Rayo Vallecano’s sports director David Cobeno told AS that he is hoping Andoni Iraola would stay in Spain rather than go to the Premier League
Despite Leeds United’s ‘interest,’ Rayo Vallecano’s sports director David Cobeno told AS that he is hoping Andoni Iraola would stay in Spain rather than go to the Premier League.
Time is not on Leeds’ side as they try to replace their manager before next Saturday’s pivotal match against relegation rivals Everton at Goodison Park.
On Friday, Arne Slot announced that he will be remaining at Feyenoord. Carlos Corberan’s deal with West Brom is still being finalized.
And even if Iraola could be tempted by the opportunity to work under his former mentor Marcelo Bielsa, he won’t try to push his way out of Rayo while the club has a legitimate shot at making the Champions League.
Iraola has assembled an excellent squad that can play an “amazing style of football” while playing on a very tight budget, which has helped Rayo rise to the sixth spot in La Liga. His current term is set to expire this summer, but as Cobeno notes, negotiating a new one is a top priority.
“It is the main objective,” the director adds. “We are super happy with him and he with the club; the fans, the atmosphere. Let’s hope that this makes him stay for another season. We will have a difficult task because many teams will (target him) in summer.”
According to Marca, Leeds was ready to pay the £8 million release clause in Iraola’s contract, making him the fourth-most expensive managerial job in Premier League history. Leeds may now turn to the unemployed Alfred Schreuder after his admittedly-acrimonious exit from Ajax, but former Spain international has remained committed to the Rayo cause.
