Was this a goodbye to the Leeds United fans, or simply an acknowledgement of their support throughout another Championship title winning campaign?
A farewell forever, or a brief see you later?
Only time will tell, of course. And that is not even a question Junior Firpo himself can answer right now, such is the uncertainty surrounding his future at Elland Road.
Speaking to the Spanish media ahead of Monday’s 4-0 trouncing of Bristol City, Firpo is fully aware that talks will be going on in the background, even if he is happy to leave those to his agent for the time being.
The ex-Barcelona ace is not hiding his interest in a return to La Liga either, with Real Betis keen to bring Firpo back to Andalusia.
So when the Leeds United left-back exited the stage late on during Monday’s promotion party – holding up his hands and waving to all four corners of Elland Road – was this the last the home support will see of him on their hallowed turf?
At least, if Firpo has made his final ever appearance at Elland Road, he will depart having achieved one of his key ambitions for the 2024/25 campaign. And we not even talking about the Championship title, or indeed promotion back to the Premier League.
No, something a little more personal.
Junior Firpo achieves his Leeds United ambition of 15 goals and assists
In that very same interview with Spanish daily Marca, Junior Firpo admitted he wanted to end the campaign with 15 goals and assists combined.
“I think it’s been an incredible season,” the £13 million signing from Barcelona explained. “And that’s despite [me] missing a third of the season. I was injured and suspended, and all that.
“I set a goal for myself before the season, which was 15 goal involvements. I think I’m at 14, having missed a third of the season.
“I think that’s pretty good.”
So as he made a trademark bursting run down the left-hand side before delivering a perfect cross into the feet of Largie Ramazani – the substitute firing in the first of a rapid-fire brace off the bench against The Robins – Junior Firpo could toast a job well done.
Another task ticked off his to-do list, and the chance to look back with pride at a season which could hardly have gone much better.
That was Firpo’s 10th assist of the Championship season. Add that to his five goals – and, yes, he is claiming that deflected effort in the 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers – and his pre-season target of 15 goals and assists has now been achieved.
Larry Nance Jr wants Firpo to stay as La Liga return beckons
Firpo’s contract expires at the end of June.
And while Daniel Farke admits contract extensions will be factored in to Leeds’ summer budget, no one appears quite certain at this stage what the end result of those talks will be even if shareholder Larry Nance Jr is desperate to see Junior Firpo make the step up to the Premier League stage.
By the full-back’s own admission, Firpo does have a point to prove in the top-flight.
“Of course, I am dying to be over there for the first match back in the Premier League,” Nance Jr smiles, a few days before he was spotted soaking up the pre-match atmosphere in The Peacock on the day Firpo took his tally of assists into double-figures.
“I will find my way over there. The biggest thing I am looking forward to is seeing how we stack up. It’s gonna be fantastic.
“But I am not looking forward to that [the most]. I want to see Dan James back in the Premier League. I want to see Junior Firpo doing his ‘[number] nine’ role from left-back in the Premier League.
“I can’t wait to see it. It is going to be where the majority of these fellas belong, honestly.”
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