Leeds United supporters should be excited for what’s to come after former Whites midfielder Michael Brown waxed lyrical over his expectations of new signing Rodrigo.
Rodrigo completed a €29million (£26m) transfer in August to join Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road ahead of our return to the Premier League, penning a four-year contract with the club after six seasons in his native Spain with Valencia.
The 29-year-old followed his confirmation as a United player by starring for Spain in the UEFA Nations League against Germany last Friday, when Rodrigo provided the assist for Jose Gaya’s 96th-minute equaliser.
Rodrigo played the full fixture as the sole striker in manager Luis Enrique’s plans, but his selfless nature to spread play and create a chance for his now-former Valencia teammate to strike home caught Brown’s attention the most.
Putting the team’s greater needs ahead of his own is something Brown feels makes Rodrigo an ideal addition to Bielsa’s squad, and is excited to see that same application in person at Elland Road once the campaign begins away to reigning champions Liverpool on Saturday.
“Look at what you’ve got, you’ve got that composure, so when it’s time to square it, he sees the pass,” Brown told Football Insider.
“That’s the difference, you remember Arsenal back in the day, however many times, whoever was through, they’d always have the ability to square it across the six-yard box and I always felt that was a moment of calmness, composure and team play.
“That excites me that he has that in his locker, that he wants to share it round and that’s what you need in the team.”
Who starts at striker vs Liverpool on Saturday?
Rodrigo
Bamford
Leeds supporters should similarly be excited for what’s to come following Brown’s admission, as Rodrigo should fit in like the perfect piece of the puzzle at Elland Road if his application is met with the same service as seen with Patrick Bamford.
The Whites played the ball to Bamford during our attacks almost as much as anyone else in the Championship last season, with SofaScore data showing the striker as taking on average 24.5 touches a game with which he created six big chances to score but also spurned 33 opportunities to fire home himself.
Rodrigo, on the other hand, created 11 big chances for his Valencia teammates to score in La Liga last term, while spurning just the nine big chances to score from an average of 33.2 touches and 1.2 shots.
The Spaniard’s creativity should be a welcome addition for the likes of Jack Harrison and Helder Costa whenever the wingers venture into the opposition’s box this season, as Harrison found himself in 18 positions where there was a reasonable expectation to score last season but only converted six of those. Costa missed seven big chances to the four goals scored.