Marcus Antonsson spent his football career in Sweden before he joined Leeds United on a three-year contract in 2016.
The forward made 21 appearances in all competitions in his debut season for the Whites and his last appearance for Leeds during the 2016/17 season came in January 2017. That term, he scored only one goal in 16 matches in the Championship.
Antonsson was allowed to spend the following season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, but on his return to Elland Road, the 29-year-old was made aware he has no future at the club.
Malmö FF took the Swede in 2018 and at the start of the last month, he joined Norwegian side Stabæk on loan until the end of the season. The attacker has now detailed why he struggled at Leeds United.
“My development at Leeds was stopped by injuries, I also had a good period at Blackburn until I was injured again,” Antonsson was quoted as saying by VG.
“You learn a lot, and it is useful to get out of Scandinavia and get yourself tested in England. You cannot decide on injuries, but I felt that I developed in England.
“We [Leeds] were without a coach when I left [to Rovers on loan]. The club changed owner and manager, and they wanted to make their own mark on the team. They wanted to take in their players, and did not want me to continue.”
Leeds sold Antonsson in July 2018 and a month before his exit from the English club, they appointed Marcelo Bielsa as their manager. The player was not included in the Argentine’s plans, which is why he was asked to leave.
The former Rovers loanee expressed his disappointment at not being able to showcase his abilities under Bielsa.
“Bielsa came right after I had left, and it was a bit awkward that I did not get the chance to show myself in front of him. You do not know, maybe he’d have thought I was very good. But you cannot look back, I focus on what is happening here and now,” he explained.
