 side, and even appeared on the bench for the senior side in the dismal 2-1 FA Cup loss to Newport County last season.
The former Barcelona midfielder was sent on loan in the summer by the Whites to third-tier side Conquense, and has been a key part of the side since opting to leave. He has since made 23 appearances in all competitions for the club.
But what will have impressed Bielsa most is the Spaniard’s versatility. The Argentine boss is renowned for his preference to have smaller squads of players with lots of versatile players – and Rey fits the bill.
This season for Conquense, Rey has played at centre-back, right-back and left-back, as well as his natural position of central midfield. He has a contract at the club until the summer of 2020.
With a summer cull looking more and more likely, Rey will be looking to impress enough to remain at Elland Road – and he is certainly going the right way about it.
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