A few times a week since the end of last season, Spanish newspaper Marca have interviewed a footballer or coach and asked them a series of question about La Liga.
One those questions is which club impressed the most last season, who really caught the eye and punched above their weight. Nearly every response is Alaves.
On their return to La Liga, Alaves finished an impressive 9th, and will hope to consolidate their mid-table status next next season, or even aim higher. They’ll be doing so with Alfonso Pedraza, report Marca, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Leeds United.
Pedraza left a mixed impression at Elland Road, with some Leeds fans hoping he’d return for a season with the Championship club. That certainly wasn’t in Pedraza’s plans and he recently made it clear his Leeds spell had been difficult.
In June, Pedraza told the Spanish media: “After Christmas came the option of going to Leeds. To play in the Championship was a good choice to keep growing. We decided to go and although it wasn’t one of my best experiences, I learned a lot and I improved both as a player and person.
“What I want is to play. This year I would like to stay in Spain and gain experience.”
Pedraza will join Alaves on loan from Villarreal, with no buying option.
