£30m hitman thinks Leeds have ‘amazing player’ in their ranks

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Rodrigo has paid tribute to Leeds United teammate Patrick Bamford, whom he described as an ‘amazing player’.

The Spaniard joined Leeds in a £30 million deal in the summer of 2020.

Given the outlay and that he remains United’s record signing, a lot of fans at Elland Road could’ve been forgiven for believing that Rodrigo would be Marcelo Bielsa’s first-choice number nine.

But the England international has responded to the challenge exceptionally and finished last season with 17 Premier League goals – his first year in the top flight with the Whites.

The 28-year-old has forced the former Valencia man to settle for a number 10 role for the most part since arriving in West Yorkshire, though he has had more joy this time around up front due to Bamford’s injury.

Even when Rodrigo is Bielsa’s spearhead, it’s clear that the two are very different types of striker.

And the player himself has admitted as much.

He told Leeds Live: “Patrick’s an amazing player, but it’s clear we have different styles. We are different players. When I play as a number nine I drop a little bit more than him, he looks more for the spaces.

“He’s more like a number nine that stays in the area waiting for the chance and I try to help more in the construction of the team, try to go for the sides also, helping the wingers.

“In football, you have different styles of players, you have defensive full-backs, offensive full-backs, midfielders that can play box to box or more defensive ones, number nines that play more in the area and number nines that have more mobility.”

Bielsa needs him back

Bamford has missed Leeds’ last two Premier League games and although Rodrigo is doing okay, Bielsa needs the Englishman back.

The former Chelsea youth played a massive role in helping the club to a ninth-placed finish last term.

His goals were hugely important and this time around, Leeds are 16th after winning one of their first seven games.

Rodrigo has his uses, as mentioned, but Bamford is simply a more-polished player up front and the sooner he gets back, the sooner Bielsa’s troops can start climbing the table steadily.