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Leeds star Mateusz Klich cries as he says an emotional farewell after five years at Elland Road with Jesse Marsch wearing a T-shirt of him smoking a cigar in tribute… as he nears a transfer to Wayne Rooney’s DC United in the MLS.
- Klich, 32, was given a guard of honor at Elland Road in a 2-2 draw with West Ham
- Teammates wore shirts with a photo of the midfielder smoking a cigar in 2020
- The Pole played in 92 games for Leeds before their promotion that same year.
- Klich went on to play in 68 of 76 Premier League games for Leeds since then.
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Leeds United and Polish international Mateusz Klich appeared to have said their last goodbyes to their teammates and managers ahead of their long-awaited move to MLS in the January transfer window.
The 32-year-old was even given a guard of honor following a 2-2 draw with relegation rivals West Ham United on Wednesday. After the game, Klich’s teammates and American manager Jesse Marsch wore T-shirts with a photo of the midfielder smoking a cigar following Leeds’ promotion to the Premier League in 2020.
Klich initially signed for Leeds in 2017, completing a $1.8m (£1.5m) move from FC Twente in the Netherlands. He played 92 consecutive games under former manager Marcelo Bielsa in the Championship and has featured in all but eight of Leeds’ 76 games in the England top flight between now and 2020.
Leeds’ Mateusz Klich’s team-mates applaud him off the pitch after coming close to moving to America
An emotional Klich reacts after completing a 2-2 draw with West Ham at Elland Road
Klich (left) has featured in all but eight of Leeds’ 76 Premier League games since 2020
However, with the emergence of captain Tyler Adams this season, the Pole’s minutes have been curtailed under Marsch and it is understood that DC United, managed by Wayne Rooney, offered him a three-year contract to make the moves abroad.
Klich’s current contract at Ellant Road expires in the summer of 2024.
“This was not a black and white decision,” Marsch said. the athletic after Wednesday’s draw at home. “These were many different discussions, and Klichy was presented with an opportunity that she thought was more lasting, providing stability for her family and a chance to provide something new.”
“He and I had discussions where we were often not sure what the final decision should be. Even then, I knew that at a time when we needed more courage on the field, Klichy was the right guy. That’s how he is, that’s how he lives life and plays football.’
Leeds manager Jesse Marsch wears a t-shirt to thank Mateusz Klich for his service to the club.
The farewell shirts worn by Klich’s teammates show the midfielder smoking a cigar after Leeds’ promotion to the Premier League in 2020
Leeds have yet to make the veteran midfielder official, but Klich’s emotional reaction at Wednesday’s final whistle suggested his move to the United States appears to be drawing to a close. Throughout his five years in England, Klich has made a total of 170 league appearances for the Whites.
This season, the Pole played 11 league games and has only come off the bench.
DC United boasts several European players in its squad, including former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, former Liverpool academy player Victor Pálsson and former Manchester United wunderkind Ravel Morrison, although the latter is believed to be on the move. of the capital of America.
DC United ended last season on a sour note, as the bottom seed in the Eastern Conference. The team has also missed the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in the past three seasons.
Aside from Twente and Leeds, Klich has played in Germany for Wolfsburg and Kaiserslautern, as well as PEC Zwolle in the Netherlands after breaking through at Polish club Krakow.