Reading FC got the best out of Leeds United flop: View | OneFootball

Mo Barrow was far more successful with Reading than with Leeds United

Reading's recent past has been overshadowed by the failed ownership of Dai Yongge, whose mismanagement has witnessed the Royals facing financial uncertainty.

Yongge's lack of financial savviness saw the Royals relegated to League One thanks to a six-point deduction in 2023, at the end of a season which fans would rather forget.

But throughout tough times, supporters of the Berkshire outfit will have been able to look more fondly upon their club's more successful past, such as achieving promotion to the Premier League in 2012.

The Royals immediately returned to the Championship in 2013, after managing to earn just 28 points in the top-flight, but the 2012/13 campaign will always live long in the memories of the Reading faithful, who are more accustomed to seeing the club plying their trade in the Football League.

The Royals have not re-visited the Premier League since 2013, but came close in 2017, when they reached the Championship play-off final following a 2016/17 campaign in which the club finished third in the second tier, courtesy of Jaap Stam's successful management.

However, the former Manchester United man would see his side fall to a heartbreaking defeat at the final hurdle, as the Berkshire side lost on penalties to Huddersfield Town at Wembley.

The Royals would then endure a more difficult 2017/18 campaign, as they finished just 20th in the Championship table, but one shining light in the team was Mo Barrow.

Royals saw the best of Leeds United flop

Barrow first experienced English football when he signed for Swansea City on loan from Swedish Allsvenskan outfit Ostersunds, in the summer of 2014.

The wideman went on to join the Swans, then of the Premier League, on a permanent basis by January 2015, and was sent on loan to Nottingham Forest, who were in the Championship by March 2015.

The Swans then went on to loan Barrow to the second tier once more the following summer, as he played five games for Blackburn Rovers before returning to South Wales in September 2015.

The Gambia international would remain with the Welsh outfit, making 42 appearances but scoring just one goal, until January 2017, when he joined Leeds on loan.

But during a half-season spell in West Yorkshire, Barrow made just five appearances, and did not register a single goal contribution for the Elland Road side.

However, Barrow proved to be a greater success for the Royals, after joining permanently from the Swans in the summer of 2017, as he scored 10 goals as well as producing four assists in 41 Championship outings despite his new club's lowly finish.

The winger then went on to score four goals and provide six assists during the subsequent 2018/19 second tier season, in which the Royals finished 20th once more.

Barrow subsequently joined Turkish outfit Denizlispor on loan in August 2019, and left Berkshire permanently the following summer to join South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

After joining Jeonbuk from the Royals, Barrow scored two goals and created four assists during 22 appearances in his first K League season.

He would produce a similar return during the 2021 K League campaign, as he scored three and assisted four, but he made his mark on the Asian Champions League, scoring six goals in as many appearances as well as making an assist.

Then, in his third and final season in the Korean top-flight, he had his most impressive season for Jeonbuk, scoring 13 goals as well as making eight assists.

The Gambia international went on to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in 2023, but spent much of the 2023/24 season on loan with Turkish Super Lig outfit Sivasspor.

Barrrow has enjoyed a well travelled footballing career to date, while Royals fans were treated to one of his best ever seasons, whereas Leeds supporters never saw the best of the winger.