Jaka Bijol has experienced a difficult start to his career at Leeds.
The £15m arrival from Udinese was unable to feature in the first Premier League game, due to a suspension from a red card on the final day of the 2024/25 Serie A campaign which carried over.
Leeds earned a 1-0 win over Everton in that game with Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk at the back, and Daniel Farke then proceeded to leave Jaka Bijol on the bench for the next seven Premier League outings until finally handing him a debut in the 2-1 win against West Ham.
Matjaz Kek – manager of Slovenia – has now provided some insight regarding how the defender felt about being overlooked.
Matjaz Kek suggests Jaka Bijol was hugely frustrated by frequent Daniel Farke snubs
Speaking to Dnevnik ahead of another international break next week, the 64-year-old suggests that the Leeds No.15 was very unhappy during the last two international breaks, given his “reactions” within the Slovenia camp.
Kek said: “Some of Bijol’s reactions in four national team games in September and October showed how welcome playing time is at clubs. With the right thinking, which Jaka also showed, a lot can be compensated for
“He’s the best example of how you play for the national team when you lack playing time. I hope that Leeds’ latest defeat will not affect his status in the team. In the Slovenian national team, the best generations have never had ideal playing time.”
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Bijol did struggle against Brighton as three goals were shipped, and with Struijk now available for selection under Farke once again, a decision needs to be made on the Slovenian.
Daniel Farke also risks upsetting Pascal Struijk amid his international aspirations
Farke has a real headache when it comes to selecting a partner for Rodon.
Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Daniel Farke in conversation during Leeds United v Newcastle United - Premier League
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Bijol cost £15m and sounds like a player who becomes pretty miserable when out of the team.
However, Struijk is determined to feature for the Netherlands at the World Cup next summer, recently telling ELF Voetbal that he even scheduled his wedding so it does not clash with the tournament – having been left disappointed not to feature in 2022.
Therefore, unless Farke moves to a three-man central defence, it feels inevitable that one of Bijol or Struijk will be left disappointed.