Leeds United might have been battling relegation for the past two seasons, but there is no doubt that Sporting Director Victor Orta has been one of the reasons for their rise in recent years, and ultimately their return to the Premier League. Formerly of the Sevilla recruitment department, he does feel the call of home though.
Speaking to Relevo, Orta admitted that he was keen to come back to Spain at some point, although he was not sure whether he wanted it to be as a Monchi’s replacement in the sporting director role.
“Being Monchi’s successor, in any team, I don’t know if it’s something I’m prepared for, but obviously at some point I want to return to Spain.”
“I feel very selfish. I want my son’s grandparents to spend more time with him, even though he has been there for a long time, there are cultural differences that I find difficult, the weather thing, which helps. You get here and it’s 20 degrees. My home is Spain and I will have to return. I don’t know what as, if at the club or doing other things, but in the medium term I want to return because I need it personally.”
Certainly Monchi’s stock in Seville has fallen. Sevilla’s struggles of late have brought his work sharply into focus. While it is still hard to picture, it is not beyond the realms of imagination that he might depart Sevilla at some point. Although in terms of Orta, he did mention the medium rather than the short term.
He did comment on his current work too, with out of contract Barcelona youngster Ilias Akhomach heavily linked with Leeds United, Milan and a series of others.
“He is a footballer whose contract ends, and there are many teams in the race to get his services. It’s going to be complicated. A player with so much talent, in such a special contractual situation, is going to be very difficult. We’ll see who gets him.”
“He is a decisive player, a Spanish talent, trained in Barcelona that puts you in another echelon. But I do not know. He has earned the ability to choose his next sporting step and the one he chooses will surely be good for him, for his family and for his camp, that will surely help him make the right choice.”
He bought more duds than decent players for Leeds