Cody Drameh has no doubts about Marcelo Bielsa remaining at Leeds United as he cited the head coach’s work with Benjamin Mendy as a major lure to Elland Road.
The 18-year-old became the sixth acquisition of the summer by director of football Victor Orta on Thursday afternoon as his four-year contract was announced.
However, as with Jack Harrison and Joe Gelhardt’s post-signing interviews, the most telling detail to come from Drameh was his plan to work with Bielsa.
The Whites are yet to announce anything on the head coach’s future, although Drameh’s LUTV interview is the latest reassurance fans need on the Argentine’s status.
Manchester City full-back Mendy spent one year under Bielsa’s tutelage at Marseille and has regularly been on the record with his appreciation for what he learned during that time.
“He’s has managed a lot of big, big names, including Argentina’s national team,” Drameh said of Bielsa.
“The one I was very interested in was Benjamin Mendy, the way he transformed him and obviously I’m a full-back, so hopefully he can do the same thing to me as he did to Benjamin, I’m just very excited to work with him.”
Fulham agreed an undisclosed fee with United before Drameh then agreed terms, but as an England under-18 international he had options.
The right-back made it clear the quantity of debuts Bielsa has handed out in his two years at Elland Road was another big factor in coming north.
Bryce Hosannah has had a monopoly on the starting right-back berth with the under-23s for the last few years.
At 21, he may now be set for a loan spell away from Thorp Arch for the forthcoming season opening up the space for Drameh to play regularly in Premier League 2.
“As a player, I’ve got a great engine, a lot of stamina, I like to get up and down the pitch. I can defend well,” he said.
“I might need a bit of improvement in my attacking, but that’s what I’m here for under the coaching staff at Leeds to get better.”
