Angus Kinnear tips Rodrigo to win Leeds player of the season next year
Angus Kinnear wouldn’t be shocked if Rodrigo won the Leeds United player of the season award next year.
Rodrigo, 30, became Leeds’ record signing last summer when he arrived from Valencia and he’s since impressed in the Premier League, scoring four goals in 23 appearances.
Marcelo Bielsa has used Rodrigo rather unexpectedly in a midfield role rather than as a striker, where most Leeds fans thought the Spain international would have played.
Rodrigo has been linked with a return to his home nation by the Spanish press with La Razon reporting last month that Leeds want to cut their losses on the forward and have offered him to Real Betis and Sevilla.
However, based on what Leeds’ managing director Kinnear had to say on The Phil Hay Show podcast, that doesn’t seem to be the truth.
Kinnear said: “Nobody is doubting the impact Rodrigo is going to have.
“We still think there is much more to come from Rodrigo.
“I would not be surprised if he is Player of The Season next year.
“He is an absolute top talent.”
Rodrigo to continue to shine
Second-season syndrome is a thing for Bielsa – but not in the way that most Premier League fans are used to.
We’ve seen the usual theory apply to Sheffield United this season with the Blades performing well in the Premier League last term and are now on course to finish rock bottom with their relegation confirmed ages ago.
But at Leeds, second-season syndrome is usually when a player goes from average or good to brilliant.
Jack Harrison is one of the best examples while Mateusz Klich and Patrick Bamford are also other good examples at Leeds.
It’s because Bielsa is such a brilliant coach – he makes players way better than they were when he first laid hands on them.
It’s Rodrigo’s first season in English football and his first playing for Bielsa.
He’s at the peak of his career and is only going to get better in time for next term.
Selling him would be a costly mistake.
In other Leeds United news, senior sources at Leeds have shared massive behind-the-scenes updates on Andrea Radrizzani’s talks.