Raphinha: Leeds may axe star man v Man United as showdown talks mooted – Mills
Danny Mills has suggested Marcelo Bielsa may axe Raphinha from the Leeds United starting XI against Man United.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Whites and England defender claimed there may have been showdown talks between Bielsa and Raphinha after he was substituted at half-time in the 3-0 loss to Everton last weekend.
The winger was dragged off at the interval to make way for Tyler Roberts as Dan James was pushed out to the right-wing.
As quoted by Leeds Live after the game (13 February), Bielsa insisted the decision was purely tactical and there was no injury.
He revealed via the same outlet today (18 February) there were no fresh injury concerns ahead of the Man United game at Elland Road.
“Raphinha has been magnificent all season,” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“He’s a threat on that right-hand side and you need your best players to step up.
“He clearly wasn’t happy with being taken off. When you end up getting beat 3-0 and you’ve taken your best player off, I’m sure he’s got concerns and will have gone and spoken to Marcelo Bielsa.
“Whether he got the answers that he wanted, I’m not sure because we all know Marcelo Bielsa makes his own decisions.
“At least Raphinha can speak to him in Spanish whereas he still speaks to all the English players through an interpreter.
“It’s going to be an interesting one this weekend, we’ve seen Bielsa before leave players out, so that could happen.
“He hasn’t come out and named the team in the press conference.”
In other news, a medical guru fears Stuart Dallas may be out for an extended period after ‘massive’ Leeds United news.