Andoni Iraola says he was always committed to Rayo Vallecano despite being heavily linked with the managerial vacancy at Leeds United in February.
Iraola was one of the early frontrunners for the Leeds job after Jesse Marsch was relieved of his duties at Elland Road. However, Rayo blocked Leeds' approach, the Whites board and had to look elsewhere for a new manager.
His name partially remained in the running but Leeds ultimately settled on Javi Gracia after a long and arduous search for Marsch's successor.
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And several weeks later, Iraola has addressed the reports linking him to Leeds, and insists that despite being 'surprised' by the offer, he was always fully focused on his role at Rayo.
“When you are in a team, with a contract, with games ahead and your objectives, you are not thinking about other situations," Iraola revealed in an interview with Marca.
"It is something that surprises you, but it is something that we already talked about in its day and it did not last very long. From there, we continue working the same.”
“I don’t know if I will have that possibility [to manage in the Premier League]. Talking about the future is very complicated, but I do believe that this is where the money is. Sadly in football, the best players go where the money is.”
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