Joel Piroe reacts as Leeds United exit announced
Joel Piroe has sent an emotional message to Leeds United teammate Josuha Guilavogui, who will soon leave Elland Road.
The Whites signed the French midfielder as a free agent in October during dire circumstances, with Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu injured.
Daniel Farke’s team celebrated their Championship title win in style after a dramatic finish in the final match of the regular season, and the 34-year-old was a part of the squad.
Guilavogui is ready for his next chapter away from Elland Road, and the 34-year-old midfielder has received a parting message from one of his teammates.
Piroe will miss Guilavogui at Leeds United
Piroe was emotional as he reacted to Guilavogui’s exit on his Instagram story.
While the veteran defensive midfielder didn’t play many minutes at Elland Road, it’s clear that he’s had a significant impact around LS11 in a short time.
| Competition | Appearances | Minutes played |
| Championship | 16 | 57 |
With an impressive partnership brewing between Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell, Farke didn’t feel the need to give the Frenchman much game time.
Piroe wrote on his Instagram, accompanied by a heart and teary-eyed face emoji (17 May): “I will miss your speeches the most veu pere.”
Farke needs Premier League-quality players at Elland Road
Rothwell has been impressive at Elland Road during his loan spell from Bournemouth, but whether a move will be made permanent next summer remains to be seen.
Tanaka has been a revelation under Farke, and while he has shown a lot of potential, the Japan international is untested in the English top-flight.
The German manager must demand Premier League-quality players from 49ers Enterprises ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
Ampadu and Gruev have returned from their respective injuries, but Leeds need to be prepared in case they suffer fitness issues next season.
The Whites can’t have a depleted squad and lack depth in the middle of the park if they want to survive the drop to the Championship.
While things worked out for the West Yorkshire outfit in the end in the current campaign, there was a point when it looked like they would miss out on automatic promotion.
Guilavogui’s exit isn’t surprising, but the Peacocks must ensure they aren’t forced into similar deals in the future.