adminLeeds United attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte was surprisingly omitted from the squad for Friday’s clash with Nottingham Forest, despite having no injury concerns, as reported by Graham Smyth.
The Whites secured the Argentine’s services during the January transfer window, cutting short his loan spell at Chelsea to bring him to Elland Road until the end of the campaign. The move was seen as an effort by Daniel Farke to strengthen his squad in their fight to remain in the Premier League.
Yet the 21-year-old was nowhere to be seen in the matchday squad for the crucial meeting between two relegation-threatened sides, and the reason behind his absence has now come to light.
Buonanotte made his Leeds debut off the bench in the 1-1 draw against Everton, playing five minutes, before featuring again as a substitute in last weekend’s 4-0 loss to Arsenal.
However, with Daniel James and Lukas Nmecha returning from injury and available for selection, competition for places intensified. As a result, Buonanotte was excluded from the squad entirely due to what has been described as a “technical decision,” despite being fully fit.
Anton Stach missed the match through injury, prompting Noah Okafor to start alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brendan Aaronson in attack. Joel Piroe and Wilfried Gnonto were also named among the substitutes, further limiting room for Buonanotte.
Leeds had been keen to bolster their attacking options in January, although a proposed move for Jorgen Strand Larsen failed to materialise. Several other names were linked before the club ultimately turned back to Buonanotte, who had previously been a summer target before choosing Chelsea.
The decision to sign him last month raised eyebrows, particularly as Leeds have since shifted to a system featuring three centre-backs — a tactical setup that may not naturally suit him.
With key players returning to fitness and Buonanotte now struggling even to make the bench, concerns are beginning to surface. It raises the possibility that Leeds acted opportunistically when the chance to sign him re-emerged, rather than out of genuine necessity.
There is still a significant portion of the season remaining, offering the young midfielder time to make an impact. But for now, his situation casts doubt on both his role in the squad and the club’s recruitment strategy.
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