Leeds United’s Star Explains His Summertime Stay with the Club
According to the club’s official podcast, Leeds United keeper Illan Meslier said he stayed at Elland Road this season because he “felt guilty” about their relegation from the Premier League.
The 23-year-old was linked with a transfer away from the Yorkshire club throughout the summer window, with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich as well as Premier League heavyweights Manchester City and Manchester United among those touted as possible suitors.
It was said that Leeds was responsible for his departure, and this was confirmed by the acquisition of Karl Darlow from Newcastle United. The 32-year-old player arrived with the expectation of serving as the team’s starting custodian this coming season.
Meslier started each of the Whites’ league games before the window closed, despite the uncertainty surrounding his future. It was thought that before he left, manager Daniel Farke sought to get the best out of his custodian. However, the Frenchman stayed at the club when the transfer deadline passed.
Throughout the summer, there were a number of rumours that the former Lorient player was looking to leave Elland Road, but Meslier has refuted these assertions. Through The Leeds Press, he spoke on the official podcast of Leeds United.
“I feel guilty inside, therefore it was hard to leave when the club was closing. The majority of the games I played didn’t turn out well. My departure from the club in the second division was not a positive thing.
“To go play somewhere and see Leeds in the middle of the second tier and think, ‘oh no’. For me, getting Leeds into the top two spots required staying and giving my all.
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Author’s Opinion
Whether Meslier is telling the truth or not is debatable, but there is probably a reason for the repeated references to some of the best teams in Europe. Although it is reported that Manchester City turned down the chance to sign him, this may have been agent chatter to try to get a move for his client.
He is without a doubt one of the greatest goalkeepers in the division, and Leeds will undoubtedly struggle to maintain him if they don’t succeed in being promoted this year. By the end of the season, he will still have two years left on his contract, allowing Leeds to demand a substantial price should he leave, but Meslier’s goal is to play in the Premier League.
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