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Matty Hewitt

Forgotten former Leeds United man on Whites learning experience and hails Marcelo Bielsa 'dreams'

Former Leeds United youngster Elia Caprile has lifted the lid on a tough learning experience at Elland Road. The former Whites youngster struggled to break into the first team having signed from Italian side Chievo back in 2020.

Marcelo Bielsa called the Italian up to the first team squad on a number of occasions but wouldn't hand him any appearances. Caprile had a season-long loan at Serie C side Pro Patria in 2020-21, establishing himself as the team's first-choice goalkeeper, keeping a total amount of 12 clean sheets in 39 appearances.

He joined Bari last summer and signed a three-year deal with the Serie B side, with Leeds reportedly having a sell-on fee included in any future transfer. Caprile has been a regular in Italy's U21s set-up this season and is attracting interest from elsewhere.

Read more: Javi Gracia delivers Jack Harrison verdict as Leeds United faith repaid after Marsch frustration

“Leeds was a learning experience on and off the pitch, trivially also for learning a new language,” Elia Caprille told FIGC. “There were great players in that team: from Raphinha to Phillips, and then Bielsa on the bench.

"Although the ‘Loco’ legend is around him, he is a top coach. He left me a lot on a personal level too: a real man, who spoke to us about football, but also about the history of a his miner friend, who looks down but never loses sight of the light.

"He spoke to us about what it meant for him to live away from home, from his family. And then he spoke to us about dreams.”

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