Record Leeds signing wants out over lack of game time

Toby Bowles
Rodrigo Leeds

Leeds United’s record signing Rodrigo will be pushing for a move away from the club this summer, according to reports.

Rodrigo, who has scored just three goals this season in 20 appearances, is thought to have become disillusioned with his lack of game time at the club, and is concerned about his place in the Spain squad ahead of this summer’s European Championships.

Fichajes, a Spanish website, has also claimed the striker is struggling to adjust to life in England and never wanted to leave his homeland in the first place.

The £25million signing has been restricted to a bit-part role by Marcelo Bielsa, with fellow frontman Patrick Bamford relishing life in the Premier League – the Englishman has almost five times as many goals as Rodrigo (14).

Amid injuries, poor form and a positive coronavirus test, the Spaniard’s position in the side has become unclear, and it is thought that both Alvaro Morata and Gerard Moreno are staking a stronger claim to lead the line for Spain at the Euros.


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That will come as a huge blow to Rodrigo, who for a period was the nation’s best option in the No.9 berth. Bielsa was forced to explain the curious situation regarding the 30-year-old ahead of the 2-1 win over Fulham, a game which he missed after sustaining a slight knock in training.

“To explain it exactly, Rodrigo arrived at the start of the competition, he didn’t manage to do the pre-season with us,” he told LeedsLive.

“It took him four weeks to become a starter and after playing his best game, which was against Aston Villa. Then he became sick. He was ill for 20 days.

“Then, after that, to get back to his best state it took him a month. He played 10 to 12 games from a level between medium to high.

“He becomes a starter when he’s in a good state of form. When he has been without playing for over a month, his return to the team is not instantaneous.

“But me in particular and Leeds as his club, we have seen what Rodrigo is capable of. He is a great striker.”