Leeds star Facundo Buonanotte was handed his full debut against Birmingham City in the FA Cup on Sunday, but journalist Graham Smyth has suggested that he wasn't 'up to the level'.
Buonanotte was signed in the January transfer window, seemingly out of nowhere, as the Argentine's loan spell with Chelsea was cut short. The 21-year-old had spent the first half of the season on loan at Stamford Bridge from Brighton, but he struggled to make an impact before he was sent to Elland Road for the second half of the campaign.
Bounanotte has been given just a handful of opportunities at Leeds since joining the club, playing a total of 26 Premier League minutes, but Daniel Farke gave him a chance from the start against Birmingham.
Debut to Forget for Buonanotte
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Reporting after Leeds scraped through to the next round of the FA Cup on penalties, journalist Smyth provided his player ratings for Farke's side. Buonanotte, who was handed his full debut, was given the lower rating, receiving a 2/10, with his performance described as a 'debut to forget'.
"A full debut to forget. Gave the ball away often, struggled in duels, didn't look up to the level of Birmingham's physicality. In his defence it was a much-changed team. But still..."
It's been an incredibly difficult season for Buonanotte, who found things tricky at Stamford Bridge in the first half of the season. The Argentine played just 45 minutes in the Premier League for Chelsea, and he'll be desperate to turn things around at Elland Road.
It's not been a perfect start to life at Leeds either, and he'll be hoping Farke gives him more opportunities to impress after his disappointing full debut in the FA Cup.
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Leeds Resurgence Feels Unlikely
Facundo Buonanotte
Considering Buonanotte was an unused substitute last time out in the Premier League and couldn't even make the bench the weekend before, it's not looking good in terms of a resurgence of his career at Leeds. The Brighton loanee was hooked at half-time against Birmingham, and he's going to have to seriously impress in training to be given many more opportunities.
Leeds bringing him in during the January transfer window seemed like a low-risk squad addition, giving them an extra option if they were in desperate need, rather than a signing that's going to have a huge impact on Farke's squad.