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After 16 years in the soccer desert, Leeds United are back in the Premier League, and they’ve made a hugely successful move for Spanish hotshot Rodrigo to celebrate.
Leeds were one of the top scoring teams in the championship last year and had the luxury of having six players who contributed 5 or more goals throughout the campaign.
But leading scorer and starting striker Patrick Bamford (who scored 16 goals last year) has been asked questions about his pedigree in the Premier League, with a total of one goal in 4 PL campaigns, in stints at four different clubs.
So it makes sense that Leeds’ first transfer target after promotion is a proven top-level scorer, and it seems they have identified Rodrigo as their man. The former Real Madrid talent has been a trusted forward choice in various European leagues for several years, spending most of his time on the Iberian Peninsula.
Having started in Madrid, he then enjoyed mixed results in Portugal with Benfica, but a switch to Spanish powerhouse Valencia in 2016 sparked a rebirth of his career.
After looting 19 goals in all competitions in 2017/18, the Brazil-born forward made an unlikely return to Spain’s senior team (with which he debuted in 2014), collecting 19 caps in the following years.
While his form has dropped in the last two seasons, the signing of a seasoned Spanish international with a proven track record in Europe can only be a boost for Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds unit.
Leeds United are pleased to announce the signing of Rodrigo Moreno Machado from Valencia CF for a record transfer fee.
The 29-year-old who can operate as a winger or forward, has served a doctor and signed a four-year contract with the whites, until the summer of 2024. (Via: leedsunited.com)
Leeds wastes money, but is Rodrigo worth it?
For a newly promoted team, shelling out € 30 million for a forward who will soon turn 30 is often a risky undertaking, but Leeds fans have reason to be optimistic.
His team was far above the rest in the championship and, some may argue, better than some PL teams. Rodrigo represents a seasoned forward option who instantly elevates a championship attack to something better, something for which it is surely worth paying a premium.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCU743mnPRY
Furthermore, Bielsa’s highly fluid and dynamic attacking game can only be good for a poacher like him, and could be what the forward needs to rekindle the offensive spark that Barcelona almost paid € 60m just a few weeks ago. months.
With Leeds looking for a forward, Valencia looking for quick cash and Rodrigo needing a fresh start, this can be a win-win move for all parties involved.
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