David Batty's agent and close friend Hayden Evans has lifted the lid on his Leeds United return. The defensive midfielder came through the youth set-up at Elland Road, making over 200 appearances in his first stint with the club.
The England international won the Football League Second Division, First Division and Charity Shield in his first stint at Elland Road, making him a firm fans' favourite. However, his time at his boyhood club was cut short in October 1993, with Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson needing funds to finance the rebuilding of his team.
The Leeds boss reluctantly accepted an offer of £2.75 million for Batty from Blackburn Rovers, who were managed by Kenny Dalglish. Batty would go on to win the Premier league with Rovers, before joining Newcastle United in 1996.
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He was part of Kevin Keegan's 'Entertainers' side that ran Manchester Untied close to the Premier League title. Evans says Batty enjoyed his time on Tyneside that much, only one club would tempt him away from St. James' Park.
Speaking to ChronicleLive, Evans said: "He loved it there at Newcastle. There was only club he would ever have left them for, really, and that was the chance to come back to Leeds. He really enjoyed his time up there."
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