Rakitic reacts as Leeds United sign Junior Firpo
Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic has congratulated Junior Firpo on his move to Leeds United.
On Tuesday, Firpo’s move from the Nou Camp to Elland Road was confirmed with the 24-year-old left-back penning a four-year deal at the Yorkshire club.
Ex-Barca playmaker Rakitic was among those to reply to Firpo’s move to Leeds on Instagram with the Croatian saying: “Well boyoooo. Congratulations.”
Now the hard work starts
Firpo will no doubt be buzzing to have joined Leeds and to be playing for one of the most revered coaches in the world in Marcelo Bielsa.
However, it’s not going to be a walk in the park for the Dominican Republic-born left-back.
We need Firpo to be a major part of the first-team going into next season with Ezgjan Alioski’s exit from Elland Road confirmed.
Firpo’s expected to be the first choice left-back and that means we need him to be fully up to speed with Bielsa’s style of play and at peak fitness.
Unfortunately for Firpo, peak fitness has a different meaning under Bielsa than it would have done at Barcelona or Real Betis.
He’s going to have to work harder than he ever has done before because we’re going to need him in all 38 Premier League matches next season and whatever other matches we play in the cups.
Sure, Stuart Dallas can slot in at left-back if Firpo has to miss a game while we also have a couple of left-footed centre-backs and youngster Leif Davis to slot in. But ultimately, we need Firpo to be available as often as possible.
In other Leeds United news, Oli McBurnie has sent a surprising message to Kalvin Phillips.