Amidst interest throughout this January transfer window, Raphinha, a former attacker for Leeds United, is still uncertain about his future. For over £50 million, the winger moved from Elland Road to Barcelona in the summer of 2022, but he hasn’t quite been able to realize his full potential at Camp Nou.
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Ayling’s outstanding seven and a half years with Leeds have come to an end as he has signed a loan deal with Middlesbrough that will last until the end of the current campaign, when his Whites contract ends. August 2016 saw Ayling sign with Leeds, the same month that Pablo Hernandez, then on loan from Swansea City, joined the Whites.
After four years, Ayling and Hernandez were instrumental in propelling Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites to promotion. Ayling claims he still gets “goosebumps” from setting Hernandez up for the game’s lone goal in the crucial 1-0 victory over Swansea City in July 2020.
Leeds’ 1-0 triumph in the 89th minute came from a classic Bielsa attack, in which Ayling raced up the pitch from right back, played a one-two with Helder Costa, and then cut back into the box. The result put Leeds on the verge of promotion. Hernandez, who Ayling places at the top of the tree of the great Leeds players he played with, then completed that cutback.
The departing right back’s main regret is that his team was unable to properly celebrate promotion with the club’s supporters because of the nation’s battle with COVID-19, which forced all football games to be played in empty stadiums behind closed doors.
Ayling relived that incredible moment at Swansea as he thought back on his seven and a half years at Leeds. He also gave a loving homage to Bielsa, who the defender said had changed his life.
Speaking with LUTV, Ayling beamingly said, “Pablo the magic man.” Though I’ve had the good fortune to play with numerous amazing players here, I believe he’s at the top of the game.
