Junior Firpo doing his best to anger Leeds United fan base with Manchester United verdict
Junior Firpo is doing his best to anger the Leeds United fan base, and he must be reminded about some of the unwritten rules at the club.
The 26-year-old gave an interview to Spanish newspaper Sport where he openly praised two Manchester United players, further adding that Barcelona are going to “suffer” at their hands.
It seems Firpo is more excited about Marcus Rashford, after all the forward gave him trouble on the pitch in the 2-0 defeat at Elland Road earlier this month.
The Spaniard was also effusive about Bruno Fernandez, saying he is a “dangerous” player.
“They (Barcelona) are going to suffer because United is a team that is doing very well right now and they have a player that everything he touches comes in, Rashford,” said Firpo to Sport.
“But keeping an eye on Rashford, taking the ball from them and having it longer than them, I think they have it more or less dominated.
“He’s going well up front, he’s fast, the team plays for him, he has Bruno behind, who is very dangerous. What would you highlight about Rashford? Everything.”
Despite being at the club since 2021, Firpo is yet to understand the magnitude of the rivalry between the two clubs. It can get toxic and vitriol at times, though it tarnishes the images of both clubs. But that is how it has been over the past two decades.
Firpo has struggled badly at Elland Road since joining the club last summer from Barcelona. He has suffered an injury nightmare at the Yorkshire club and has managed only seven appearances in the Premier League this season.
He looks shaky at the back, and hardly exudes confidence. Firpo feels that he is gradually adapting to the pace of the league, but he should have done it by now.
In the January window, there were suggestions that he could be sold. Leeds did sign a new defender, Max Wober, who can play as a left-back, but Firpo still has a chance to cement his place in the side under Spaniard, Javi Gracia.
Firpo is an unpopular figure at the club and the Spaniard could anger the fan base here, although he may have done it unknowingly.
In other Leeds United news, the club are now leading the race to sign an in-demand young attacking talent from a European giant.