Why it's okay to get excited about Leeds United's new Marcelo Bielsa hyped winger Raphinha

The signing of a young, quick, skilful Brazilian winger with top-flight experience in two different European countries justified the tension that surrounded his deal right up until its 10.30pm confirmation, half an hour before the deadline.

Then came the international break, when Bielsa doesn’t speak to the media, so it was 11 days after the deal to buy the player from Rennes was completed that we heard the Argentine’s reaction.

And in those 11 days, Raphinha managed to do what others have not, adapting in an ‘instant’ according to the head coach.

Anyone who followed Leeds in the Championship should have been conditioned to keep their expectations on new signings in check. It took Eddie Nketiah until November to sufficiently impress Bielsa that he decided to drop Patrick Bamford and start the Arsenal loanee, although an injury put paid to those plans.

Jean-Kevin Augustin came in during the January transfer window and never really got up to speed.

“It’s natural that the process of adaptation of a player is not going to be short,” said Bielsa last season.

“From our previous experiences we have had, always it’s a process that lasts more than one month.”

For Bielsa, who already has Helder Costa, Jack Harrison, Gjanni Alioski and Ian Poveda among his fully-versed-in-Bielsaball options, to be so enthusiastic about including Raphinha in his plans for a game that arrived just two weeks after the Brazilian did, did come as a somewhat of a surprise. A nice surprise. Who doesn’t want to see a new winger in action?

Against Wolves, with Leeds needing a goal, Bielsa did turn first to players more ingrained in his ways, sending on Poveda, then Pablo Hernandez.

With eight minutes to go Harrison, who looked dangerous early on but struggled to make an impact in a second half that brought just 20 touches and six final third passes, was withdrawn and Raphinha made his debut.

Eight minutes was enough for the 23-year-old to give a hint of what may come.

Eleven touches, three of which came in the opposition box, four crosses and four successful passes might not sound like much, but he was available, quick, direct and clever.

His first touch almost brought a goal, he linked up beautifully with fellow new boy Rodrigo on one occasion and popped up on both flanks to get involved.

The swiftness of his adaptation to Bielsaball and the way Robin Koch and Rodrigo have both made themselves right at home in the Leeds system and become starters in next to no time, is that the summer window has brought a high calibre of player to Elland Road and the quality they need to compete at their new level.

Raphinha’s challenge is to join his fellow new boys on the team-sheet and to do so he has to get ahead of two players by now fully acquainted and steeped in what Bielsa wants to do on the pitch.

From Bielsa’s words and his new winger’s actions, it is clear he has come to play and Harrison and Costa will have to live with a more intense competition for their places.