Leeds United-linked midfielder Marc Roca may not have made much game time at Bayern Munich but that has not stopped manager Julien Naglesmann from praising him. The Whites have reportedly earmarked Roca as a priority midfield signing as they look to complete their third incoming of the window.
Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen have already arrived from Red Bull Salzburg and Roca is thought to be next on the list as Leeds look to get to work on their squad early. The 25-year-old has made just 24 appearances during his two-year spell at the Allianz Arena, including only six Bundesliga starts.
But Roca has been fighting for a place against two of the best midfielders in world football, with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka currently Bayern’s first choice pairing. But that did not stop Bayern boss Naglesmann from heaping the praise on Roca in one of his few league starts for the club.
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He started alongside attacking duo Thomas Muller and Jamal Musiala as a single defensive pivot in midfield, with both Kimmich and Goretzka absent. And after their 5-0 victory away from home, Naglesmann singled Roca’s performance out for special acclaim.
He said: “I praised him in the dressing room after the game. I don’t usually praise individual players in front of the others but today he deserved it.
“We know he’s a good footballer, but the way he fought and gave everything was impressive. I love the kind of players who prove the coach wrong and show him it was a mistake not to play them often. He did extremely well today.”
