Leeds United were interested in signing Viktor Gyokeres when the Swedish striker was at Coventry City.
The Whites eventually passed up on the chance to move for the striker, who has gone on to become one of the best in Europe at Sporting.
Victor Orta was Leeds’ director of football when the club wanted Gyokeres. Now at Sevilla, the Spaniard has spoken about why he didn’t go through with a deal for the striker.
Orta has been a guest speaking to postgraduate students at the Liga Portugal Business School, and Record relayed comments from his talk.
“When I was at Leeds United I didn’t want to give €14m for him. Cases like that of Gyokeres are the good surprises that football gives us, those things that we cannot measure.”
In hindsight, missing out on the Swede was a big mistake for Leeds United, who ended up being relegated to the Championship.
Gyokeres has gone on to prove his doubters wrong, with Brighton & Hove Albion often criticised for letting him move to Coventry City in the first place.
The latter will be hoping a percentage kickback when the Sweden international inevitably leaves Sporting next summer.
