Marcelo Bielsa leaves door open for Diego Flores to return to Leeds United
Marcelo Bielsa has left the door open for former assistant manager and translator Diego Flores to return to Leeds United, according to LeedsLive journalist Beren Cross.
Flores left Leeds ahead of last season despite playing a key role during the Yorkshire club’s promotion-winning campaign in the Championship.
There was a lot of confusion about where Flores had gone – even The Athletic’s Phil Hay couldn’t get an answer out of the Whites back in October.
However, it seems that Flores has spent the last year travelling with his partner with LeedsLive’s Cross also reporting that Bielsa is happy for his former assistant to return at any point.
Writing on the LeedsLive website, Cross said: “Diego Flores is one Bielsa has left the door open to a return for, but it’s unclear if he will want to return such a hectic lifestyle after enjoying a year away with his partner, travelling.”
Return on the cards?
Right now, there’s nothing to suggest that Flores will be returning to Leeds and it remains to be seen if he wants to.
We find it hard to see how the ex-Leeds coach has been away to spend time travelling unless he’s just been travelling around one country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but if he’s needed a break then that’s fair enough.
Bielsa works his players hard so we’d imagine he works his coaching staff hard too and as Flores also served as a translator for the Argentine, there’s no doubt that his working week was pretty hectic.
Since Bielsa has been at Elland Road he’s had three translators.
Salim Lamrani was his first, then Flores and last season the Argentine was spotted with Andres Clavijo at his side.
Cross has referred to Bielsa’s translator as being similar to a James Bond or Doctor Who, a role which stays alive but regularly played by someone different.
He also hopes Clavijo stays for another year. And we’re guessing Bielsa might too even though it does seem as though he’s open to a change.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are in the hunt to sign this Wales forward who was among the goals last season.