[ad_pod ]
This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Underwhelming and frustrating are two words you could used to describe the past 18 months of Samu Saiz’s football career.
The 28-year-old’s performances in the White of Leeds throughout 2018/19 saw him register four assists before expressing his desire to leave over the winter months, eventually signing for Getafe on loan.
However, the Spaniard managed just two starts in La Liga before he returned to Elland Road with his loan club refusing to sign him permanently.
If anything summed up the last year and a half, that was it.
But, is there any way back for him?
On the chalkboard
Earlier this month, Football Insider revealed that the club had given Saiz until July 15 for him to find a new club.
Leeds had originally knocked back a loan approach for the player in June but with nothing materialising since, he is now set to return to first-team training.
In some ways, this could be a chance at redemption and a way of working himself back into the thoughts of Marcelo Bielsa.
That may be difficult, but with 16 members of the first team squad travelling to Australia, he could benefit from the increased focus put on those who have stayed behind.
Jack Clarke and Helder Costa are two of those to stay in Yorkshire, alongside both Mateusz Klich and Saiz.
With a split squad for the time being, this could be the ideal chance for the attacking midfielder to reintegrate himself back into the side.
After previously expressing a desire to leave, this may not be what a player described as ‘mentally finished’ wants.
Yet, for the good of not only Leeds but also his football career as a whole, he needs to get on with things.
Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below
A chance of revival with Getafe didn’t go according to plan and with that in mind, he now needs to improve his mentality.
In some cases, it was what was going inside their heads last season that let Leeds down and they simply cannot afford to carry a player like Saiz again.
However, if he gets increased focus and puts the work in over pre-season whilst one half of the squad are in Australia, he could reap the rewards, particularly as Bielsa stays behind.
In terms of his Leeds career, it really does feel like now or never.
