Brighton & Hove Albion boss Graham Potter has revealed what former Leeds United loanee Ben White has told him about his successful Elland Road loan spell.
White is set to line up for the Seagulls against Leeds this weekend in his first visit back to the club after he helped them win promotion last season.
Leeds were keen to sign White on a permanent basis and reportedly had three bids for the central defender rejected, including one of £30million.
The 23-year-old - also linked with Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs, and Chelsea - ultimately ended up staying with Brighton, and signed a new contract with the Seagulls in September.
But his agent, Alex Levack, admitted his client had a "tinge of disappointment" that a full-time move to Leeds did not materialise.
Now White is preparing for Brighton's visit to Elland Road on Saturday (3pm).
"He has had a week where he has gone back to two of his old clubs (Newport County and Leeds)," said Potter, via SussexLive.
"He can be proud of his time at Leeds, he helped them, and they helped him.
"It was a perfect loan. He speaks highly of everything at Leeds United.
"He is very respectful of how they helped him and how they progressed his career.
"But he’s our player now and I am sure he will want to try and get the points against them."
Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa, meanwhile, said: "Ben White has shown he is a Premier League player.
"All of us here admire him as a player.
"We respect him and love him as a human being. He was an excellent professional, as well as a teammate.
"I hope his career allows him to grow because he deserves it."
