Originating from La Masia at Barcelona, Cristian Ceballos has had quite the eclectic career, moving from Spain to Tottenham, where he then spent a season on loan at Arouca in Portugal, before moving to Charlton, Sint-Truiden in Belgium and now Al-Wakrah in Qatar.
His travels have made him a worldly man, where he’s picked up a lot of experience, especially from playing in leagues like the Championship and the Jupiler Pro League.
As things stand, Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion are currently fighting at the top of England’s second-tier to try and gain promotion to the Premier League, and they are widely seen as the two best teams in that division.
Could they, however, with their respective managers, Marcelo Bielsa and Slaven Bilić, be able to compete in Belgium with the likes of Anderlecht and Club Brugge?
Before answering that, Ceballos, speaking to Walfoot, feels Jupiler Pro League clubs could do a job in the Championship.
He said: “Brugge, without a doubt. Did you see their game against Manchester United? They got a draw against one of the best teams in England. That shows their quality. Yes, for me, they would get promoted to the Premier League and even stay there.
“Would clubs in the Championship come to Belgium to win the title, for example? I don’t know. It’s hard, even if I think clubs like Leeds, Fulham, West Brom, Nottingham Forest or Blackburn would fight at the top of the JPL, yes”.
A ringing endorsement, in a way, for the Championship sides, as he feels the Elland Road and Hawthorns clubs have what it takes to battle for European spots in another league and even do a job in said European competitions, much like Club Brugge are doing these days.
It’s an interesting way of looking at things, even if it’s something we’ll never be able to find out unless Leeds and West Brom end up in the Premier League top six or win a cup to face a Belgian club in the future.
