Leeds star ‘offered’ to Barcelona as he eyes ‘greater role’
Leeds United striker Rodrigo has been offered to Barcelona as he looks for a more important role, according to reports.
The 30-year-old moved from Valencia to the Yorkshire outfit in 2020 when Leeds paid £27m to bring the Spain international to Elland Road.
However, the transfer hasn’t quite paid off in the way both parties had hoped with Rodrigo scoring nine goals in 43 appearances in all competitions.
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He only started 14 Premier League matches last campaign with Patrick Bamford in brilliant form but, with Bamford injured for most of this season, Rodrigo has started 12 times for Marcelo Bielsa’s men this term.
But a poor return of just two goals is unlikely to have convinced Bielsa to start Rodrigo over Bamford – who has only made six Premier League appearances since the start of this season – when the England international returns to full fitness.
And now Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness) claims that Rodrigo has emerged as a target for Barcelona as one of ‘several names that are being offered’ to Xavi in the January transfer window.
The former Benfica striker ‘does not go through the best moment’ at Elland Road and is not an ‘undisputed starter at Leeds United’. Therefore he is ‘looking for a greater role’ with another club.
With Bamford recently picking up a fresh injury to his foot after finally overcoming “muscular issues”, it seems unlikely that Leeds would allow Rodrigo to leave mid-season.
Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa was frustrated as Leeds lost 1-0 to Newcastle United at the weekend to hand the Geordies only their second win of the season.
“We had many moments to unbalance the game,” Bielsa explained. “We could unbalance them a lot, but we couldn’t convert.
“Normally, in the games where you could score and you don’t, some detail unbalances the game against you, I have the sensation that’s what happened.
“Even if in the last 15 minutes we failed to create enough danger. Prior to that, in the rest of the game we had done enough to be ahead.
“We always got to the final third with ease. We could pick the final pass, whether it be from out wide or through the centre. But, in the closing of the game we were lacking clarity. We lost the capacity to go on the outside.”