How Igor Paixao feels about Marseille exit as Leeds United transfer stance shared
Leeds United have been strongly linked with a move for Igor Paixao this summer.
The 26-year-old Marseille winger has been touted to Leeds for some time, with links emerging last summer too.
Daniel Farke has already added Harry Wilson to his squad though, so it remains to be seen whether the Whites will dip into the winger market again in this window.
Paixao enjoyed a superb debut 2025-26 season with Marseille, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists from 42 total appearances, having signed from Dutch giants Feyenoord.
Now entering the prime of his career, a big-money move to the Premier League could be calling for the Brazilian.
However, a fresh transfer update may pour cold water on Elland Road as being a potential destination for him.
What Leeds are doing with their Igor Paixao interest
Farke will of course want to make a couple more additions to his squad before the summer window shuts, but who and where that will be remains to be seen.
There will also be question marks over whether Paixao would fit in Farke's system, after now moving towards a back three and wing-backs approach.
Regardless, he's evidently a player who has his long-term admirers inside Elland Road, but they're set to be disappointed if they had their hopes up about signing him.
According to an update from Leeds Live on Tuesday, the Whites are said to not see Paixao as being a player who they're likely to sign at the moment.
Leeds are still said to be keeping an eye on him as a result of Marseille's testing financial situation, but as of right now, their interest is set to go no further.
On top of this, the update also claims that Paixao is "content" at Marseille, but that his team are "open" to exploring a new opportunity elsewhere.
The report confirms that no contact has been made regarding a transfer to Leeds, nor has communication opened up again with his camp, but it also doesn't shut the door entirely on a potential move to LS11.
So, what sort of player would Leeds be getting in Paixao, and why did his former Feyenoord coach rave about him so much?
Why Feyenoord coach thought Paixao was "great"
Prior to joining Marseille last summer, Paixao had spent the previous three seasons with Feyenoord.
There he played 129 times for the Eredivisie outfit, scoring 39 times and establishing himself as one of the top wingers in Dutch football.
Speaking in an October 2024 interview via FR12.nl, his then-manager Brian Priske waxed lyrical about the Brazilian, and offered a glimpse into the type of player Leeds could get if a deal does get done this summer.
"I think Igor is great for several reasons. First of all, his personality is great to have in the group. He is a Brazilian who always has a smile on his face and is eager to step onto the training pitch every day," he said.
"He is a true team player. For a Brazilian, he has a lot of discipline and always wants to work hard, even if he has a minor ache here and there. Igor always gives it his all."
"He is versatile and can play in various positions. Additionally, he can score goals and provide assists. All in all, he is a very good player."
Then came a specific line from Priske about Paixao's ability to operate in a back three system, which as aforementioned, is of course something that Leeds now utilise.
"Right from the start of the season, when we played 3-4-3, he found the open space between the lines very quickly. That is what makes Paixão so dangerous," Priske continued.
"He can create danger from various positions, not only on the inside but also on the outside. You can see that now in the Champions League as well, that he can provide assists even at that level."
Overall then, a deal for Paixao feels unlikely at this stage for Leeds, but if an avenue to a transfer does upon for the Whites, this Feynoord testimony should fill them with confidence to pursue it.