Towards the end of the January transfer window, we covered in detail the transfer of Alfonso Pedraza from Villarreal to Leeds United, with the Spanish side cutting the player’s loan at Lugo in Segunda Division short to facilitate an immediate loan to the Championship club.
Leeds negotiated a loan with a view to a permanent deal for the winger, while Villarreal paid the small Spanish club compensation in order to cut their previous agreement short.
However, Lugo weren’t too happy about the timing of this decision, leaving them little time to find a replacement for the now Leeds forward, something the club’s president made very clear in the local press last week.
While their frustration was understandable, Lugo only had themselves to blame for not including a ‘date cut-off’ point in the recall clause, and it would appear they have taken the necessary steps to ensure such a mistake doesn’t happen again.
Marca report that Monday saw the announcement that Lugo’s director of football, Emilio de Dios, would not be renewing his contract, which was immediately followed by de Dios mutually agreeing to leave the club immediately.
There is no mention of the Leeds deal being the cause of this, but considering Pedraza’s importance for the Spanish club during the first half of the season (six goals and eight assists in 23 games), we’d happily put some money on it playing a part in the decision.
Since joining Elland Road, Pedraza has only made two appearances for Leeds United, both losses against Huddersfield and Cardiff.
