In a week in which Raphinha moved ever closer to his first-ever 30 goal season in the red and blue of Barcelona, another attacking who once called Leeds United home ‘humiliated’ the great Sergio Ramos.
Now, if the Leeds United faithful could pick any player from their recent past and bring him back to Elland Road, Raphinha would surely be the most common answer.
The heart may sing for Kalvin Phillips – Leeds reportedly have a verbal agreement with the Manchester City misfit ahead of the summer window, by the way – but Raphinha’s sensational performances up front of Barcelona mean he is possibly the first to reach the levels of ‘world-class’ post-Elland Road since arguably Rio Ferdinand in 2002.
Thierry Henry believes the former Leeds talisman is a Ballon D’Or fruntrunner. With 27 for the season, Raphinha has now equalled Ronaldo in Barcelona colours.
Yet, with Brenden Aaronson’s poor form since the turn of the year only strengthening the desire for a new number ten at Elland Road, there is another ex-Leeds youngster who would come in very handy these days in Daniel Farke’s roster.
Photo by Sergio Mejia/Getty Images
Photo by Sergio Mejia/Getty Images
Former Leeds United prospect is embarrassing Sergio Ramos in Mexico these days
Mateusz Bogusz did not make the same lasting impact as Raphinha did in West Yorkshire. Barcelona, the Champions League, and Ballon D’Or shouts are a long old way off at this stage too.
But after Bogusz swapped Los Angeles FC for Mexican outfit Azul Azul to the tune of a cool £8 million, the Poland international is starting to showcase the ‘exceptional talent’ which encouraged Marcelo Bielsa to promote him from the academy to Leeds first team a few years back.
Still only 23, Bogusz started slowly in Mexico. A wonderful free-kick in Cruz Azul’s 1-1 draw with Mazatlan FC at the beginning of March felt like a lighting of the fuse moment, however, for a footballer with dynamite qualities and an explosive shot.
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And while Sergio Ramos may no longer be the same defensive colossus of old – the Real Madrid legend is 38 these days – Bogusz joined a very exclusive group of forwards who can claim to have left a man with four Champions League winners medals looking bemused and bamboozled.
“Mateusz Bogusz is having fun in the new league,” Polish publication Sport write. “He humiliated Sergio Ramos!”
The manner of that ‘humiliation’ came in the form of a nutmeg. A brave man indeed to even try such a move against this grizzly, blood-thirsty bear of a central defender. A talented man, too, was required to pull it off with such an effortless elegance.
“One of those that hurts!,” Fox Sports say, a player sold by Leeds for less than £1 million in 2023 drawing audible gasps from the crowd. “Sergio Ramos was the victim of a brutal nutmeg by Mateusz Bogusz.
“The Spanish footballer stood still with a look of disgust. He didn’t see that coming.”
Mateusz Bogusz follows stunning free-kick with quality Cruz Azul assist
The former Sevilla, Paris Saint-Germain and Spain giant opened the scoring on the night – his Monterrey outfit ahead against Cruz Azul inside just 12 minutes – but Bogusz would have the last laugh.
Not content with showing the old man a clean set of heels, Bogusz when assisted Ignacio Rivero’s equaliser with a sumptuous cross from the left-hand flank.
“An exceptional talent,” reporter Jorge Cuevas writes in La Maquina Celeste.
“Bogusz is a footballer with an innate talent. His technique is exquisite, his vision is privileged and his ability to dribble is astonishing. He is a player who can do things that others cannot. A player who makes the difference on the pitch.
“Bogusz is the driving force of Cruz Azul. His presence on the field gives dynamism to the team, creates space for his teammates and generates constant danger in the rival area.
“He is a player who makes the difference, who can change the course of a match with a single play. With time and experience, he can become one of the best players in Mexico.”