‘Selfish’ - What Victor Orta has said about his Leeds United future and summer transfer plans - YEP 18/4/23
Victor Orta has already spoken about his future amid renewed criticism of his work at Leeds United.
By Jamie Kemble
Leeds United chief Victor Orta has already admitted his long
term future is not at Elland Road as criticism continues to get louder.
It has been a hugely disappointing season for the Whites,
who find themselves battling relegation again this season, currently just two
points above the drop. Leeds are on their second manager this season, and they
now have the worst defence in the Premier League so far this season after
losing 6-1 to Liverpool at home on Monday night.
There have been challenges, namely losing Kalvin Phillips
and Raphinha last summer, but Leeds have also spent significantly to replace
those players.
Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Wilfried Gnonto, Georginio
Rutter, Luis Sinisterra and others were brought in, and plenty of money was
spent to bring those players to Elland Road. But while some have impressed, the
overall result is that Leeds have not managed to get any better with the money
they have spent.
That’s something Orta is responsible for, and fans recognise
that, criticising the Spaniard for his efforts over the last year or so, in
particular. Some have even called for his exit, but Orta has already said he
will leave the club in the ‘medium term’ for personal reasons.
He told Spanish media in March: “Being Monchi’s successor
(at Sevilla), in any team, I don’t know if it’s something I’m prepared for, but
obviously at some point I want to return to Spain.
“I feel very selfish. I want my son’s grandparents to spend
more time with him, even though he has been there for a long time, there are
cultural differences that I find difficult, the weather thing, which helps. You
get here and it’s 20 degrees. My home is Spain and I will have to return. I
don’t know what as, if at the club or doing other things, but in the medium
term I want to return because I need it personally.”
If there is a takeover at Leeds, the new owners may well
want to reshape the current leadership of the club in any case, but it seems
that might work out well for Orta, given his ambitions to return to Spain.
In the same interview, Orta also spoke about Barcelona
starlet Illias Akhomach, who has been linked with Leeds.
