Leeds United defender Junior Firpo has been handed an exciting opportunity by Dominican Republic coach Marcelo Neveleff, who visited him earlier this week.
According to a tweet from Selección Dominicana de Futbol, it was a “new national team prospect” which formed the core of their discussion.
Also visited by Neveleff was Pablo Rosario, who plays for OGC Nice in France.
Firpo is Dominican born but was raised in Spain, meaning he has the option to represent both internationally. In the case of the latter he already has, featuring for Spain at Under-21s level earlier in his career.
“The national coach Marcelo Neveleff met with Pablo Rosario in France and Júnior Firpo in England to tell them about the new national team project,” the tweet read.
“This Monday the DT arrived in Spain where he will visit several footballers who are active in that country.”
The 26-year-old has struggled at Leeds since arriving at Elland Road from Barcelona in the summer of 2021. It is only recently, after an injury to regular starter Pascal Struijk, that Firpo has been able to stake a claim on the left-back position.
He did this in some style against Southampton in a recent relegation clash – scoring his first Premier League goal to secure a vital 1-0 win for the Whites. So far, Firpo’s strike remains the only goal scored under new head coach Javi Gracia’s reign.
Firpo could face a tough test in stopping Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey when the Seagulls visit Elland Road on Saturday. The prospect of an international call up may just provide him with the extra boost he needs to rise to the challenge, and help his side pick up a crucial result in the process.
