In the long and colourful history of Leeds United, it is unlikely that the name Oriol Rey will be remembered for long, if at all.
The midfielder joined Leeds on a free transfer from Barcelona’s Juvenil A back in 2017 and would spend the next two years at Elland Road before a move to Valladolid in 2019.
He failed to make a single first team appearance for Leeds in that time, nor did he feature for any of their youth teams either, but it seems, doesn’t look back on his time at the club with anything but happiness, at least according to his latest comments to AS.
The midfielder has been speaking to the newspaper about his career so far, which, after leaving Leeds in 2019 has taken him to Valladolid, then CD Mirandés and now Levante, who he joined on a free transfer in the summer.
He’s getting the regular football he’s long been looking for at the Spanish club, featuring in all of their seven league games this season as well as featuring in all of the available minutes.
That was something that wasn’t on offer at Leeds, or indeed elsewhere, but he’s not looking back negatively in the slightest.
“Going to Leeds, being in Valladolid and especially the time at Miranda has helped me a lot to improve in defensive aspects and become a more complete player,” he said.
“I still have a lot left, it’s clear, but I already told you that it’s something basic: first defend and then try to bring out each one’s brilliance in attack.
“During my time in England, they helped me a lot, especially Carlos Corberán, who was the coach I had there, and Víctor Orta, who was the one who opted for me to be to England.
“Going through that football helped me a lot, honestly, especially on a physical level. It is a very hard-working League, that is noticeable and has favoured me in my process.”
