The incomings to Leeds United have been put on a potential hold until January 1 next year, the opening of the next transfer window. However, there is still the opportunity for outgoings.
The surplus players in the Leeds United set-up are set to be trimmed with permanent deals sorted out for former members of the first-team squad who are no longer in Marcelo Bielsa’s plans. Some, such as Caleb Ekuban, have already gone and others will follow.
However, one surprise departure that did pop up today was that of Rafa Mujica, the former Barcelona youngster who only arrived at Elland Road this summer from the Catalan giants.
OFICIAL
Rafa Mujica nuevo refuerzo azulgrana.
El joven delantero canario llega cedido del @LUFC¡Bienvenido @rafamujica9 ! pic.twitter.com/m6Z28JESmg
— Extremadura UD (@EXT_UD) August 23, 2019
Mujica’s arrival at Elland Road last month made him the third arrival from Barcelona’s La Masia academy set-up. He joined fellow recent arrival Guillermo Amor and longer-term Leeds United Under-23 star Kun Temenuzhkov in the ranks at Thorp Arch.
Rafa Mujica, as well as being a pedigreed youngster at Barcelona, fits one of the principal points that Bielsa wants from players at Leeds – multi-position ability. Primarily a striker, Mujica can fill in at all positions across an attacking front three.
He’s played 33 games for the Barcelona B side this season, scoring seven goals and adding one assist. These seven goals form part of his total output of 10 and six assists in 60 games.
Whilst not appearing as overly prolific, that La Masia background and exposure to some of the best training in the world carries its own cachet. He’d more than slot into the Under-23s set-up at Elland Road, where he’d be nurtured well by Carlos Corberan.
The Under-23s play football with the same intensity and attacking ethos that Bielsa has brought to the first team. In creating such a close synergy, the idea is that the football acts as a bridge between the two sides, thus aiding player progression.
However, and for this season at least, it appears that Rafa Mujica’s professional development is going to be away from England and back in his native Spain. Extremadura UD play their football in LaLiga2, the second tier of Spanish football.
