Victor Orta is a chastised figure among Leeds United fans for many reasons but one thing he did get right at Elland Road was buying players with huge potential young, on the cheap.
The Spaniard was a one-man band when it came to making transfers at Elland Road. A dictator-like figure that controlled everything when it came to transfers in and out, and of course hiring and firing managers.
One of the managers he was praised for helping hire was Marcelo Bielsa, but then of course ruined that decision by firing him. He bought well initially, but 2022 onwards it went pear-shaped for Orta at Leeds.
He hired Jesse Marsch and it is needless to say how that went for the American. The signings made in the Marsch era have all struggled and the inclusion of relegation loan clauses has stung Leeds, even now.
Mateusz Bogusz starts up top with Lewandowski for Poland
But one thing Orta got right throughout his time at Leeds was buying young gems on the cheap, and using the Thorp Arch academy to maximise their potential. In the current Leeds side, there are examples.
Pascal Struijk, Mateo Joseph, Wilfried Gnonto and Illan Meslier are all key Leeds players now. Crysencio Summerville was another example, before he was sold to West Ham in a move that could cost £34m.
Another youngster Orta bought during his time at Leeds was Mateusz Bogusz. The young Pole always had massive potential but never made it at Leeds. On Sunday, he started up top with Robert Lewandowski.
How Bogusz went from Leeds exit to Lewandowski partner
It has been a whirlwind 18 months for Bogusz. Making three senior Leeds outings, he went on loan three times to Spain’s second tier, two of which were at Ibiza. The first saw him suffer a devastating ACL injury.
The second caught the eye of MLS side LAFC, and he joined the US side permanently in March 2023. His first season was mediocre, scoring four and creating eight goals in 42 games for the newly-formed club.
But this season, he has 17 goals and seven assists in 32. It has earned Bogusz a call-up to Poland’s senior squad for the first time and on Sunday, he started alongside Barcelona’s Lewandowski against Croatia.
A 1-0 defeat in the Nations League clash but a massive moment for Bogusz, earning his first Poland cap just 18 months after leaving Leeds. Bogusz has also been linked with a move to Celtic, for possibly £8m.
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