When Leeds United added 10 new players in the summer window, there were legitimate questions about who would be in the first team this season. The Whites brought in a new goalkeeper, added some depth in defence and got some quality in attack.
Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk were a formidable partnership in the Championship, leading their club to one of the best defensive records in the division. So when Leeds added Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw in the summer, nobody really knew what to expect.
Pascal Struijk wanted Leeds United exit in the summer
It has now emerged that in the summer, Struijk got offers to leave Leeds United. But he claims the moves never materialized:
“I had some options to leave, but that didn’t happen,” he said to ESPN Netherlands.
“That had to do with several parties. From my side, there was something I would have liked to do.
“But the three parties: me, the club, and the other club, all had to reach an agreement in the end.
“If that doesn’t happen, then I simply have a contract and I’ll do my job.”
The defender then spoke about his former teammate Raphinha and how he looks forward to playing for a ‘bigger’ club later in his career.
“There’s no escaping it. I always see him on my social media. I enjoy sending him a message every now and then,” he said.
“That’s the career path everyone dreams of, and something I look up to. He had a fantastic season at Leeds, and after that, the top clubs were queuing up for him.
“At Barça, he had to get used to it, but after that, he showed what quality he has.
“You could see that from his first training session at Leeds.”
Fans will not like his comments
Struijk is very bold to be making such comments in an interview at this point of the season. He is far from the best defender at Leeds United; whichever defensive partnership he has found himself in, he has not been the main man. And even this season, Jaka Bijol has come in and performed better.
The only reason he has a spot in the first team is because Daniel Farke is not a big fan of Sebastiaan Bornauw. Aside that, saying that your career path should lead you to a ‘bigger’ club will only incense your current fanbase. The defender’s contract is up in 2027, and with the way he is speaking, his future at Elland Road will not last.
