Marc Roca has posted on Instagram after completing a loan exit from Leeds United to join Real Betis, who have a permanent option in the temporary deal – and his message to Leeds fans surely suggests he is leaving next summer.
Roca, 26, leaves Leeds after just 12 months at Elland Road. He was signed by Bayern Munich in the summer of 2020 from Espanyol, leaving Spain for the first time. But just 24 outings in two years saw Leeds swoop for the midfielder.
However, he struggled. After a brief, sparkling start in midfield with Tyler Adams, Roca’s weaknesses began to step out from the shadows. An inability to cope with intensity of the Premier League. Jesse Marsch protected him a bit.
Indeed, Marsch would always take Roca after an hour – while Adams would see out games. He knew £10m man Roca could not maintain the quality he is capable of for the entirety of the game. He was dropped by Sam Allardyce.
Now, Roca has completed a loan-to-buy deal from Leeds to return to Spain with Betis. A move that sees him go on loan, but with a permanent option included. He took to Instagram following Monday’s confirmation of his loan exit.
Roca message surely suggests he is leaving permanently next summer
That is not the kind of message you post, if you are just leaving temporarily. For a season. Rasmus Kristensen is not an avid user of social media, but he has not done so. Brenden Aaronson hasn’t sent a big touching message to fans.
Robin Koch did. But the German will leave Leeds on a free next summer. For Roca, he has a contract at Leeds until the summer of 2026 and if Betis opt not to sign him permanently next summer, which is possible, he could return.
So it is interesting that the Spanish midfielder has decided to do such a hefty tribute to the club and it’s fans when he might end up back at Leeds in a year. Maybe he knows something we don’t. A hint maybe, he will leave in 2024.
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