‘I won’t have it’, ‘Very cheap’: Some Leeds fans react as ‘beautiful dream’ reportedly ends
Some Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media after Atletico Madrid reached an agreement for Rodrigo de Paul.
The Argentine midfielder is set to join the La Liga champions once the Copa America is over, per Fabrizio Romano. Atletico have agreed to pay Udinese €35million (£30m) to sign the 27-year-old and only have personal terms left to agree.
Diego Simeone’s side are already putting plans in place to host De Paul in Madrid for his medical. Atletico had pursued the Udinese captain for several weeks but first opened talks in the days after the Champions League final, according to Gianluca di Marzio.
Atletico reached a deal for €3m (£2.5m) less than Udinese’s valuation after agreeing that no players would move in exchange. The Wanda Metropolitano side had previously offered the Bianconeri £17m plus defender Nehuen Perez, per Goal.
De Paul moving to Madrid will end Leeds’ year-long pursuit of the 24-cap maestro. Udinese told the Elland Road outfit to pay up to £31m (Guardian) last summer with Marcelo Bielsa very keen.
United have since remained interested, with Il Milanista citing Leeds and Liverpool as rivals for AC Milan in May. The Rossoneri were thought to be trailing both Premier League sides after sounding out De Paul’s availability.
But he’s set to join Atletico after scoring nine goals and offering 11 assists in the Serie A last season. It was De Paul’s best Italian top-flight campaign for Udinese for assists and joint-best for goals with the 2018/19 term.
Leeds fans react to De Paul joining Atletico Madrid
Some Leeds fans reacting on social media to De Paul joining Atletico Madrid have mostly shared their disappointment. That’s because they believe he would have been a dream addition to Bielsa’s plans at Elland Road.
Others also feel Atletico have bagged themselves a bargain by landing De Paul for £30m. Others, meanwhile, are just glad to see him join a Spanish side than a Premier League rival.
So, here are some of the messages shared…
35m seems very cheap
— Thomas (@Mccann84Thomas) June 15, 2021
Can't begrudge him that move. Very good team to be joining 👏🏻
— Jumpers for goalposts (@CoachMikeJG) June 15, 2021
Oh Dan! It was but, a beautiful dream 🥲
— Jacqueline Hunt (@jjhunt61) June 15, 2021
I’m thinking he struggles, barely plays, we loan him in Jan with an agreement to buy in the summer and he plays us into the Champions League places #dontdreamitsover
— Matt Duckworth (@Jacccqqques) June 15, 2021
It was good while it lasted but why did I bother watching him in Serie A oh well maybe one day……
— Martin Dickson (@MartinLeeds59) June 16, 2021
I won’t have it. Where do we protest?
— Charlie Phillips (@charliechar) June 15, 2021
At least it’s not an English club, last thing you need is that constant reminder of what could have been
— Wayne Maw (@waynemaw) June 15, 2021
