Leeds United boss Daniel Farke admits he wanted to keep new Middlesbrough signing Luke Ayling at Elland Road this month, but had to respect the player's wishes to leave.
Conceding that the fire was still burning for Ayling, 32, and respecting everything he had done for Leeds United in his seven-and-a-half years at the club, Farke said ultimately Leeds acted with class in allowing the right-back the move he craved. He joined Boro on loan until the end of the season.
It comes as Ayling requested the move following frustrations with his lack of game time this season. Since the start of November, his only game time came in a 12-minute cameo against Peterborough in the FA Cup last weekend. Out of contract in the summer, it had already been decided that there would be no new contract either.
READ MORE: Luke Ayling explains the main inspiration behind his move from Leeds United to Middlesbrough
Explaining the decision to let him join Boro, Leeds boss Farke told our sister site Leeds Live: "With Luke it was a special situation, I spoke a lot about my public admiration for him and us as a group. You definitely want to keep a player like Luke Ayling. You want to have him as a human being in the group.
"He came to see us after the cup game. We talked with him. It was not the moment to think about it selfishly. We wanted to have him as a leader and as a full-back option. We listened to him. He has done so much for the club. We have done a lot for him. He has given so much back.
"He was the oldest player in the group and his contract runs out in the summer. He wanted more minutes and we couldn't guarantee him this and he asked if he could leave. It was not an easy decision. I have spoken about Luke as a player and a human being. If I had played him more in the starting XI in the last few weeks, he would probably have stayed.
"We handled the situation with class and style. Luke will always be a legend of the club. He will always be a Leeds United legend and a big member of this group. We had to think about the final steps of his career with his age. He wanted to get more minutes because the fire is still burning. We said we wanted to keep him, but because he is so professional and so loyal, he deserved to choose when you want to go."
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