Credit: Imago

Josh Edwards

Mon 9 March 2026 19:10, UK

Facundo Buonanotte will go down in history as one of Leeds United’s most baffling signings.

Leeds United coasted their way through to the next round of the FA Cup on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Championship outfit Norwich City.

Fringer players such as Ao Tanaka and Dan James were handed valuable minutes, while Buonanotte was forced to watch the game from the bench, and not for the first time.

His lack of inclusion since arriving on loan in January has already cast major doubts over his future at Elland Road, but a specific decision made by Daniel Farke against the Canaries has all but confirmed it.

Does Facundo Buonanotte have any future at Leeds?

You may not have to be a genius to figure this one out.

The arrival of Buonanotte on loan from Brighton continues to baffle Elland Road spectators, with Farke continuously neglecting him.

And that was again the case against Norwich, with the situation made even worse by the final substitute.

Leeds were 3-0 up when Farke made his final change, with Sam Byram coming on to replace Gabriel Gudmundsson, who registered his first assists for the Whites.

It was the perfect chance to get Buonannotte the minutes he quite clearly needs, and for Farke to opt against that yet again speaks volumes about his level of importance.

At this stage, the question will be whether Buonanotte will ever actually play for Leeds again.

And the answer is looking increasingly like a no.

Buonanotte situation showcases issue at Leeds

The Argentine has played just 69 minutes of football for the Whites this season, which is an alarming lack of gametime.

And all that has done is raise the question as to why Leeds signed him in the first place.

In all honesty, it feels like it was a panic signing by the 49ers, who didn’t want to end the winter transfer window in the same way they did the summer, without an attacking arrival.

Farke’s treatment of the forward has made that abundantly clear, with a return to Brighton now inevitable this summer.