Austria manager Ralf Rangnick has backed Max Wober’s decision to leave Leeds United.
Rangnick was speaking in an interview with Laola1, where he offered his thoughts on Wober’s move to Borussia Monchengladbach, who he joined on a season-long-loan on Monday.
Leeds had been keen to keep Wober at Elland Road this season with San Francisco 49ers Enterprises having identified him as a player they wanted to build a side around.
Wober had also informed Leeds of his desire to stick around and fight for promotion, though that quickly changed when Monchengladbach came knocking last month.
Instead, the 25-year-old became Leeds’ sixth loan exit of the summer, following on from Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, Brenden Aaronson, Marc Roca and Rasmus Kristensen.
Rangnick says Wober was right to leave Leeds
Writing in a message to Leeds supporters on Instagram, Wober confirmed next summer’s European Championships played a key role in his decision to move on this summer.
Former Manchester United boss Rangnick is Wober’s manager at international level with Austria, and he feels he has made the right decision in moving to the Bundesliga.
He said: “Leeds wanted to keep him and return to the Premier League with him, but he decided to move to Gladbach. I was in contact with the boys [Wober and Marcel Sabitzer] and sometimes one or the other club asked me. I think it’s a good thing for both of them. I see good chances for both of them to play there.”
Obviously it is clear Wober was concerned about what playing in the Championship would do for his international chances, though Austria are hardly an elite nation.
Rangnick has evidently had a part to play in Wober making the decision he has and unfortunately supporters will never know what was said in that conversation.
However, following the noises earlier in the summer surrounding his future it is impossible to ever see a way back for Wober at Leeds.
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