Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media

Richie Mills

Sun 8 March 2026 11:10, UK

Facundo Buonanotte has been branded as a “weird” signing for Leeds United after barely playing so far at Elland Road.

That is according to former Leeds defender Aidy White, who believes that the Brighton loanee is a “luxury” player that Daniel Farke does not really need right now.

Leeds had been chasing a number 10 for several transfer windows, so when they finally landed one in January in Buonanotte, hopes were high for the 21-year-old.

However, the Argentina international has played just three times for the Elland Road outfit and has repeatedly been left out of matchday squads.

All eyes will be on whether or not Farke picks Buonanotte to face Norwich City in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday, but so far, he has done precious little to deserve a starting spot.

More doubts emerge about Facundo Buonanotte

Buonanotte looked set to join Leeds on loan from Brighton last summer, only for Chelsea to steal in at the 11th hour.

The former Rosario Central starlet barely featured for the Blues, which is why he opted to make the switch to Elland Road in the winter window.

Now, former Leeds man White, who played 111 times for the club, has explained why he doesn’t think Buonanotte is a Daniel Farke-type player.

He said on the Square Ball podcast on Friday: “It’s a weird signing, isn’t it? Considering we were chasing that number 10 role so much in the summer, and then they’ve changed the formation and brought him in regardless.

“From what I’ve seen of him, I just don’t think he’s a Daniel Farke player as of yet. I think he’s a luxury we cannot afford in our formation and the way we play.”

Before the fifth round FA Cup tie with Norwich on Sunday afternoon, Farke did not rule out Buonanotte earning some extra minutes for Leeds.

He also praised his attitude despite the criticism he has been facing. But unless he makes a big impact soon, Buonanotte is likely to head back to Brighton this summer with very little game time.

Why Buonanotte didn’t help himself this season

Footballers are ambitious. They want to earn as much money as possible and play at the highest level.

Buonanotte is no different, and despite Leeds courting him for a good chunk of the summer, when a Champions League side like Chelsea came sniffing, his head was turned.

Even though Chelsea have an embarrassment of attacking riches, the young Argentine couldn’t say no to the Stamford Bridge team and headed there on loan.

Fast forward to the present, though, and it seems the former Leicester City man may have made the wrong call.

Yes, he only played eight times for Chelsea, and has featured on three occasions for Leeds. But Buonanotte would have got more game at the Yorkshire team if he had joined last summer.

That would have given him time to get up to speed with Farke’s style, and now that he has joined after the German brought in their favoured 3-5-2 formation, Buonanotte seems surplus to requirements.

He doesn’t look 100 per cent fit, nor match sharp. With Leeds in a relegation fight, it seems Farke is unwilling to experiment with Buonanotte, as survival is their top priority.

Buonanotte is certainly a talent, but right now, this season will have been a step back for his development. And, arguably, he is partly to blame for it.