Player Marcelo Bielsa wanted at Leeds United now tipped to become ‘best’ in the world
Marcelo Bielsa certainly had a keen eye for talent during his time as Leeds United manager.
Bielsa led Leeds to the Premier League back in 2020, but perhaps his most remarkable achievement as United boss was finishing 9th in his first season back in the top flight.
The Argentinian manager has an exceptional ability to develop players he already has at his disposal and but Bielsa also has an equally good eye for spotting new talent.
The signing of Raphinha at Leeds on deadline day was one of the finer pieces of business that Bielsa signed off on during his tenure at Leeds boss but there were more than a few notable ones that got away.
Leeds agonisingly close to signing Josko Gvardiol
Leeds supporters are currently less than impressed with the 49ers, who didn’t back Daniel Farke in the transfer window this summer.
Before Bielsa’s second season in the Premier League with Leeds in 2021/22, this argument was also thrown towards former owner Andrea Radrizzani at the time, and the lack of investment ultimately cost the legendary manager his job.
Leeds were reportedly interested in Gvardiol in 2020 before their 9th-place finish in a deal which could have potentially eased the struggles the Whites faced in their second season in the Premier League, whilst further enhancing their performance in their initial campaign back in the top flight.
It was widely reported at the time that Bielsa was a massive admirer of the then Dinamo Zagreb defender, who admitted he came close to signing for Leeds:
“I had two options, between Leeds and Leipzig,” Gvardiol said when talking to The Times back in 2023.
“Bielsa was the coach, and I don’t know if you know this, but my goal in my career is to play in the Premier League.
“I didn’t speak with Bielsa, but of course, he sends a few people, and they came to Zagreb. I met these guys, and they showed me it was something like a plan for how they see me in their style of football.
“I mean, when they presented it, everything looked good, and you could maybe see yourself there in that moment.
“I knew that I needed to take a few more steps before I get [to the Premier League] one day.”
Just six months on from that interview, Gvardiol would leave RB Leipzig to sign for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Txiki Begiristain backs Josko Gvardiol to the ‘best’ in his position
Begiristain was the man who masterminded the deal to bring Gvardiol to Manchester, and the defender has been exceptional for City since his arrival in August 2023.
The Spaniard oversaw many impressive deals during his time as City’s director of football, but left his role in July after 13 years in the position.
A documentary on Begiristain’s time at the club is now out, in which he makes a bold claim about Gvardiol.
“Josko, he’s going to be the best left central defender in the world,” Begiristain admitted while looking back on some of his signings to Manchester City.
Given his track record, this will only make the Elland Road faithful even more gutted that they missed out on securing Gvardiol’s signature
The prospect of the Croatia international linking up with Bielsa in LS11 could have seen Leeds climb even higher in the table and potentially sneak back into Europe, but it is a question United fans will never have the answer to.
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