Nigel de Jong shuts down Richard Keys when discussing Marcelo Bielsa’s future at Leeds

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Nigel de Jong has completely shut down presenter Richard Keys on BeIN Sports when the latter questioned Marcelo Bielsa’s future at Leeds United – with the Argentine gaffer out of contract at the end of June.

Bielsa, 65, is yet to sign a new deal at Leeds but is renowned for preferring to renew his contract year by year, every summer. He initially signed a 12-month deal in 2018, and has since renewed 12-month contracts in 2019 and 2020.

In a recent press conference, Bielsa stated that he will not join another team until his time at Leeds is done – and the former Bilbao boss also stated that if Andrea Radrizzani wanted him to sign a new contract now, then he would give him an answer.

But he remains out of contract in June, and Keys – renowned for causing controversy with his footballing views – questioned if Bielsa will be there come next season. But de Jong ridiculed his claim, stating that Bielsa will stay at Elland Road.

“If he’s there”, Keys said, to which de Jong responded: “Oh he’ll be there. You can’t say that. Come on, after what he did with Leeds last season – and surviving in the Premier League this season? He’s got to be there.

“Football is a strange business, but it would be unfair for him to leave. You can’t question his position. He loves the place.” 

TBR’s view – Bielsa will surely stay at Leeds

As de Jong says, he has gained promotion with Leeds and then looks set to keep them in the Premier League. The Yorkshire club has now kept him in the dugout for more games than any other side he has managed, clocking up 129 matches in charge.

While Bielsa is certainly entering the twilight of his managerial career, he is certainly seemingly far from being done. Surely, he will stay at Leeds for another season – and look to take Leeds from mid-table obscurity into Europe next season.