Leeds: Bielsa exit 'a sigh of relief' for £36m Elland Road star

Leeds United’s decision to sack former manager Marcelo Bielsa will have been a ‘sigh of relief’ for star forward Raphinha, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The 25-year-old has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting attacking talents over the last 18 months, but things had started to turn sour in recent weeks.

Raphinha – who is valued at £36m by Transfermarkt – arrived at Leeds from Ligue 1 outfit Rennes in the summer of 2020 after they ended their 16-year exile from the top-flight of English football.

The Brazil international got off to a slow start at Elland Road, scoring just one goal in his opening eight league games but soon settled into life under Bielsa as the season wore on.

A further five goals and nine assists followed in Raphinha’s remaining 22 Premier League appearances of 2020/21 as Leeds finished in an impressive ninth position.

And the South American sensation has proved his eye-catching form was no flash in the pan by racking up 11 goal contributions across 24 league outings in the current campaign.

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However, despite Raphinha being able to replicate his exploits of last season, Leeds have fallen well short and are currently hovering just two points and two places above the relegation zone.

A fourth consecutive defeat last time out at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur saw Bielsa relieved of his duties, with former RB Leipzig manager Jesse Marsch already named as his successor.

Even though Raphinha has been Leeds’s most potent attacking force by a considerable distance throughout 2021/22, Bielsa hauled him off at half-time in the recent loss to Everton before starting him on the bench for the visit of