Oli McBurnie’s move to La Liga side Las Palmas move takes him ‘out of limelight’

Oli McBurnie is already adjusting to life in Spain following his move this summer from Sheffield United to Las Palmas.

While he may not have scored for the Canary Island club in their first two La Liga games of the season the Scotland striker takes great pleasure that he has not yet been booked.

The 28-year-old was sent off twice in the Premier League last season and booked 10 times the campaign before that.

“My disciplinary record was one of the main things my agent was worried about for me coming over here,” McBurnie tells BBC Sport.

“He was worried about dissent. He said the referees are different here to England. But so far, it has been alright. Two games, no yellow cards and no running to the referee.”

On Thursday the Scot faces the biggest challenge so far in his burgeoning La Liga career when Carlo Ancelotti brings his European and Spanish champions Real Madrid to the Estadio Gran Canaria.

“I have played against Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal for years but Real Madrid and Barcelona are different,” says McBurnie, who spent five years in Sheffield.

“I don’t know if it is because we are British and we don’t see as much of them.

“I am really excited and a lot of my friends are coming over to see the game. No-one was asking for tickets when we played Leganes at the weekend but everyone wanted them for this. Make of that what you will.”

Las Palmas have collected a point from their opening two games. McBurnie is yet to score – but is still claiming a goal in the opening day draw with Sevilla, reposting their post on X that they had fallen 1-0 down to a goal from the former Blades man.

“I am a striker, you claim everything,” he adds. “I don’t just want to score because it is Real Madrid. I want to score in every game I play in. If we get three points and I don’t score, that is perfectly fine by me.”