When Leeds United first approached Diego Llorente to sign for them last summer, nobody needed to tell him they were more than just a recently promoted side ready to try their luck in the Premier League.
When he was a budding young centre-back growing up in the Spanish capital and dreaming of making it to Real Madrid’s academy, he saw how the Yorkshire side reached the 2001 European Cup semi-finals.
'They were an important club in the Champions League when I was growing up,' the 27-year-old says. 'I know they have not been playing at the highest level in recent years, but I was well aware of the club and the players that played for them.