In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, David Norris, who was with Leeds United for two and a half years, has claimed that Rodrigo has struggled this season but urges people to judge him next year.
Rodrigo was signed from Valencia last summer for £27 million, which is a club-record fee, however, he has had a lot of injury problems this season and as a result, has missed nine games.
Has Rodrigo been a good singing for Leeds?
Yes!
No!
The £57,692 per week striker has not been able to play in his natural role through the middle with Marcelo Bielsa preferring Patrick Bamford, with Raphinha and Jack Harrison on either side of the striker.
Speaking on why Rodrigo’s form doesn’t define him as a player and how people can’t judge him after just one season, Norris exclusively told FFC:
“Yeah he’s had a tough time with injuries which have prevented him from showing what type of player he can be, but you can’t fault his effort.
“The last thing you want is to be injured when you come to a new team because you’re not even in the group and you’re away from the training ground. So, I think we should judge him after next season when he’s had a good pre-season.”
Rodrigo has only been handed 12 starts this season with fierce competition at Leeds to earn a starting spot in their attack, with Raphinha, Harrison, Bamford and Tyler Roberts all vying for a starting chance.
The Spaniard has only just recovered from a groin injury that kept him out for 33 days and he could be set to rejoin the matchday squad in the coming weeks.