When Leeds United fans heard that the club were in for a Spanish attacking midfielder Samu Saiz, the almost uniform response was ‘Samu Who?’
Those questions were answered pretty quickly when Whites fans saw the diminutive Spaniard kick into gear. There was a majesty about his play, arrogant at times but magisterial all the same.
He had a low centre of gravity, one that proved difficult for defenders to knock him off the ball. He often glided by them, not the fastest of players but with a turn of pace that took him clear.
His eye for a pass also largely set him apart from his peers, Saiz often spotting passes or opportunities few others could see. Over the season-and-a-half that he was at Elland Road, Saiz flickered into life often enough for the Whites fans to know that they had a baller on their hands.
However, family issues and an inability to fully settle in England has led to changes in his football circumstances. Not settled in/at Leeds, Saiz has been allowed to return to Spain on a half-season loan deal with Getafe. The Spaniards also have the option to turn that loan into a permanent deal should they wish to in the summer.
Not only has Saiz been training with Los Azulones, he is also looking likely to get some minutes on the pitch in their first game of 2019, a fixture of the Dia de Reyes – Kings Day (January 6th).
On this day of celebration for Spaniards, and will probably feature according to this tweet:
ENTRENAMIENTO| El Getafe vuelve a la actividad con novedades:
✅ Djené entrena con normalidad, parece que llegará al día 6.
Samu Sáiz ya entrena con sus nuevos compañeros, probablemente tenga minutos frente al Barça.
Amath y Bergara lesionados de larga duración
— Getafe CF GFantasy (@GetafeCF_Guia) December 30, 2018
It isn’t any old début back in La Liga for Saiz. It is a début where he will face none other than a Lionel Messi-led Barcelona. On this subject, Spanish media outlet AS say, in an article written by J.A. de las Rosa, that “Samu will be registered on the opening day of the market [window]” and that he “could play” against Barcelona.
His last outing for Leeds United was against QPR where he played 81 minutes in a 2-0 Whites win. No disrespect to the Londoners, but come January 6th it is a step up in class and a baptism of fire when he steps out against Barcelona.
