The Uruguayan was heralded as an ‘elite’ signing by the then Everton boss.
Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez
Leandro Rodriguez’s Everton career hasn’t gone quite the way Roberto Martinez predicted.
The Uruguayan striker arrived on Merseyside in a £500,000 deal from River Plate Montevideo two summers ago, having impressed with 20 goals in 78 games for his previous employers.
At the time of Rodriguez’s arrival, Martinez was quoted as telling the BBC: “Leandro is one of those elite, talented youngsters who we like to bring in.
“I am not saying that to put pressure on the boy, but he is a player we can be very much excited about in the future.
“He probably won’t need time with the Under-21s because he has played enough games with his first team in Uruguay in a really competitive league.
“Hopefully we can provide a path where he can develop and enjoy his football. If he can do that, clearly that’s going to bring goals.”
Everton’s Goodison Park ground
Two years on, Rodriguez has had his loan spell at Belgian side Waasland-Beveren terminated early, without so much as a first team appearance to his name.
In fact, his only senior football over the past two campaigns came during a loan spell at Championship side Brentford, in which he played a mere 120 minutes.
Despite having two years left on his contract at Goodison Park, it is hard to envisage any sort of Everton future for Rodriguez, let alone the one earmarked for him by Martinez – who it is claimed had a hand in the 24-year-old’s most recent move, through his role as Belgium’s national team boss.
Was Martinez’s Rodriguez claim the worst he made while Everton boss?
Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez
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