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Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has given a glowing verdict on the quality of Raphinha.

Raphinha, who joined the Yorkshire club last summer, is having a superb first season both at Elland Road and in English football.

The left-footed attacker scored last night during his team’s 3-0 win over Southampton in the Premier League, as he struck a free-kick from distance.

He’s now scored five goals and set up five assists in 21 games across all competitions this season for Leeds.

The 24-year-old has settled so quickly into the Whites squad since his arrival from Rennes and is now an ever-present in the starting XI.

Bielsa was left amazed by the Brazilian wide player after his Southampton display, explaining that he’s got the work-rate and energy to go along with his talent on the ball.

“He’s a player who unbalances by himself. He’s very ambitious, very competitive. It’s a mixture that’s not very common because he works a lot and on top of that he is creative and can unbalance,” Bielsa said in his post-match press conference, as quoted by Leeds Live.

“I sincerely think that I can add very little to his game. The best thing you can do with players who are so spontaneous is let them to be themselves.”

TBR’s View:

Bielsa has pretty much taken a group of Championship players and turned them into a mid-table Premier League squad within the space of a couple of years.

With that in mind, it’s an amazing compliment to Raphinha that the Argentine manager has claimed he can’t improve him much more.

Aged 24, the skilful attacker should still have his peak years ahead of him and the way he’s performed this season in the Premier League makes him such an exciting talent.

His £17million (BBC) signature looks a remarkable piece of business.