Noel Whelan has suggested on BBC Radio Leeds that Leeds United should not have signed Rodrigo last summer.
The former Leeds striker, who now works as a pundit for BBC Radio Leeds, has said that he would have preferred to bring in a younger player to signing Rodrigo.
As reported by BBC Sport, Leeds paid Valencia £26 million in transfer fee to sign the Spain international, who can operate s a striker or as a winger.
Leeds director of football Victor Orta, who does the signings for the club, raved about Rodrigo in Leeds Live in November 2020.
Whelan said on BBC Radio Leeds: “I did think it was a lot of money to pay for a 29-year-old. When you think about longevity, what you are going to get out of a player, one season has already gone by.
“For the money we have spent, I would have much preferred to have spent that money on a player that’s 23, 24, coming into his prime.”
Difficult season
Rodrigo has had injury problems this season, but it must be said that the 30-year-old has not been great.
There have been occasions when the attacker has looked good, but for the transfer fee that Leeds paid for him, he would have been expected to do much better.
According to WhoScored, the 30-year-old has made 12 starts and nine substitute appearances in the Premier League for the Whites this season, scoring three goals and providing one assist in the process.
Perhaps Rodrigo will do better for Leeds next season.
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