Leeds United, in the initial throes of Andrea Radrizzani’s full ownership, were a club beginning to restructure the youth side of things.
It was a set-up that had been allowed to lay fallow by previous owner Massimo Cellino. This ‘ruination’ of youth at Elland Road was part of necessary cost-cutting as the controversial Italian attempted to stem hemorrhaging losses at Elland Road.
Radrizzani’s chance of tack, under the guiding hand of Victor Orta, saw the Whites bringing in young players from some of the bigger names on the continent.
One of these was young Spaniard Oriol Rey. Rey started out as a defensive midfielder for the Barcelona youth side, graduating first to the Juvenil B set-up at the Catalan giants in July 2014.
From then it was a promotion to the Juvenil A side where he played the most minutes in the run to the semi-final stage of the 2016/17 UEFA Youth League competition.
In his time at Leeds, Rey has featured heavily for the Under-23s and has shown that composure on the ball that you’d expect from a graduate that’s been through Barcelona’s fabled La Masia academy system.
He’s well thought of at Elland Road, but is currently out on loan to Spanish 2º División B side UB Conquense, who are based in Cuenca, This season-long loan will give him exposure to first-team football, exposure that he wouldn’t be guaranteed of at Elland Road.
He’s playing well out in Spain, as can be seen from the compilation put together to highlight his contribution against Barcelona B.
https://twitter.com/LeedsAnalysis/status/1100057844941025281?s=20
This insight is not only interesting, it also shows the type of skill set that Leeds United like to play with at the moment. The quick, one-touch football looks like it was copied straight out of the Bielsa manual, that Rey would slot back in to the Whites set up as it is now.
The tweeted highlights (above) were bound to draw comment from Leeds United fans. Here’s what some of them had to say.
Leeds United fans comment as Rey of light shines in Spain
Looks the part!
— Jack Tugwell (@JackTugwell) February 25, 2019
Love how you’ve done that video, can you do more for Rey cause it’s hard to get decent footage of him!
— Ryan (@RPlufc93) February 25, 2019
That left foot of his reminds me of Stephen McPhail
— SeppoLUFC (@LufcSeppo) February 25, 2019
We’re not far off our academy becoming category 1
— Charles Foster (@Charles_Foster5) February 25, 2019
Wanted him playing competitive footie where his style could flow?
— ¡Waccoe ! (@WACCOE) February 25, 2019
Got a right peg on him the lad.
— Top Tipping (@TopTipping1) February 25, 2019
