Largie Ramazani did not know it, but the Belgian was about to board one of the most tracked jets in the world as Leeds United fans followed every step of his journey from Almeria to Yorkshire last week. You already get the sense that the new arrival is the tonic supporters need following a bruising summer.
Just ask those who have worked with him. Ex-Almeria team-mate Cesar de la Hoz told Leeds Live that Ramazani is an ‘electric player’ while former Manchester United under-23 boss Neil Wood went as far to say that the rapid forward can ‘ignite Leeds again’ following the loss of a number of star players in recent weeks.
“Largie is one of those footballers that gets you off your seat and excites you,” Wood told Leeds Live. “He really brings the crowd alive.”
Almeria fans can tell you that. Leeds will want more consistency from a player who has shown on multiple occasions that he can step up against the mighty Real Madrid, but Ramazani had nine goal involvements last season in all competitions for Almeria – more than twice his return of the previous campaign. The 23-year-old also created an average of one-and-a-half chances per game in La Liga for a struggling side who did not exactly dominate possession. So what can Leeds expect?
“He’s sharp,” Wood said. “He has a low centre of gravity but he has a determination where he’s not going to get pushed off the ball easily.
“He’s very good in one v one situations and going to Spain, his game has improved. He’s creating more. He can score off both feet and it wasn’t long ago he was scoring at the Bernabeu so he has produced on the biggest stage.”
Away from the pitch, Wood recalled the coachable Ramazani being a ‘really likeable’ and ‘very humble’ character who was determined to get better. In fact, when Ramazani came up for his first pre-season with Manchester United’s under-23s. the forward was tellingly rated as the hardest worker in the group after ‘lighting up every session’.
Wood, who came up against Leeds as manager of Salford City last season, said the environment and set-up at Elland Road ‘can only take him to the next level’ given Ramazani’s thirst to get better and his desire to take the Whites back to the Premier League.
“When he’s training at the top of his game, he’s really effective,” Wood explained. “He brings people with him. He improves the training. That’s what I’m hoping he will bring to Leeds.
“He’s an infectious character. He will quickly find it easy to settle into new surroundings with new team-mates. They will enjoy being around him with that positivity and energy he brings every day.
“When he’s in a good space and training well and playing well, he’s confident and that’s the key – keeping him confident. Keep talking to him and let him know you care and want him to be the best. When you can do that with Largie, you’re going to see the best of him. He’s an exciting player.”
Ramazani won’t only bring those qualities to Elland Road. While Leeds will want to reduce Ramazani’s card count, following two reds and 10 bookings last season, this is a player who won’t be scared by the physicality of the Championship. The 23-year-old has promotion experience from his time in Spain and can also settle in quickly back in the UK following previous spells at Manchester United and Charlton Athletic.
In fact, Ramazani would never have moved to Almeria in the first place if Manchester United got their way. Wood remembered how Ramazani, who had only made his first-team debut a few months earlier, boldly turned down a new deal at Manchester United ‘when we wanted to keep him’ in order to move to Spain in 2020.
“Largie was driven,” he added. “He wanted to prove himself and show what he could do – and he did.”
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