Leeds United should give Oriol Rey a pre-season opportunity.
Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa appears to be targeting wingers in the transfer market this summer.
This plays into the hands of Oriol Rey, who is returning from a loan move in Spain.
Rey was Leeds’ best player for the under-23s in the 2017/18 season, shining at both centre-back and in central midfield.
The former Barcelona academy kid looked like a bright prospect and seemed on paper like an ideal fit for Marcelo Bielsa.
Bielsa gave him a chance in pre-season, and Rey didn’t take it, with one mistake costing his side a goal.
He featured on the bench once for the first team once the season began, before being sent on loan to Spanish second division club Conquense.
Well now he has returned, having accomplished what he set out to do.
Rey had never played at a competitive level, and now he has a whole season under his belt.
He played in 35 games out on loan, featuring in central midfield mainly, but also at both right-back and left-back.
It was clearly a valuable season for the 21-year-old.
Now he deserves a chance in pre-season at least to kick on and show Marcelo Bielsa how much he has improved.
If Bielsa still feels he is not what he is looking for, then that’s the Argentine’s prerogative and he has earned the trust of fans, that he knows what he is doing.
But Rey really should get that opportunity, to show he can be a valuable player for Leeds next season and save the club millions adding another midfielder.
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