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What Firpo once said about Valverde amid Leeds manager links
One player in the Leeds United squad who may be intrigued to see the Whites linked with Ernesto Valverde this week is Junior Firpo.
that Valverde is one of the names on the club’s radar should Marcelo Bielsa decide to leave Elland Road in the summer. Jesse Marsch and Carlos Corberan are also on the wishlist.
Valverde would arguably be the most ambitious of the three. The 57-year-old has won five league titles during his managerial career, including two with Barcelona. Lionel Messi labelled him ‘magnificent‘ following his departure from the Nou Camp.
He could also get the chance to succeed Bielsa for a second time in his career. Valverde took over when the Argentinian left Athletic Bilbao back in 2013.
A move to Leeds would see the Spaniard take his first role in England. But there would be a handful of players who he would have plenty of knowledge of.
Diego Llorente and Rodrigo have both come up against his sides on a number of occasions. But a move to Leeds would see Valverde reunited with Firpo.
The left-back signed for Barcelona while Valverde was in charge at the Nou Camp. Unfortunately, his spell did not prove to be the most successful.
The pair worked together for around 18 months. He only made 34 appearances in that time, and was never a regular starter.
And following his move to Leeds, Firpo outlined that, in terms of research on the opposition, Bielsa is the complete opposite to all of his Barca bosses – including Valverde.
“We did not see videos of the rival, neither with Valverde, nor Quique nor with Koeman,” he said, .
“With Bielsa we see them a lot, it is from one extreme to another.”
Junior Firpo may welcome another chance to work with Valverde should Bielsa leave Leeds
Of course, Firpo may still be optimistic should Valverde end up at Leeds – if Bielsa decides to go.
His time at Barca did not work out. But that would have partially been down to the form of one of the world’s best left-backs of the last decade, Jordi Alba.
When fit, Firpo is first-choice at Elland Road. And he is a player that Valverde spent up to to bring him to the Catalan giants in the first place.
Firpo has threatened to be a success at Leeds. And he has definitely got better as the campaign has gone on. So he may welcome another chance to work under Valverde should Bielsa decide to leave.