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Illan Meslier came to Leeds United for around £ 5 million as a relatively unknown, but the goalkeeper has just announced himself on the Premier League stage in great style.
The French goalkeeper made sensational saves to deny John Lundstram and George Baldock, prompting Leeds supporters to call him “magnificent Monsieur Meslier” and Blades players seemingly asking, “Who is this guy?”
BT Sport expert Robbie Savage described Meslier’s display as “one of the best I’ve seen in a long time from a young goalkeeper.”
“He made two absolutely world-class saves,” added the former Welsh midfielder.
Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa called Meslier a player with “character and qualities”, while his teammate Patrick Bamford warned his fellow Premier League strikers that he hopes the French Under-21 international will improve even more. .
“Every shot that saved his players was like, ‘Who is this guy?'” Bamford told BT Sport.
“He is a brilliant goalkeeper. The first time outsiders saw him was against Arsenal and then you saw how good he was. He is growing with every game and he deserves all the applause.”
While Meslier sent in seven goals in Leeds’ first two games after his return to the top flight, he barely made a misstep in those games and since his league debut on February 29, no goalkeeper has kept goal down. zero in the first four levels of England. football than the French.
Who is Meslier?
Meslier came on loan to Leeds last summer from French Lorient, with whom he played 30 times in the French second division during the 2018-19 season.
There was an option to buy the goalkeeper in that deal and his performances, both in last season’s showdown when Leeds won the championship and at the beginning of this period, are already enough to suggest that they have made a £ 5 million bargain.
He made his debut against Arsenal of the Premier League in the FA Cup third round last season and impressed with his distribution skills and a confidence beyond his years.
When first choice Kiko Casilla was suspended for eight games after being found guilty of racially abusing an opponent, Meslier stepped in and didn’t look back.
A popular and confident member of the Leeds squad, and blessed with all the attributes required of a goalkeeper in a team that builds from behind, he kept seven clean sheets in 10 games to help Bielsa’s team seal the promotion back to the league. Premier League.
| Name | Games played | Save | Save percentage |
| Illan Meslier | 13 | 30 | 73% |
| Kiko Casilla | 55 | 108 | 67% |
| Bailey Peacock-Farrell | 28 | 59 | 64% |
Even as a young player with a light body, there were those who wondered how he would fare under physical pressure in the top flight, and conceding seven goals in his first two games could have sapped his confidence.
But he put up his best showing to date to claim his first shutout in the top flight on Sunday, and he appears to have a bright future.
‘Magnifique Meslier’ – the social reaction
