Leeds United sold academy graduate Ronaldo Vieira unexpectedly in the summer of 2018, when Marcelo Bielsa arrived, but the choice has paid off.
The problem with being a promotion-chasing Championship side is that even if you want to be bold with acquisitions, you must balance them out with outgoings that can support it.
So, when Leeds appointed Marcelo Bielsa in 2018 under Andrea Radrizzani, his high salary necessitated a different approach in the transfer window, which included selling one or two first-team players.
Ronaldo Vieira sold to Sampdoria for £6.25 million.
Youngster Ronaldo Vieira, who has been a major presence in the middle of midfield since his debut, was the guy Bielsa was willing to let go.
He joined Italian side Sampdoria for a reported sum of £6.25 million, forcing Bielsa to rely exclusively on Kalvin Phillips at the basis of the midfield.
Phillips proved to be the better of the two, being the greatest midfielder in the Championship and eventually becoming an England regular under Gareth Southgate after promotion.
Ronaldo Vieira: Injuries are ruining ex-Leeds player’s career
A move to Serie A club Sampdoria has seen the midfielder’s career stagnate, but it’s not all his fault.
Injuries have been a major issue for the ex-Leeds player to deal with while in Italy, as Transfermarkt’s ‘Injury history’ tab for Vieira summarizes his long-term absences:
Over a year later, these five injuries still don’t capture the full picture of any modest setbacks, let alone the one he’s currently dealing with.
Vieira has not played for Radrizzani’s Sampdoria in Serie B since December 2023, due to an adductor issue.
His sale may have been premature at the time, but in terms of balancing the budget to guarantee we kept other key players for Bielsa’s promotion attempt, as well as how his career is progressing, it was a £6.25 million deal that worked out extremely well.
