Victor Orta has penned an emotional tribute to Barry Douglas after his exit from Leeds United this afternoon.
The Scot called time on his two-year spell at Leeds to join Blackburn Rovers on a permanent basis.
Douglas, a £3 million signing in 2018, struggled for regular football under Marcelo Bielsa last season and with the Whites being back in the Premier League, there was no way his prospects were going to improve.
But in an open letter to the 31-year-old, published on United’s official website, the club’s Director of Football suggested that it was the former Wolves defender who made the decision to leave, rather than being pushed out.
Orta wrote: “I understand why you are leaving. You are a proper professional and you want to play and I respect that greatly. You leave us as a champion on the pitch and I hope now people understand that you are a champion off the field too. Thank you for everything Barry.”
It’s ever so hard not to feel sorry for the former Leeds star.
This is the second time that he has been denied a crack at the Premier League, after also playing a starring role in helping Wolves to promotion during the 2017-18 campaign.
But Blackburn have enjoyed a decent start to the new Championship season, sitting sixth after four games, so he’ll be determined on helping Rovers reach the promised land, too.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
