Spanish midfielder declares a €11 million switch to Leeds United and grants his approval for the deal to be completed.
The Spanish midfielder departed Elland Road over the summer, the first of their big arrivals the previous year to take advantage of a clause in their deal to depart Leeds following their relegation from the Premier League.
Roca cost Leeds a fee of £10.9m when moving from Bayern Munich and the feeling in the first few months of his time in the Premier League were that the Whites had picked up a bargain.
But as the temperatures dropped through the winter months, Leeds began to struggle – and Roca’s effectiveness in the centre of the park also began to wilt.
Their demotion, after three years in the Premier League, was eventually confirmed on the final day of the season. But the truth of the matter was that Leeds, who had played under four different managers over the course of that ill-fated season, always looked like a team destined for the drop.
Few of their supporters would have been upset when Roca was the first to depart, the 26-year-old joining Betis on a season-long loan.
That arrangement has the option to become a permanent €11m (£9.6m) move next summer – though it’s reported that can only be taken advantage of if Leeds remain in the Championship.
As it stands, Leeds are currently third in the second tier and are the division’s form side having won six of their last seven matches.
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