Rarely has the strength in depth at Daniel Farke’s disposal been more apparent than during Leeds United’s 4-0 thrashing of Oxford United at Elland Road.
Because while Farke’s XI contained a handful of players who would stroll into most other XIs without breaking sweat, the quality in reserve was something most Championship managers could only conjure upon in their wildest of dreams.
As a Manor Solomon-inspired Leeds cruised to victory over Oxford, Daniel Farke had the luxury of bringing on Italy international Wilfried Gnonto. Also introduced was Joshua Guilovogui, a former VFL Wolfsburg captain with over 150 Bundesliga appearances on his CV.
Largie Ramazani, meanwhile, scored against Real Madrid in one La Liga outing across 2023/24 and notched a hat-trick of assists against Granada in another. Arriving in a deal which could set Leeds United back around £9 million, the Manchester United academy graduate would be an undisputed starter for probably 90 per cent of the clubs at this level.
But not at Leeds. Not with Solomon, Gnonto and Dan James also fighting for a spot on the wings.
Leeds United and Almeria both benefitted from Largie Ramazani deal
Ramazani jumped ship from Almeria following their relegation from Spain’s top flight in May.
And well-travelled head coach Rubi wondered, at the time, just how on earth he would cope without a player who became a bright spark in an otherwise dark season.
“We don’t have a winger like Ramazani,” Rubi told Diario de Almeria shortly after the former Belgium youth star made his way back to England.
“It’s true that he’s a player who can make mistakes in his decision making, but we don’t have players with that spark and electricity in the squad.”
“In the medium term, if we don’t get a replacement, we’re looking to train a player from the reserve team or the youth team who can make the jump. But the idea is to look for a player with that profile on the market in time.”
Rubi’s fears, it seems, were perhaps a little unfounded.
Almeria opted to bring in a new face rather than promote from within, signing Nico Melamed from Espanyol. With four goals and three assists in the left-sided role that Ramazani once made his own in Andalusia, Leeds’ number 17 has not been missed quite as dramatically as first feared.
Rubi’s team have accumulated 39 points by the season’s halfway mark. Enough to ensure they will go into 2025 at the top of the Segunda table, and very well-placed to secure an immediate return to La Liga even after losing the player who was supposed light the fuse of their promotion charge.
CEO Mohamed El Assy, meanwhile, argues that the profits secured via the sales of such former luminaries as Ramazani, Umar Sadiq, Samu Costa and Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez actually aided Almeria long-term, even if the departure of such quality cost them their La Liga status, albeit probably only briefly.
Ramazani sale boosted La Liga-chasing Almeria’s finances
“Sadiq is like my little brother. Not only him, but Darwin Nunez, Largie Ramazani or Samu Costa. They are all children of this project and have a great relationship with the club and with all the members of Almeria,” El Assy tells Diario AS.
“If we had not sold these boys, this project would never have been able to continue until now with the renovation of the stadium or the sports city [training complex], which is very close [to being completed].
“This will always be their home for all of them and, when they need sporting help, we will open the doors to them.”
Back in Yorkshire, Ramazani will be hoping to make his first start since suffering an injury in October sa Leeds United travel to Derby County on Sunday.
Daniel Farke knows that rotation will be required over the festive period, meaning a return to the XI is likely for player who, off the bench at Oxford, offered a reminder as to the searing pace and the crash-and-bang chaos he brings to proceedings.
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