Plenty of Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media, after The Athletic’s Phil Hay discussed Salim Lamrani’s departure from Elland Road.
Lamrani was Marcelo Bielsa’s translator last season having moved to West Yorkshire alongside the Argentine ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, but unlike the boss, did not continue into a second term at the club.
Bielsa continues to use the services of a translator to get his message across to the players and media alike, with one of his assistants Diego Flores now serving as the Argentine’s right-hand man whenever needed.
The boss does not want any misunderstandings to occur when discussing his tactical instructions or his reasoning’s behind key decisions, and prefers to speak in Spanish whenever going into real detail.
Should Bielsa still require a translator?
Yes, if he wants one
No, he shouldn't
But Hay has now revealed that it was the relationship shared between Lamrani and Bielsa that led to the former’s departure.
Speaking during a Q&A session for The Athletic, Hay was asked whether he could do an in-depth piece on Lamrani as Bielsa’s former translator was a well-liked figure at Elland Road.
Hay, though, noted in response: “I’ve contacted him, but he wasn’t willing to speak. It went a bit sour between him and Bielsa last season, which is why he left.”
Lamrani had been a long-time colleague of Bielsa and was lauded as the most overqualified man in Ligue 1 during their time together at LOSC Lille.
He was lauded so highly as he was much more than just a translator, as Lamrani was also a ‘specialist in relations between Cuba and the United States’, had written many works on the subject and left a role as a lecturer at the University of La Reunion to work with Bielsa.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Hay’s note toward the reasons why Lamrani left Elland Road…
Forget the Che Adams deal, this is by far the worst #lufc news in a while.
Salim and Bielsa fell out 😢 pic.twitter.com/eWRfM1ioq9
— Tom Banks (@tombanksUK) January 14, 2020
My heart is broken
— Camiloooooo (@CAlcapia) January 14, 2020
This makes me sad
— Ross D (@news_leeds) January 14, 2020
That’s a shame as I really liked him far better than the current fella
— MaxFlash67 (@maxrgreen) January 14, 2020
Were there not rumours Salim got a bit above his station and started acting like a coach?
— Bobby (@bobby_wilson1) January 14, 2020
How can you fall out with an interpreter?! Strange.
— WeAllLoveLeeds (@AllLoveLeeds) January 14, 2020
😢😢😢😢😢
— me-mo (@TBEM80) January 14, 2020
Is it because he went and had xmas dinner with Dallas
— Liam (@liamhall86) January 14, 2020
In other Leeds United news, the club have reportedly lodged a bid to steal a 5 ft 5 talent away from an interested side already in talks with his agent.