Luis Sinisterra breaks silence on controversial Leeds United exit to Bournemouth - MOT Leeds News 22/9/23

By George Overhill

Luis Sinisterra has discussed his controversial deadline day move to Bournemouth and said it was “really difficult with Leeds United” because the club wanted him to stay.

Speaking to BBC Radio Solent (22 September) the Colombian winger said he had a “really good time” at Elland Road but had always made it clear his “desire” was to play at the top level after relegation, while he had other options abroad.

The 24-year-old said he only became aware of interest from the Cherries a couple of days before the window shut and spoke to the likes of Jefferson Lerma for more information on the club.

Sinisterra said: “A couple of days before the transfer market closed they showed interest. We spoke for a couple of days and then I spoke also with the manager, and it was a really good project so I was really happy to make the decision.

“I had other options but it was outside England, and it was really difficult with Leeds United from the beginning because they wanted me to stay. But of course I wanted to play in the Premier League so when Bournemouth came I decided because I really wanted to play at the highest level possible.

“Apart from the relegation I had a really good time, my family as well, but my desire is always to play at the highest level so I was looking for that.

“Yeah of course [I made it clear] but it was my desire when I chose to come to Leeds to play in the Premier League. I was sad we got relegated and it is a really good team with really good people, but I made my decision to play in the Premier League.”

The late window drama didn’t unfold how the Whites would have wanted but Sinisterra’s agent was clearly pleased to have won the “fight” with the club to get him a move.

Leeds United clearly felt that they would be able to keep him once the relegation release clauses had apparently expired, but as with Tyler Adams’ permanent move to the same destination the threat of legal action rendered it a battle that wasn’t worth fighting [The Athletic, 2 September].

Angus Kinnear was particularly aggrieved by the manner of the two departures amongst a sea of players who wanted to leave this summer [The Square Ball, 7 September], so it is clear the exit wasn’t an easy one.

Willy Gnonto might be the only player who actively wanted to go this summer but didn’t manage to do so, since it is largely pointless to keep unhappy players at the club.

Whether there is a future for Sinisterra at Elland Road at the end of his loan move, or whether he ends up making a permanent switch to Bournemouth, remains to be seen.

He didn’t make himself popular on the way out on 1 September but how much of that is down to his agent rather than him is difficult to say.

It was an unfortunate end to the transfer window when Daniel Farke had indicated that he was fairly confident Sinisterra would stay, but landing Jaidon Anthony on a loan in the opposite direction did help to soften the blow.