Marc Roca may already have one foot out of Leeds United exit door as Barcelona transfer news emerges
Leeds United midfielder Marc Roca has emerged as a potential replacement for Sergio Busquets at Barcelona and he may already have an exit route at Elland Road planned.
The Whites signed Roca from Bayern Munich last summer, going on to make 36 appearances in all competitions as Leeds suffered a disastrous relegation to the Championship.
La Liga champions Barcelona are set to lose their longest-serving and midfield leader Busquets after he announced his departure, following a Camp Nou first-team career spanning 15 years and 722 appearances.
And according to Fichajes.net [5 June], the Catalan giants are already planning for life without Busquets and are working on potential replacements with Elland Road ace Roca identified as a potential target.
The Spaniard has long been mooted for an exit from West Yorkshire following an underwhelming first year in England where he failed to deliver on the promises of becoming a key midfield figure when he signed from Bayern Munich last summer, in search of a new lease on life after several injuries.
According to the Express [25 May], a return back to his native Spain may already be on the cards for the midfielder,w tih his representatives sounding out potential moves after Leeds United’s eventual relegation.
Roca emerged as a very good outlet on the ball for Leeds United this season, giving them the foundation to build out from deep areas, but simply struggled with the testing physicality of the English top-flight, especially after the injury to Tyler Adams.
He will also have been disappointed to lose his place in the starting XI following the January arrival of fellow midfielder Weston McKennie.
The Spaniard will view this summer as a chance to kickstart his career, and that looks set to happen away from Elland Road, with his native Spain now potentially being seen as the perfect exit route for him.
With Barcelona reportedly interested in his services, and Leeds United now stuck in the Championship, it won’t be a surprise to catch the Spaniard already packing his bags after just one full difficult taste of Premier League football.
The Whites are set to undergo a major refresh both in the playing squad and on the managerial front and right now, it is difficult to see the former Bayern Munich man in a Leeds United shirt in the Championship.
Should Leeds United receive a healthy offer for Roca’s services this summer, both parties won’t be batting an eyelid at a swift, unfortunate and inevitable parting of ways.
In other Leeds news, one star has been lined up as a replacement for an outgoing club legend in Europe.