Leeds United Midfielder Adryan: 'Flamengo Will Always Be in My Blood'

Leeds United midfielder Adryan is preparing to return to Brazil at the end of his season-long loan at Elland Road after revealing his "affection" for parent club Flamengo.

Adryan joined the Championship club until the end of the season in August with a view to a permanent deal but is yet to make an appearance for his new side this season.

The Brazil Under-20 international has been handed the number nine shirt at Leeds but has not yet had the chance to impress under new manager Darko Milanic, having been left out of the last league game against Sheffield Wednesday.

The 20-year-old admitted to Sky Sports: "It's impossible not to think about Flamengo. I have a lot of affection for the club. I can't think of playing for any other club in Brazil.

"I am a Flamengo player, so let's see what happens in the future. But Flamengo will always be in my blood."

Last month, Leeds' sporting director, Nicola Salerno, claimed Adryan's debut was being held up due to "bureaucratic details" still needing resolving but former midfielder Peter Lorimer believes the player is still adapting to the demands of English football.

"Football in Brazil has an established philosophy and a certain reputation but there's a danger in assuming that any Brazilian youngster is going to be dynamite," Lorimer told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"Adryan might be exactly that - It probably didn't help him that he joined Leeds in a period when the team were putting together a pretty decent run of results."

Adryan impressed in a recent win in the Premier League Under-21 cup to enhance his hopes of a first-team debut, scoring once in Leeds' 6-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers and the youngster could yet be involved in the trip to Rotherham United upon the resumption of the season on Friday 17 October.