There is a definite sabor de salsa Española flowing at Elland Road at the moment – this a spine running through the side.
From the appointment of Thomas Christiansen as head coach, augmented by Victor Orta as Technical Director and backed by a backroom staffed stuffed with Spaniards, Leeds United definitely have sabor de España in the ranks.
That has also extended down into the recruitment process, more so at the level below the first team, with a number of Spanish youngsters being signed on at Elland Road. Madger Gomes has joined after his release by Liverpool, Alejandro Machuca has joined from Rayo Vallecano, Adrian Balboa has signed from UD Unificación Bellvitge and former Real Madrid youngster Ousama Siddiki signed on recently.
Add to that the story today that Leeds United have signed highly thought of Barcelona youngster Kun Temenuzhkov and that’s a quintet of Spanish youngsters rocking up at Elland Road this summer.
It does seem that the Whites are taking a definite Spanish direction with their bringing in of players to bolster what was an underperforming Under-23 Development Squad last season.
With that direction firmly in mind, here’s five young Spanish players who are currently out of contract that Leeds United could consider snapping up and bringing to the club. Starting with the first one Jaume Grau.
Jaume Grau – central midfield (last club CD Navalcarnero)
Grau started his football at junior club Tavernes de la Valldigna, before moving to Valencia’s youth set-up. At the start of July 2013, Grau moved over to Real Madrid’s Youth set-up, before moving into the Under-19 set-up a year later.
During the Under-19 UEFA Youth League 2015/16 season, Grau made six appearances for Los Blancos, appearing as an unused substitute twice more. Over these six appearances, the attacking midfielder earned 534 minutes of on-pitch action in games where opponents included sides such as Manchester City Under-19s and Paris Saint-Germain Under-19s.
He was let go from Los Blancos at the end of the season on a free transfer to third-tier side CD Navalcarnero. He has since been released from there and finds himself a free agent. The Real Madrid website described the youngster as “highly tenacious, hard-working and committed. He has excellent vision and possesses the ability to pick out the best-placed team-mate.”
On the next page are a right back once at Sevilla and a striker formally of Osasuna.
