Leeds United attacker Rodrigo Moreno was a late target for Barcelona during this summer’s transfer window, but no deal was done.
That’s according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, who spoke about Rodrigo during the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show.
Hay claims that he heard Barcelona were indeed pursuing Rodrigo, but the chaos at the Camp Nou this summer meant any deal was unlikely.
It’s important to note that Hay also believes that Leeds don’t want Rodrigo to leave, and he isn’t really looking to go either.
Marcelo Bielsa wants to keep Rodrigo and get him firing at Elland Road, with Leeds completely unwilling to let Barca take him on loan.
“My understanding is that Barcelona were keen on him and did have a look at him, but Barcelona have been such a mess through this window that it didn’t feel like it ever got to a point where they were serious about it,” said Hay.
“I mean, Leeds in no way would have let him go on loan, it would have had to have been a permanent [deal]. I don’t think they want Rodrigo to go and I don’t think Rodrigo wants to go. Bielsa’s spoken a few times about trying to keep him in the building, keep him in the mix, get him into form.”
“So it didn’t seem to me like that was ever going to happen. I mean, from the PR point of view, I really don’t know how that would have looked, you know, right at the end to have been doing a deal for him. But there was Spanish interest in him, without a doubt, because he is a very good player.”
It seems clear that Barcelona were desperate to add an experienced striker before the deadline, with Rodrigo seen as a viable option.
The 30-year-old is a versatile attacker with La Liga experience having hit 38 goals in 172 games for Valencia.
His first season in the Premier League with Leeds only brought seven goals, and Leeds are expecting much more from him this season.
Barcelona did find their experienced striker, signing Luuk de Jong on loan from Sevilla.
Leeds have shown their faith on Rodrigo by fending off one of Europe’s biggest clubs; now he needs to repay them.
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