Marcelo Bielsa once ‘banished’ Leeds United transfer target Fernando Llorente

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Leeds United have been linked with an interest in the Tottenham Hotspur striker Fernando Llorente this week. As reported by The Sun, the West Yorkshire side are keen on signing the player. Spurs are willing to sell the Spaniard for a fee in the region of £4 million.

Of course, a link does exist between Llorente and Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa. The striker was one of Bielsa’s main men at Athletic Club during his time as manager of the Bilbao club.

Llorente was the main goal-getter in his impressive Athletic team. However, that relationship did not exactly end well.

It was whilst Bielsa was in charge that Llorente tried to force his exit from the Basque club. It was a transfer ordeal which had the incredibly passionate fans in Bilbao furious at their striker.

The striker was banished from club training at one point. Bielsa was typically abrupt in his reasoning for that decision.

When he was brought back into the fold, he could not get a game. Looking beyond, Bielsa played Aritz Aduriz instead.

“I instructed him to retire before the end (of training). I decided that his contribution was not required and it was not appropriate to insist. If that indicates conflict, then it is indeed a conflict.”

– Marcelo Bielsa on banishing Llorente from training

In December that season, after Llorente was booed by his own fans, the new Leeds boss told him to ‘get used to it’, as reported by ESPN.

Llorente eventually headed to Juventus on a free transfer but for many his relationship with the club and Bielsa was considered over.

Of course, time heals. Llorente could actually be set for an emotional return to San Mames, according to several reports. If the people of Bilbao could learn to forgive him, then perhaps Bielsa could as well.

But a deal still seems very unlikely.