24-year-old now claims Marcelo Bielsa stopped him joining Leeds United for £35m in 2021

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Noa Lang has revealed how Marcelo Bielsa pulled the plug on Noa Lang’s move to Leeds United 2021 due to concerns over his defensive work rate.

After securing a ninth place finish in their first season back in the Premier League, Victor Orta made Lang one of Leeds’ top targets, spending much of the summer on his trail.

However, despite an intense period of speculation, Leeds’ move for Lang fell through with Bielsa instead targeting a move for long-term target Dan James on deadline day, who joined from Manchester United for £25 million.

And now speaking to the Pingelaars podcast over two years on from his failed move to Elland Road, Lang has revealed exactly why it never happened.

In an article back in 2021 from Phil Hay of the Athletic, it was said that Bielsa had major doubts over Lang’s work-rate off the ball, which is why a deal did not get over the line.

Lang could’ve shone at Leeds

Lang has confirmed exactly what Hay reported two years ago, stating that he was close to making the move to Leeds until Bielsa stepped in and said no.

He said: “The media wrote that I had agreed with AC Milan. But I was previously close to a switch to Leeds. Leeds wanted to buy me for 40 million euros from Club Brugges.

“In the end, the deal fell through and then I was really mentally exhausted. Marcelo Bielsa doubted how much work I could do without the ball.”

Lang could’ve really provided Leeds with that extra bit of quality they needed that summer having just come off the back of a superb season with Club Brugge.

Him and Raphinha on either wing would’ve been menacing for any full-back pairing in the Premier League, but at the same time, it is understandable why Bielsa said no.

Bielsa’s style was reliant on players being willing to work hard off the ball, and even two years on, there are still question marks around Lang’s work ethic.