Victor Orta actually wanted to sign ‘special’ Leeds United player for Sevilla in January

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Victor Orta has not enjoyed the best of times at Sevilla following his exit from Leeds United in May 2023.

Orta was sacked from his role as sporting director at Elland Road following a series of poor decisions on player recruitment and managerial appointments, but was able to land a big job in Europe just a matter of weeks later.

And while Orta is liked by so many who crossed paths with him during his time at Leeds, he is enduring an equally difficult time of it at Sevilla, who sit a very disappointing 15th in La Liga.

Sevilla are already onto their third manager of the season under Orta and despite their struggles, that did not stop them from handing him the freedom to sign players in January.

And according to Estadio Deportivo, one of the players he tried to sign was Leeds’ Wilfried Gnonto, someone who he actually brought to West Yorkshire in his final summer transfer window.

Orta wanted Gnonto at Sevilla

Daniel Farke and Leeds were firm in their stance throughout the whole of the transfer window that no first team players would be sold, and that is the way it went.

Gnonto actually endured a tough first half of the season at Leeds as he suffered from somewhat of a hangover from his summer antics, as well as the form of others in his position.

However, Farke has always maintained full belief in Gnonto and that backing has paid dividends over the last month, with the ‘special’ 20-year-old having scored five goals across all competitions.

Gnonto is also in line for a new contract at Leeds and his return to form has been a huge boost to the Whites, who have now won eight Championship matches in a row.

Looking back, thankfully Leeds were able to hold firm despite Orta’s advances as Gnonto looks set to play a key role in the push for automatic promotion back to the Premier League.